Doctors Help Expand The Reach of Medical Crowdfunding Industry In India

On this doctor’s day Milaap, India’s trusted medical crowdfunding platform, extends a grateful salute to the doctors and the broader medical fraternity in the country for their selfless service towards a healthier and happier nation. Through its collaboration with over 350 doctors and 800 hospitals so far, Milaap has been honored and humbled in assisting with life-changing and life-saving medical procedures achieved through the generosity of compassionate citizens all over India.

Milaap’s data provides an interesting glimpse into the role that doctors’s and healthcare professionals play in the landscape of charitable giving in India. The platform prides itself for over 120 partnerships with individual doctors from Bangalore alone, making it the top city for helping patients through crowdfunding. From Hyderabad and Mumbai, there are around 44 and 37 doctors respectively, and another 120 from Delhi and Chennai combined. These renowned doctors individually work to create awareness on the alternative financial model to patients in case they have run out of their funds to treat themselves or their near and dear ones.

To make medical treatment affordable and accessible to a wider section of the population, Milaap also collaborates with multiple hospitals in different pockets of India. They help introduce and guide patients to explore the power of online collective giving in case they seek monetary help.  At present, Milaap works actively with 63 hospitals from Bangalore, 44 from Hyderabad, 37 in Mumbai, 35 in Delhi and around 31 from Chennai. The priority ailments include liver transplants, heart transplants, bone marrow transplants, children needing Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), oncology, cardiology, burn cases, road injuries, SMA and covid from recent times

Anoj Viswanathan, Co-founder and President of Milaap, India’s first zero fee platform, said, “ Doctors and healthcare professionals are forerunners in spreading awareness on the possibilities of medical crowdfunding and going a step further to protect their distressed patients. We take pride in being a trusted partner for the medical fraternity in the country and will continue to work towards financially enabling them to save more lives everyday. Milaap works to add a safety net for the most complicated and rare diseases that come at a high-cost along with its long-term expenses. As with all other stakeholders, we ensure a secure and seamless giving platform for healthcare professionals and together we strengthen the entire online giving experience. ”

As the leader in the crowdfunding space, Milaap started the model of hospital partnerships to empower patients with limited means with the potential of medical crowdfunding. In this model doctors are at the forefront of creating awareness about this alternative or supplementary funding channel. For the families of patients this has often been crucial to overcome the struggle of mobilizing the necessary resources. Tie-up with hospitals also adds an added layer of trust and legitimacy to the fundraisers, since the doctors clearly state the condition of patients and provide correct estimates of funds required. Transferring funds and processing costs for long-term treatments also become hassle-free with hospital partnerships. The proven effectiveness of this model has enabled Milaap to work with the leading hospitals in India such as the Rainbow Children's Hospital, Global Hospital, Rela's Institute, Apollo Hospitals, SRCC Hospital, TMC Hospital, Wadia Hospital, KIMS Hospitals, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Wadia Hospital, Max Hospital and many more.

Milaap thanks the medical fraternity and its donor community once again for their continued trust as a conduit for their compassionate giving. It pledges to make its platform experience yet more seamless for all stakeholders so that our dear doctors can carry on with the most important task on their hands: saving lives and spreading smiles.

About Milaap.org

Milaap is India’s largest, zero-fee crowdfunding platform for personal and social causes, especially healthcare and related needs. The platform enables anyone in need to raise funds for causes typically outside a common person’s financial ability, such as tertiary healthcare, education and community-related causes.

Milaap’s community of donors come from over 130 countries across the world and have contributed over INR 2040 crores for 6,65,000+ projects across India. Over the last 11 years, Milaap has become the most preferred platform for people to raise and contribute funds towards their cherished causes in India.

Nitin Gadkari Presides Over The Grand Opening of Neeyamo's New All-Women Global Delivery Center In Nagpur

Neeyamo, a leading provider of Global Payroll and EOR services, today announced that Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in the presence of Shri Sameer Dattatraya Meghe, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Hingna Constituency presided over the Grand Opening of the company’s All-Women Global Delivery Center in Nagpur.

Formed in 2009, Neeyamo presently has over 3,000 employees worldwide. With an aim to create more job opportunities, the company has established its business centers in several Tier II & III cities and further intends to set up similar centers across 20 cities in India. Neeyamo has chosen Nagpur to inaugurate its first-ever all-women center.

As a part of its initiatives under the Naari Shakthi framework (which was launched in September 2021 by Guardian Minister Hon’ble Adv. Yashomati Thakur, Maharashtra Government’s Women and Child Development), the Nagpur center will further empower and create a platform for women to excel in Neeyamo by creating high-end jobs for them. This center currently employs 85+ women and plans to grow by 200 before the close of 2023.

This will include training sessions with leaders and experts from the industry to uplift, educate and help female employees of Neeyamo to enhance their skills. It will also be used to create tech-driven jobs with a team of technology gurus, payroll specialists, implementation experts, and customer support executives to support global clients.

Rangarajan Seshadri, CEO, Neeyamo, said, “Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) streams, and we at Neeyamo want to bring a change in this. We always believe in taking the next step in building a workspace where all our employees feel empowered. Our Nagpur all-women center is a testament to this belief. This initiative under Neeyamo’s Naari Shakthi framework will help create a platform for women in Tier II cities such as Nagpur and equip them with skill sets that will help create a brighter future”.

About Neeyamo

Neeyamo is a leading technology-enabled global payroll and EOR solutions provider for multinational and micro-multinational corporations worldwide. With an extensive team of professionals serving clients across 190+ countries, Neeyamo leverages its unique service-based model and functionality-rich, next-generation portfolio of HR & payroll products to help organizations enable agile and scalable business. To know more, visit www.neeyamo.com

Need Of The Hour- Affordable And Accessible To All: Medline Academics- An E-Learning Platform

The revolutionary development in the field of information technology has brought about a fundamental and major shift in the field of education. Virtual learning, an educational sector that has been popular over the last few years, is gaining wider recognition owing to its flexibility. Post pandemic, we have seen a quick rush to remote learning, exposing the fragmented adoption of the finest learning technology and digital proficiencies worldwide. Undoubtedly, Digital learning has gone mainstream in a hurry, so, why should medical learning stay outmoded?

The brainchild of Padmashri Dr Kamini A Rao and Ms Pooja Sidharth Rao, Medline Academics is dedicated to changing the way we see distance education today, particularly in the field of medical education. In order to foster medical learning in reproductive healthcare across the globe, Smart Online Education has been designed by the duo to scale Reproductive Education globally and capitalize on the Ed-Tech wave. Medline academics have developed a platform based on OpenEdx technology to deliver online training programs. The platform is technically capable of delivering and managing Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) efficiently.

The spur behind setting up Medline Academics is to set foot in the field of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine initiating a robust experience globally. With the best faculty and along with Dr Kamini Rao herself training the students virtually, it will be no less than a practical experience. Dr. Kamini has

over 4 decades of experience developing clinical talent and embryology skill sets through her training programs.

Building on the experience and successful track record of training over 2000+ clinicians and embryologists over the years, Medline Academics aims to step up the reach and accessibility of such training programs across the globe through the effective use of technology. This new initiative includes a 3-tier program:

Tier 1: Online training on theoretical aspects of evidence-based medical practice in reproductive medicine

Tier 2: Simulator-based training for key clinical and practical simulated training for laboratory skills

Tier 3: Hands-on training for experience in a clinical setting at partner institutes

The advances in this e-learning portal have been meticulously planned and formatted in accordance with the latest curriculum.

Discover a myriad of learning tools including Tier 1, 2 and 3 bringing complex education in its simple version to your doorstep at an affordable price. This is going to be a boon for all the students and practitioners alike.

ASW 2022 Kicks Off In Bengaluru With New Apparel And Textile Avenues For India-Bangladesh Collaboration And Bilateral Trade

* More than 10,000 brands, retailers, manufacturers, and D2C brands from 15 countries are taking part in Asia’s premier apparel sourcing event

Major Asian economies including India, Japan and China are making Bangladesh their sourcing destination for garment items. In fiscal 2020-21, Bangladesh exported garment items worth 421.86 million to India, which was $420.73 million in fiscal 2019-20. The Apparel Sourcing Week (ASW) 2022, Asia’s premier sourcing show for the apparel industry, kicked off in Bengaluru on Friday with new opportunities and avenues to strengthen India-Bangladesh collaboration and bilateral trade and make Asia the global Apparel Sourcing Hub. The gala ceremony launch witnessed an action-packed line-up of world’s biggest brands, industry veterans and think tanks, latest fashion innovations, future trends, Next-Gen Technologies, and sustainability benchmarks. 

With participation from more than 10,000 brands, retailers, manufacturers, and D2C brands from over 15 countries, ASW has emerged as the biggest and most effective sourcing platform for retailers and brands from around the world. Receiving immense response from the world leaders in apparel, textile, and fashion technology, ASW endeavours to make India the global hub for textile innovations.

Organised by Apparel Resources, one of the fastest-growing fashion media and events companies, ASW is taking place in Bengaluru with an overwhelming response from all partners.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran, Shelley Salehin, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Chennai, and Faruque Hassan, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), were the guests of honour at the inauguration.

ASW 2022 also endeavours to take India-Bangladesh collaboration in the industry to the next level by building on the existing and potential synergies between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Mr. H.E Muhammad Imran, said “Enhanced cooperation between India and Bangladesh can go a long way in strengthening their position in the apparel industry and making South Asia the hub for apparel and textile innovations. I am happy to note that efforts are being made to boost cooperation between the two countries, and am confident that ASW 2022 will play a key role in this.”

ASW 2022 features an expanded line-up of manufacturers from leading apparel hubs from across the globe including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh who are showcasing their manufacturing prowess to established and emerging brands.

 “In a short span of time, ASW has become the most influential and highly recognised fashion business and apparel sourcing platform in Asia. Fast emerging as the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators, ASW is creating newer opportunities for world's biggest brands to do business and meet new partners, ensuring that the sharpest innovators hit the stage.,” Mayank Mohindra, Director, Apparel Resources, said at the inauguration of ASW 2022.

“We had an action-packed Day 1 of ASW 2022 with industry leaders speaking on diverse and relevant topics including Reinventing Physical Retail, Fashion Innovation Using AI, Upcycling - The New Frontier For Sustainability, Sourcing in Times of Industry 4.0, Metaverse, and more. We are confident the participants would have benefitted a great deal from the insights. We have lined up many more exciting knowledge-sharing events on the second day too,” said Mr. Mohindra. 

A power-packed panel discussion on synergies between the two countries is also going to be one of the key highlights of the second day of ASW 2022.

The first day of ASW 2022 saw industry leaders representing some of the biggest and most popular apparel brands sharing their thoughts on a host of important aspects of the future of manufacturing, retail, technology and sourcing in the industry.

Popular brands from the apparel retail industry such as Shopper’s Stop, Being Human, Tata Cliq, Fab India, ACE Turtle, Amazon (Private Brands), Myntra, Zivame, Clovia, Nykaa, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Techno Design (S Oliver), Arvind Fashion, Adidas, Benetton, ZDHC, Relove, The Sourcery, USPL, WGSN, Falla Bella, KAS Group Asia, Blue Kaktus, Target, Bestseller (Jack & Jones), Rookies, Vardhman textile, and many more would be participating in the show.

World leaders in apparel and textile innovations such as Pacific Jeans, Giant Group, Laila Fashions, Liva, Vardhman, Reshamandi, Trace Network, Flix Stock, Pacific Jeans, Armana, Lenzing, Freudenberg, R|Elan from the house of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) , Liva, Blue Kaktus, Arise, Coats, WFX, Ravel NY Fashion etc. are also participating in ASW 2022.

ASW 2022 is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors from India and overseas, representing the biggest Indian and international apparel retailers/brands and buyers from traditional markets like the US and Europe as also non-traditional markets like China, Japan, and Australia. In addition to over 15-panel discussions, ideative and bridging sessions; session on fashion funding by esteemed VCs, and more, the two-day event also offers great networking opportunities.

Some of the topics to be covered on the second day of ASW 2022 include Mitigating Risks in Sourcing, D2C Opportunities for Fashion, among other panel discussions and industry sessions.

Website: https://apparelsourcingweek.com/ 

SpecsBunker Launches Country’s First High-Tech Eye Wear Store Along With ZEISS VISION Center In Bengaluru

·         Sandalwood actor, Ek Love Ya lead actor Raanna inaugurates the store in namma city today

A state-of-the-art country’s first Artificial Intelligence powered vision center was launched at Indiranagar (Bengaluru) by Kannada actor- Ek Love Ya fame Raanna for the brand SpecsBunker, on Thursday.

Speaking at the occasion, he said it is impressive that the new generation technology, which uses 3-D imaging aided by Artificial Intelligence to make eyewear choices, is a unique experience. “I indulge in a lot of eyewear both on screen and off screen, happy to see the huge collection all under one roof,” he added.

At SpecsBunker, you can choose from a wide range of frames from popular brands that set the latest trends in fashion and style, with Artificial intelligence playing its part. The ZEISS VISUFIT 1000 platform generates a three-dimensional image of One’s face allows them to try on frames virtually in a much more advanced experience.

Mohit Agarwal, the Founder, and CEO of SpecsBunker, said, “We have launched the store intending to give customers a world-class experience. Eyewear is evolving in technology and fashion, which is what we aim for with this collaboration with ZEISS VISION CENTER. We have set up a one-of-a-kind store. Some top brands available at the store include Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Gucci, Prada, Mont Blanc, Maybach, Balmain, Dita, Armani, A|X, Dolce + Gabbana, Bvlgari, Michael Kors, and Versace”.

“Vision needs differ from person to person and depend on one’s profession, doctor’s prescription, and personal preferences. At ZEISS VISION CENTER eye care experts follow a nine-step process designed to find the perfect glasses for each customer”, says Rohan Paul, Head of Vision Care Commercial.

“Eye care experts will follow with an analysis of the visual performance for an overview of which lenses are best suited for a person. For optimal vision experience, different lens types, materials, coatings, and protections from UV light, blue light, and bacteria are offered. Frame selection is based on using AI for one’s personality”, he added.

The store is now open for customers to come and indulge in a unique experience that will impact their knowledge and understanding of eye care overall. 

Jupiter Wagons (JWL) Lists On The Indian Bourses - BSE, NSE From June 30, 2022

* Completes NCLT approved reverse merger with CEBBCO

* Shares of JWL to commence trading on BSE and NSE on 30th June 2022

Jupiter Wagons Ltd. (JWL), a leading company providing complete mobility solutions, who had announced the reverse merger with CEBBCO (Commercial Engineers & Body Builders Company Ltd.), through the acquisition the company today completed its listing on the bourses. Erstwhile CEBBCO, a prominent manufacturer of tipplers, trailers, and specialized defense vehicles in the country was acquired by JWL in a buyout (of its organization). The equity shares of the company have commenced trading on the BSE and the NSE under the new ticker symbol ‘JWL. The business will have 38,74,47,419 shares at the exchange under the provisions of the amended merger agreement.

The consolidation will result in significant synergies between business operations, allowing for more efficient cash management and unrestricted access to cash flow to be deployed more efficiently to fund growth opportunities, thereby improving stakeholders' value. It will produce long-term benefits that will boost shareholder value. Additionally, the combined business's improved net worth and backward integration of the operation, including lower cost of capital, cost savings due to focused operational efforts, rationalization, standardization, simplification of business processes, productivity gains, procurement efficiencies, and distribution logistics. The group revenue of JWL currently stands at Rs. 1,178.35 crores. Jupiter Group has signed up MOU with CAF, Spain for the manufacturing and supply of Metro coaches and similar Urban Rapid Mass Transit Systems along with Main Line High Speed Trains through a Joint Venture Company in India

Vivek Lohia, Managing Director, Jupiter Wagons Ltd. said, “As a result of the merger, JWL will be able to use its financial strength to undertake a growth phase that will include upgrading operations to meet current industry demand, expanding into new product development, and market sector consolidation. It will also contribute to the formation of a powerful organization with more capital and assets. We believe that the merger signifies a transformative event for Jupiter Wagons Group allowing us to reach the next level of growth while also improving our technology and providing the greatest mobility solutions in the country. As a result of this reverse merger, we are foreseeing many milestone achievements in the future.”

JWL recently entered the electric mobility market with the launch of ‘Jupiter Electric Mobility’ (JEM) focusing on commercial EV vehicles. The company has formed a joint venture with EA GreenPower Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GreenPower Motor Company Inc.(“GreenPower”). With the JV with GreenPower, JWL seeks to align the technology assets of both the organizations by generating safety and sustainability in the EV market.

JWL’s expensive products span across Wagons, Coupler, Draft Gear, Bogie, CMS Crossings, Passenger Coach (LHB), Metro Coach, and Loco. Their clientele includes the Ministry of Defense, Indian Railways, TATA Motors, JSW, Adani, Ultratech, Reliance Industries Ltd, Ashok Leyland, DP World, Konioke Group, Eicher, L&T, GATX, AMW, Kalburgi Cement, Unitrac, Wabtec and more.

About: Jupiter Wagons Group

Jupiter Wagons Group is a leading company providing complete mobility solutions with a rich legacy of over four decades. Over the years, they have emerged as a one-stop solutions provider within the sector due to their high-quality standards. Moreover, its robust technology foundation reinforces its status as one of the fastest growing within the industry. The company’s expansive product portfolio spans across Wagons, Coupler, Draft Gear, Bogie, CMS Crossings, Passenger Coach (LHB), Metro Coach, and Loco. The customer profile consists of Indian Railways, American Railroad, Indian Defense and National & Multinational Wagon Leasing Companies, Construction Equipment & Heavy Vehicles Manufacturers, Municipalities & Health-Care Sectors, Energy, Mining & Infrastructure. 

Their clientele includes the Ministry of Defence, Tata Motors, Volvo Eicher Motors, Bharat Benz, Avia Motors, etc. Jupiter & CEBBCO manufacturing facilities are spread across India in Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Indore, and Jabalpur. Jupiter Wagons Group has a group revenue of approximately Rs. 1000 crores. 

They have also entered global partnerships with Slovakian company Tatravagonka, DAKO-CZ (Czech Republic), Kovis Proizvodna (Slovenia), Telleres Alegria S.A (Spain), Frenoplast S.A (Poland), and LAF-CIM Group (France). 

EatFit Introduces HRX’s Premium Functional Food To Its Platform

* EatFit With HRX To Introduce HRX’s Premium Functional Food Menu To Its Platform

* The newly launched menu is a combination of the EatFit food philosophy and HRX 's functional utility

* The menu has been launched in 6 cities across India, namely Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Gurgaon

EatFit, one of India’s largest healthy food platforms, announced its collaboration with Hrithik Roshan’s HRX, to introduce HRX’s premium functional foods to its users, today. Directing the users of both brands with similar ethos of a functional lifestyle, the newly launched menu on EatFit is a combination of the EatFit food philosophy and HRX 's function utility that will provide healthy food options to its consumers.

HRX by Hrithik Roshan is India’s first homegrown wellness and fitness service that believes in nurturing its users with the best version of themselves, through its products that range across fitness, sports equipment, home gym equipment, bicycles, smart wearables, etc. The brand also offers a premium set of foods to its consumers which has been added to the EatFit menu, following the collaboration.

The menu is designed primarily to meet the nutrition needs of one’s body, and offers tasty food choices that include pizzas, juices, cold brews, Indian cuisine, salads, desserts, etc., making healthy eating interesting. Every food option is carefully categorised according to the requirements of fitness enthusiasts, based on their body’s needs of consuming the food at the time of pre-workout, post-workout, endurance, indulgence, and recovery throughout the period of their workout. This menu is launched in 6 cities across India, namely Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Gurgaon.

Gokul Kandhi, Chief Business Officer of EatFit said, “The brand values that are followed at EatFit and HRX, both have a very strong connection where we want to make people’s lifestyles healthier. Having our visions aligned makes for a compelling partnership. With this collaboration, the range of healthy & high-performance food that we are launching at EatFit will appeal to the everyday athlete in all of us who are looking to energise, recover and build themselves. This menu brings a range of everyday high-performance food. EatFit is elated to collaborate with HRX.”

Pallavi Barman, Brand Head and Spokesperson, HRX said, “At HRX, we believe in providing the best of all there is to aid the journey of every individual who wishes to live a wholesome and healthy life. The offerings in this range include apparel, footwear, audio, fitness equipment, curated workouts, gym access, nutrition, personal grooming and a few more necessities which an individual on a fitness quest seeks regularly. By having fresh, healthy, hot-cooked food to this range with CureFoods, EatFit- HRX just strengthened its position deeper into the health ecosphere. We are excited to announce this partnership in the form of HRX EatFit meals to all our followers, patrons and valuable customers who have been with us and appreciated us.”

Users can now solely focus on enhancing their regimes according to the foods designed to suit their workouts.

About EatFit

EatFit is one of India’s largest healthy food platforms housed under Curefoods - a leading Indian cloud kitchen player. The company serves a wide range of bold & fun food options while retaining the honest, clean, and healthy aspect that EatFit has been known for since 2017. EatFit currently operates 50 cloud kitchens. Headed by Ankit Nagori, co-founder of Curefit, EatFit aims to expand the reach and acceptance of healthy food across the nation. At its core, the company is all about making healthy food fun, delicious and honestly Indian. 

In 2020, EatFit was hived off as a separate entity from Curefit. Since then, it has been operating under the umbrella of Curefoods, to capitalise on India’s growing cloud kitchen segment. 

About HRX

HRX, India's first homegrown fitness brand founded in 2013 by Hrithik Roshan and Exceed Entertainment, is a platform for bringing like-minded people together to believe in the philosophy of becoming the best version of themselves, empowering a billion people to ‘be their own hero’. The name represents the X-factor, signifying one to push oneself towards the path of excellence to achieve the best outcome possible. An example of a successful ‘Make in India’ story, HRX aims to revolutionize the fitness scenario in India, as a value-for-money, high-quality alternative to international brands.

Building Futures: The Akshaya Patra Foundation And NTT Ltd Lay Foundation Stone For A Government School In Bengaluru

·         The school will cater to more than 200 students and will be spread across 7,500 sq ft

·         The Rs 2 crore project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2023

·         The school will have a dedicated multi-purpose hall for the consumption of mid-day meals, an amphitheatre and a solar power system

NTT Ltd., a leading IT infrastructure and services company, along with The Akshaya Patra Foundation performed bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Government Higher Primary School in Lakshmipura, Bengaluru, on Thursday, June 30, 2022, to further their collective efforts to address classroom hunger and malnutrition through education.

Both the organisations aim to complete the construction of the school, which is being built on a government-sanctioned plot, by the end of 2023. The INR ?2 Crore project, spread across 7,500 sq ft, will have unique features such as a multi-purpose hall with a dedicated space for the consumption of mid-day meals, an amphitheatre, a computer lab, a library, solar power and rainwater harvesting systems. Other facilities planned are water purifying systems, classroom infrastructure, sports ground and CCTV cameras.

The event was graced by the presence of Shri Manjunath R, MLA, Dasarahalli Assembly Constituency, Bangalore, Shri Lohiteshwar Reddy, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Bangalore – North), Shri Ashwath Narayana, Block Education Officer (Bangalore North – 4), Mr Sunil Kishore, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT, Mr Dilip Kumar, Chief Digital & Global Business Services Officer, NTT, Mr. Anant Arora, CSCO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation and Mr. Balaji MN, CFO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Manjunath R, MLA, Dasarahalli Assembly Constituency, Bangalore thanked NTT and Akshaya Patra for coming forward in building this modern government school. He assured his support to the fullest.

Speaking about the collaboration, Mr. Sunil Kishore, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT, said, “Access to quality education is a fundamental right of every child, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds. At NTT, we firmly believe that a holistic environment equipped with the latest technologies and digital inclusiveness can help create a world where children from economically-weaker sections do not have to forfeit opportunities because of affordability or accessibility issues. Our philosophy is to bring a tangible impact to our existing education ecosystem, and we are happy to have partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation to strengthen our social impact initiative while also providing a safe space for the children who are the future of this country.”

Established in 1963, the school is currently housed in an old building and provides education to 201 children from vulnerable communities and low-income families.

On the occasion, Mr. Shridhar Venkat, CEO of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, “We are grateful to NTT Ltd. for reiterating their support towards our vision that ‘No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger’. This collaboration will not only support us to provide children belonging to vulnerable communities with a holistic study space, but also help us maintain our conviction that education is one of the best approaches to nurture a happy future for our country. We are honoured to have partnered with NTT Ltd. and hope this collaboration will continue to make an on-ground impact for many more years to come.”

The project is a part of Akshaya Patra’s school rejuvenation program under the National Endeavour for Student Transformation (NEST), an initiative that focuses on addressing the various challenges faced at individual school levels. The Foundation firmly believes that every school has its unique challenges and the solutions will need to be customised to address these challenges with the expertise of the school administration. The program also focuses on community investment at a school level to engage parents and community members in stronger roles.

The objective of this initiative is to create an environment that will enhance the impact of education by focusing on infrastructural improvements, quality of education and community engagement. It is the Foundation’s attempt to create a sustainable and replicable model that will serve as a template for other schools in the future.

The project is one of the several collaborations between Akshaya Patra and NTT Ltd. Earlier, this year, both the organisations joined hands to provide Android tablets to 235 students of Government Girls High School and Government Girls PUC in Basavangudi to mark the launch of the Foundation’s Digital Education Initiative. Akshaya Patra implemented the initiative with the support of corporate donors to bridge the digital divide and further digital inclusiveness by providing students belonging to economically weaker sections of the society access to good quality, modern education for free of cost.

About NTT Ltd.

NTT Ltd. is a leading IT infrastructure and services company. With revenues of over USD 10 billion, we operate in more than 200 countries and regions, and serve 5,000 clients across multiple industries. Through technology and innovation, we deliver a secure and connected future that empowers our people, clients and communities.

The firm lays the foundation for organizations’ edge-to-cloud networking ecosystem, simplify the complexity of their workloads across multicloud environments, and innovate at the edge of their IT environments, where networks, cloud and applications converge. On the journey towards a software-defined future, we support organizations with platform-delivered infrastructure services. As part of the global NTT Corporation, we serve 65% of the Fortune Global 500 and 80% of the Fortune Global 100.  We enable a connected future.

About The Akshaya Patra Foundation

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that strives to address classroom hunger and malnutrition in India. As the implementing partner of the Government of India’s flagship school feeding programme, through its relentless commitment to creating a secure and educated future, the Akshaya Patra has grown from serving just 1,500 children in 5 schools in 2000 to over 1.8 million children in 19,039 government and government-aided schools from its 61 kitchens across 14 States and 2 Union Territories. Through this scheme, Akshaya Patra aims to fight hunger and, at the same time, bring children to school.

Since 2000, Akshaya Patra has worked towards reaching out to children with wholesome food every single school day. The Foundation is continuously leveraging technology to cater to millions of children.

WiJungle Achieves Milestone, Mitigates Over 3 Billion Cyber Threats

* Of the 3 billion+ cyber threats eliminated, the unified cybersecurity platform has successfully mitigated more than 18% of high-risk cyber threats and 31% of moderate threats collectively across its customer base. 

WiJungle- a one-stop unified cyber security platform, has recently announced a new milestone with the successful mitigation of more than 3 billion cyber threats across its global customer base. With this achievement, WiJungle has progressively established its eminence worldwide across all major industry verticals like IT/ITES, defence, hospitality, Healthcare, education, retail, BFSI, manufacturing etc.

As India embarks upon the next stage of digitalization, riding on digital technologies, cyber risk resilience and privacy considerations become imminent. Accordingly, cyber risks must be identified and eliminated across levels, from consumer to enterprise to nation. To foster cyber as a culture and create safe cyberspace along with a well-fortified infrastructure, many companies are stimulating cyber security solutions to bolster every nook of the ever-widening digital world. WiJungle, a ‘Make in India’ startup, is helping the government as well as private giants to up their cybersecurity game.

Delighted with the achievement, Karmesh Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of WiJungle, said, “We are pleased to announce that none of our customers have ever faced any security breach. It is a testimony to our tech staff working exhaustively to make cyber resilience easy for our esteemed customers. To enable India to reach greater heights in cybersecurity, we are bolstering the cybersecurity framework by managing and securing the digital infrastructure.”

Of the 3 billion+ cyber threats eliminated, WiJungle has successfully mitigated more than 18% of high-risk cyber threats and 31% of moderate threats collectively across its customer base. The unified security platform also stated that none of the companies’ customers have ever reported a security breach. To drive the next growth stage, the cyber firm plans to expand its technology team to strengthen further its AI & ML powered OS.

Founded in 2017, WiJungle develops and markets ‘Unified Cyber Security Platform’ and currently serves the government as well as private giants. The company is also among the highest-rated vendors on Gartner in network security and caters to the cybersecurity needs of businesses across multiple countries. Being the world’s first Unified Cyber Security Platform, WiJungle aims to transform the way cybersecurity is consumed today by enterprises.

WiJungle also raised seed funding at a valuation of $22 million from SOSV, a global venture capital firm based out in the United States that operates early-stage startup development programs. Besides securing the funding, the company has also relocated its headquarters to Gurugram & further recently received the National Award from Government of India. To accommodate the growing needs of customers, the company also plans to hire for multiple positions across different departments, including but not limited to Engineering, Sales, Operations, HR, Support etc.

52% Women Doctors Make The First Move In Matrimony: DoctorsMatrimony Survey Report

 

* Matrimony.com sees record 50% growth in member base

On the occasion of National Doctors Day, DoctorsMatrimony.com, an exclusive matchmaking service for the medical professionals, from Matrimony.com, revealed in a report that over 52% women doctors have made the first move expressing their interest to a doctor, surgeon, dentist, healthcare professional or therapist. Each month, about 2 lakh interests are expressed by both women and male doctors. The report also said that thousands of doctors, both women and men, have been registering every week and profiles have grown 50% over the past six months.  

Reflecting the need for a companion who understands the strain of long hours at work after the pandemic, DoctorsMatrimony has seen steady increase in the number of doctors registering during the past year, with 53% of the total members being women doctors. The exclusive service was launched in January 2021 after Matrimony.com saw lakhs of doctor couples find each other through its services, over the last two decades. The company also found that shared values brought doctors together.  On DoctorsMatrimony.com, doctors can choose matches not only by religion, city, education, but also by doctor specialisation. 

“Most doctors feel the need for a companion who understands their profession and shares similar values. For doctors, that’s very likely when the life partner is also a doctor. Through DoctorsMatrimony thousands of doctors have chosen another doctor as a life partner. We’re trying to provide an exclusive platform to help them find their perfect match,” says Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO, Matrimony.com. 

The report also revealed that due to the longer years of academic specialisation, significant number of doctors marry a little later than the rest of the population. 28% of male doctors and 16% of female doctors are in the age group 31 to 40.  Interestingly, only 12% women and 4% men are seeking a life partner outside the country where they reside.  

Surprisingly, 53% members are women and 47% men. Doctors seem to be more active from 6 to 10 in the evenings and engage better on Sundays and Mondays. 

Within India, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad are among the top five cities by registrations. The top occupations listed on lakhs of profiles are doctor, surgeon, dentist, surgeon, psychologist, and healthcare professional. USA, UK, Canada, UAE and Australia contribute to nearly 50% of NRI Doctor Registrations. 

About Matrimony.com limited 

Matrimony.com is India’s leading consumer Internet Company. It is a signature consumer internet conglomerate, managing marquee brands such as BharatMatrimony, CommunityMatrimony and EliteMatrimony. BharatMatrimony is considered the largest and most trusted matrimony brand which has also established a considerable retail presence with over 110 self-owned retail outlets across India.  The Company delivers matchmaking and marriage related services to users in India and the Indian diaspora.  The Company has pioneered several new business models such as WeddingBazaar.com, Mandap.com and CommunityMatrimony.com, a consortium of over 300 community matrimony websites. 

For more details, visit https://www.matrimony.com 

Women’s World Banking And Bank of Baroda Announce Rollout of ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’In Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

* Phase 3 of the project to roll out in 25 districts of Uttar Pradesh and all 13 districts of Uttarakhand with the aim to increase access to and improve engagement of low-income women with formal financial services 

Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading public sector banks, has partnered with Women’s World Banking (WWB), a global non-profit committed to giving low-income women access to financial tools for long-term financial security and prosperity, to roll out the third and broader phase of the ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ programme across 25 districts of Uttar Pradesh and all 13 districts of Uttarakhand. The third and largest phase of ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ will reach out to a wide base of existing Jan Dhan customers of Bank of Baroda through financial literacy camps and business correspondents, to disseminate the benefit of savings and provide access to formal credit by way of PMJDY Overdraft facility and other social security schemes. The programme will also train and work with over 2000 business correspondents (BC) and 1000 BC Sakhis (women business correspondents) to empower them to help women customers in their regions. 

‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ builds on the robust infrastructure of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which has brought around 25.11 crore or 251.1 million women into the banking ecosystem with Jan Dhan bank accounts. These women account holders need a strong reason to engage meaningfully with banks to reap the benefits of full financial inclusion. ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ brings a compelling proposition to encourage women account holders to save money in a systematic manner by motivating them to deposit Rs. 500 monthly for five months, building a relationship that can lead to a PMJDY overdraft loan facility of up to Rs. 10,000.  

The  ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ model rests on 3 core pillars: making the bank ecosystem a welcoming one for low-income women, making savings relatable and rewarding for women, and training and capacity building of business correspondent (BC) agents on soft skills with a gender focus to make them better understand and fulfil the needs of women customers. Banks, in turn, learn more about an important customer base and how to address this segment effectively with customised products and services. 

Shri Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda said, “Financial inclusion of women, especially women with low income, requires a more nuanced approach. A long-term approach that involves ongoing engagement and creating a supportive environment is key. ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’, created in collaboration with Women’s World Banking, is a tested approach to go beyond financial inclusion to help women attain financial empowerment by opening access to a wider bouquet of PMJDY benefits and not just a bank account.” 

The initial two pilot projects of ‘Baroda Jan Dhan Plus’ were conducted with 170 Bank of Baroda branches (with over 650 BCs and over 100 BC Sakhis) across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh between Jan 2020 to Jan 2022. The pilot projects underscored that when financial products and services are designed to overcome women-centric barriers, they successfully engage women as well as the entire customer base.  

Speaking about the programme, Ms. Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head, South Asia, Women’s World Banking said, “Women are some of society’s most active and committed savers and, in many cases, hold the key to their household’s savings and financial resilience. Right from the start we have recognised that women account holders are an extremely important customer base for the financial sector and if we can nurture them to become confident participants in the banking sector, we can create significant opportunities for the women as well as the financial service providers and the economy as a whole. We are heartened to see a leading institution like Bank of Baroda taking this forward. We would also like to thank The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Visa Foundation, The Walmart Foundation, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who have helped incubate the project and are also supporting us in scaling it further.”  

Indian Retail Industry On Growth Trajectory Post COVID-19, Says Dr. Sunil Chopra, Deputy Dean

* Dr.Sunil Chopra addresses students on, ‘The Potential Future of Indian Retail’ at the Great Lakes Institute of Management’s ‘Distinguished Thought Leadership Series’ 

Great Lakes Institute of Management hosted the DistinguishedThought Leadership series in which Dr. Sunil Chopra, Deputy Dean and IBM Distinguished Professor of Operations Management and Informations System, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, shared his insights with the students. 

During the interactive session with students of the PGPM 2023 batch, Dr. Chopra elaborated on the probable trajectories of the Indian Retail Market. The session was conducted as part of their “Term Zero”, Distinguished Thought Leadership Series.  

Term Zero was the outcome of the Institute’s effort to seamlessly transit into the online mode of classes during Covid-19. The fast paced 10-day term serves as an introductory session to students by the professors and industry leaders to get them ready for their MBA program. 

Students listened to Dr Chopra with rapt attention as he explained about the different channel choices such as Hyperlocal, Big Box Retail and Online channel: how a framework for an omni-channel retail was necessary in designing the most efficient distribution network in India. Different factors such as Product Value, Demand Uncertainty and Information Content should be taken into consideration while coming up with a model.  

He further elaborated on the successful model of 7-Eleven in Japan as an example of what must be implemented in India to attain the greatest gross profit. To achieve this model, the Professor explained, three commons need to be created - Information commons, Education commons and Distribution commons. Once these are created and implemented effectively, a replica of 7-Eleven can be utilized in the Indian retail market as well that takes advantage of every distribution channel. In this model, hyperlocals should be distributed everywhere, customized to the people of that location and also serve as a pickup location or showroom along with a place where online orders can be placed.  

Dr. Chopra shed light on the Indian Retail Industry that has already recovered post Covid-19 and is on a growth trajectory of 10% annually, leading to a growth of approximately 2 trillion USD by 2032, as suggested by a report put together by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in association with Retailers Association of India (RAI). The Indian Retail market has already seen a recovery in consumption and the changing landscape is instigating a multitude of opportunities for Indian Retailers.

SBI Card, Aditya Birla Finance Partner To Launch “Aditya Birla SBI Card” In Indian Market

SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, today announced the launch of ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card’, a highly rewarding lifestyle credit card, in a strategic partnership with Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL), the lending subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. The card has been designed to give customers significant reward points on their spending around telecom, fashion, travel, dining, entertainment, and hotels, among others. This makes ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card’ one of the most compelling cards for customers across segments, offering exciting benefits on both premium and mass brands that belong to the Aditya Birla Group. 

The rewards-centric credit card has been launched in two variants - ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card SELECT’ and ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card’, on the Visa platform. Cardholders can avail greater value back in the form of reward points on their spends on Aditya Birla Group Companies, be it on telecom bills through Vodafone Idea (Vi) or on lifestyle stores such as Louis Philippe, The Collective, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England, American Eagle, Polo, and Pantaloons among others. In fact, this card provides an added advantage of accelerated Reward Points on spends in hotels, a key benefit for travel savvy consumers. 

According to Mr. Rama Mohan Rao Amara, MD & CEO, SBI Card, “We are delighted to join hands with Aditya Birla Finance, one of the leading NBFCs in India. This partnership will enable us to issue credit cards to Aditya Birla Group’s customer base, thereby providing them a great product for all their spending needs. This is in line with our strategy of enhancing value for both customers and co-brand partners. The customer acquisition process will be completely digital, thereby ensuring an enhanced customer experience. Aditya Birla SBI Card’s unmatched benefits coupled with Aditya Birla Group’s extensive and diversified brand portfolio will be a striking proposition for customers looking to spend across varied lifestyle categories.” 

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Rakesh Singh, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Finance Ltd, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with SBI Card to launch the ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card’, which will immensely benefit the 35 million customers of Aditya Birla Capital and help us leveraging the customer ecosystem of the Aditya Birla Group. Consumers are adapting to digital payments today, and this offering will fuel the purchasing power of our consumers. It will enable us to engage deeper with them by ensuring an impactful consumer experience, best-in-class rewards, and hassle-free payment services.” 

Mr. Sandeep Ghosh, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa said, “This exciting partnership of Visa, Aditya Birla Finance and SBI Card for the co-branded credit card is a great example of delivering simple yet customized offerings, for various brands of Aditya Birla Group and in categories like dining, entertainment, and fuel. We are confident the proposition will appeal to consumers and help build loyalty.” 

Through ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card SELECT’, customers can avail 20 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent in Aditya Birla stores and 10 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent in dining, entertainment, and hotels. As a welcome gift, the card offers 6000 Reward Points to customers upon payment of card membership fee. They also earn 3000 Reward Points on achieving annual spends milestone of Rs 1.5 lakh and an additional 3000 Reward Points when they reach Rs 3 lakh annual spends milestone.  

The joining/annual renewal fee for ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card’ and ‘Aditya Birla SBI Card SELECT’ is Rs 499 and Rs 1499 respectively. 

About SBI Card 

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders’ segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. The brand has a wide base of over 13.7 million cards in force as of Q4 FY22. It has diversified customer acquisition network that enables to engage prospective customers across multiple channels. SBI Card is a technology driven company. 

P.S. The brand name of the company is ‘SBI Card’ and it is registered in the name of ‘SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited’. The company is trading under the entity name ‘SBICARD’ on stock exchanges. 

About Aditya Birla Finance Limited 

Aditya Birla Finance Limited ("ABFL"), a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited is among the leading well-diversified non-banking financial services company in India. ABFL offers customized solutions in areas of personal finance, mortgage finance, SME finance, corporate finance, wealth management, debt capital markets and loan syndication. ABFL is registered with RBI as a systemically important non-deposit accepting non-banking finance company (“NBFC”) and is amongst the top five largest private diversified NBFCs in India based on AUM. 

For the Quarter ended 31st March 2022, ABFL has a lending book of Rs. 551.80 billion and a net worth of Rs. 98.60 billion. ABFL’s long-term credit rating of AAA (Stable) has been reaffirmed by ICRA in September 2020.  ABFL also has long-term credit rating of AAA (Stable) by India Ratings, Perpetual debt credit rating of AA+ (Stable) by ICRA and AA+ (Stable) by India Ratings (Stable) and short-term credit rating of A1+ by ICRA & India Ratings. 

Aditya Birla Capital Limited  

(ABCL) is the holding company for the financial services businesses of the Aditya Birla Group. 

ABCL’s subsidiaries have a strong presence across Protecting, Investing and Financing solutions, ABCL is a universal financial solutions group catering to diverse needs of its customers across their life stages.  Powered by more than 30,000 employees, the subsidiaries of ABCL have a nationwide reach with 950 branches and more than 2,00,000 agents / channel partners and several bank partners.  

As of March 31st, 2022, Aditya Birla Capital Limited manages aggregate assets under management over Rs. 3,706 billion, has a consolidated lending book of approx. Rs. 672 billion, and an active customer base of over 35 million, through its subsidiaries and joint ventures. 

Aditya Birla Capital Limited is a part of the Aditya Birla Group, in the league of Fortune 500. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 140,000 employees, belonging to 100 nationalities. Today, over 50% of Group revenues flow from overseas operations that span 36 countries in North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. 

Modi Virtually Inaugurates Bosch's First Smart India Campus - Spark.NXT - In Bengaluru

* The 76-acre campus features multiple smart solutions based on sustainability, security, and user experience

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Bosch’s new campus in Bengaluru, built at a cost of $100 million. The 76-acre Spark.NXT campus features multiple smart solutions based on sustainability, security, and user experience for associates, visitors, and facility management. 

“The smart campus will take a lead in the development of futuristic products and solutions for India and for the world,“ said the Prime Minister. 

The auto ancillaries major which employs 31,500 people and does Rs 22,000 crore in annual revenues, is celebrating its centenary in India. At present, it has 16 manufacturing sites, and seven development and application centres in India. 

Soumitra Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Bosch Limited and president of the Bosch Group, India, said, “We started our Make in India and Make in Karnataka manufacturing journey 69 years ago. Today, with our new Spark.NXT campus, the company continues to invest in smart and sustainable solutions that are ‘Invented for life’ and supports the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat. 

Filiz Albrecht, board member of management and director of Industrial Relations, Robert Bosch GmbH, said though sustainability is central to the corporate strategy, the company’s success depends on people.  “Over the last five years, Bosch India has invested one billion euros in upscaling and will invest another billion euros in the next five years in various training programmes for artificial intelligence, software, electromobility, etc,” she added. 

“Bosch has had a presence in the state for several decades now and we are happy to have India’s largest smart campus here. Karnataka, primarily Bengaluru, has been a technology hub and houses the largest number of R&D centers across the globe. This campus is another feather to its cap,” said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. 

The company has invested Rs 50 crores in the reduction of energy consumption at the new Adugodi campus and will meet up to 85 per cent of its total energy needs with in-house solar panels and the purchase of green group captive power. It houses multiple smart, sustainable solutions including Bosch DEEPSIGHTS, The Bosch Intelligent Air-Conditioning and Comfort Assistant (BIANCA), and air-quality monitors.   

Passionate Jeep Community Organizes Monsoon Plantation Trail In Bangalore

* The Monsoon Plantation Trail initiative is an extension of Jeep India's CSR initiative ‘Mission One Earth’

* 22 Jeep SUVs traversed across 600 km as part of the trail

* A total of 44 tree saplings were planted in the foothills of the Western Ghats and plastic waste was gathered during the drive

The Monsoon Plantation Trail, organised by the Bangalore Jeep Club, was recently concluded in Sakleshpur. An extension of Jeep India’s CSR programme Mission One Earth, the trail’s kickoff was in perfect sync with the arrival of the monsoon. The trail, in lockstep with the brand's philosophy of ‘Responsible Adventures’, saw Jeep owners cover a distance of 600 km, including 18 kilometres of off-roading.

A total of 22 Jeep SUVs and 44 adventure lovers participated in the trail which also received location support from the Machaan Plantation Resorts.

The participants, in an effort to do their bit for the environment, planted 44 tree saplings in the foothills of the Western Ghats and collected plastic waste along the trail. They also distributed sweets, sports equipment, etc. among the children of the plantation workers.

Jeep Meridian, the company’s latest model in the country, led the convoy across the entire journey which also included driving across streams, some rather steep stretches, winded roads, etc. All in all, the drive proved to be a truly one-of-a-kind adventure for the participating Jeep owners.

A flagship Jeep India initiative, Mission One Earth (MOE) was launched in 2021 with the goal of encouraging and promoting ‘Responsible Adventure’. As a brand, Jeep believes that all terrains are sacred and it is its responsibility to tend to them. The first outing under the purview of this project was organised in October 2021 when customers travelled more than 2,000 kilometres in 20 Jeep SUVs from Shimla to Srinagar through Leh. The customers, together with residents of the Ladakh region, came together to help collect 1,500 kg of plastic waste from the roads. The plastic garbage gathered during this drive was later recycled and converted into Jeep merchandise. Besides that Jeep India also installed specially-designed, digitally-enabled reverse vending machines in key locations all across the Himalayan mountain passes.

Jeep® Brand:

Built on 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep® brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence. Jeep® Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep line-up, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support.

In India, the Jeep vehicle line-up consists of the Wrangler, Compass, Meridian and the soon to be launched Grand Cherokee. India is the first country for Jeep outside of North America to make 4 models locally and also for exports to other right hand drive markets around the world Jeep is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis.

Ministry of Skill Development And Entrepreneurship And Ministry of Heavy Industries Sign MoU To Facilitate Training In Engineering Trades

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a collaborative ecosystem for imparting skill development training in the capital goods sector. The partnership is aimed at facilitating training in several engineering trades through Qualification Packs (QPs) developed by MHI related Sector Skill Councils (like Automotive, Infrastructure, Instrumentation and Capital Goods) under the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Capital Goods Sector Phase II.

Under the partnership, MSDE through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will facilitate linkages between various Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and industry partners for imparting skilling in engineering trades. MSDE will also constitute a review committee headed by a senior NSDC official and at least seven other members, including representatives from SSCs.

Gracing the ceremony, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education, said growth of capital goods sector is correlated to the success of Make in India program. The growth in manufacturing sector will create more demand for a skilled workforce and the MoU will pave the way for creating a more skilled vibrant workforce for the sector.

Shri Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of Heavy Industries, welcomed the partnership, saying heavy manufacturing industry is one of the most important sectors in terms of employment generation, exports, and value addition to the economy. Any growth in this sector presents huge potential for the economy and is a step towards fulfilling Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

MHI, on its part, will provide grants to SSCs for developing new industry-led National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 6 and QPs. Following the identification of job roles based on demand and new technology, SSCs will submit the same for NCVET’s approval. MHI will also fund SSCs for the creation of QPs in several engineering trades to promote skilling in the capital goods and automotive sectors. The ministry will further facilitate necessary linkages between SSCs and the sectors as well as monitor the progress of the project. 

About the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

MSDE was formed on 9th November 2014, by the Government of India to focus on enhancing employability of skills. Since its inception, MSDE has undertaken significant initiatives and reforms in terms of formalizing the policy, framework and standards; launching of new programs and schemes; creating new infrastructure and upgrading the existing institutions; partnering with States; engaging with industries and building societal acceptance and aspirations for skills. The Ministry aims to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower to build new skills and innovation not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created.

About Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI)

The Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) strives to bolster profit making PSEs as well as restructure and revive sick and loss making PSEs under its administrative control. The DHI seeks to achieve its vision of global automotive excellence through creation of state- of- the- art Research and Testing infrastructure through the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP). The DHI seeks to achieve its vision by providing necessary support to the Auto, Heavy Engineering. Heavy Electrical and Capital Goods Sector.

Lam Research Outlines Path, Progress To Net Zero Emissions

* Semiconductor industry leader releases annual environmental, social and governance report, and unveils new program to empower social impact

Lam Research Corporation (Nasdaq: LRCX), among the first companies in the semiconductor industry to proactively set a net zero emissions goal, today proudly released its 2021 Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The eighth annual report highlights how Lam is addressing its environmental footprint and advancing sustainability across the semiconductor ecosystem. Reflecting its commitment to "act with purpose for a better world," Lam also introduced its social impact framework to catalyze positive change in the community, inspire and educate tomorrow's future innovators, and foster a more inclusive society.

"As we transform the world through technology, we have a responsibility to help conserve our finite resources and take an active role in empowering a better future," said Tim Archer, president and chief executive officer of Lam Research. "Last year, we made big strides towards Lam's sustainability goals, established our net zero supply chain strategy and deepened our commitment to inclusion and diversity – all while growing our workforce by over 30 percent year-over-year and navigating the challenges of a global pandemic. I am proud of everything that we accomplished and am inspired to see what more we can achieve together."

Addressing our Environmental Footprint

Lam is taking a leadership role in driving sustainability in the semiconductor industry. Lam continues to demonstrate progress towards its previously announced goals to operate on 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. The company has implemented new practices and strategies that drive energy and water conservation, waste abatement, and greenhouse gas reductions. Sustainability is also a key consideration in the leading-edge products that Lam creates – from innovative development and design, to manufacturing responsibly, to delivering solutions that help support our customers' ESG goals. Examples of accomplishments in these areas include:

·       Increased renewable energy usage – 54 percent of the energy used by Lam globally in 2021 was renewable, with sites in Ohio, U.S.; Penang, Malaysia; and China facilities reaching 100 percent renewable energy. *

·       Decreased Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by over 9 percent since 2019.

·       Diverted 99 percent of hazardous waste from landfill in 2021.

·       Saved 6.3 million gallons of water in water-stressed regions in 2021.

·       Introduced a range of new and enhanced etch products that improved generator efficiency for NAND and foundry logic development by up to 15 percent, shortened clean times via chamber modifications by up to 30 to 50 percent, and decreased tool usage of helium by up to 80 percent.

·       Established a new foundational strategy to propel sustainability throughout the supply chain, which spans over 25 countries. Lam also developed an engagement plan with ongoing training, support, and resources.

Powering Breakthroughs Together  

Lam continues to deepen its commitment to making a meaningful impact through corporate giving and employee volunteerism. It supported communities and over 1,550 charitable organizations around the world in 2021.

Under the company's new social impact framework, Powering Breakthroughs Together, Lam is increasing its focus on advancing transformative learning, building resilient communities, and fostering inclusive societies. To support this effort, the company is introducing a new application system for Lam's grant program to make it easier for organizations to apply.

Lam was proud to be included in the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America, which recognizes the top 20 percent of sustainability performers among the 600 largest companies in the U.S. and Canada. The DJSI indices are widely considered to be among the world's leading benchmarks for corporate sustainability.

Further details on the company's environmental, social and governance strategies and 2021 accomplishments are available in Lam's 2021 ESG report.

NSDC, Auxilo Finserve Collaborate To Support Funding For Skilling & Vocational Courses; Aim To Create Portfolio of INR 1000 Crore

* Auxilo's pro-education student loan solutions will enable aspiring learners to enroll in reskilling and upskilling programs offered across NSDC's network of training partners in the country

* Specialised financial products have been designed for skilling and vocational courses and will be given to students as per their loan requirements

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, has partnered with Auxilo Finserve Pvt. Ltd., an education-focused Non-banking Financial Company (NBFC), to provide financial assistance to students aspiring to enroll in skilling and vocational courses. Under the partnership, the two organisations have planned to create a portfolio of around INR 1,000 crore over the course of the next three years.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Officiating CEO, NSDC and Namita Raja, Head - Credit and Operations, Auxilo Finserve in New Delhi.

Under the collaboration, a step in the direction of fulfilling the objective of Skill India Mission, Auxilo's pro-education student loan solutions will enable aspiring learners to enroll in reskilling and upskilling programs offered across NSDC's network of training partners (TPs) in the country. Upskilling and job readiness are primary in leveraging India’s demographic dividend and, thus, partnerships of such scale will be a definitive step in narrowing the gap between quality education and the access to it. 

Students seeking financial assistance for skilling and vocational courses can connect with their nearest NSDC-approved training centers to know about the available financing options. Under the partnership, some training partners have been roped in to begin with, and the number will increase in due course of time to cater to a larger number of deserving students.

The collaboration will also enable Skill Loans, a new initiative through which NSDC, supported by participating lending institutions, plans to increase the penetration of ?nancial assistance to deserving students for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Under the initiative, loans will be offered to students at attractive rates, thus, supporting them to take certi?cate/ diploma/ degree and other courses to enhance their employability. Auxilo, in partnership with NSDC, will facilitate students to enroll in desired courses.

Commenting on the partnership, Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Officiating CEO, NSDC said, “It is our constant endeavor to make skilling and vocational education available for all. At NSDC, we do understand the challenges faced by the skill seekers to acquire funding through formal and recognized channels. With our partnership with Auxilo, I believe that we will be able to address the fundamental challenge of adequate and accessible financial assistance. This collaboration holds huge growth potential for both the organizations with simplified funding access to deserving students till the last mile.”

Neeraj Saxena, MD & CEO, Auxilo Finserve said, ''Through this strategic collaboration, we aim to create a valuable ecosystem to support students enrolled with NSDC’s training partners with hassle-free and seamless financing. We have designed specialized financial products for skilling and vocational courses and are all set to help Indian students and educational institutions get ready for the professional world.''

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a nodal skill development agency, working under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP). Through its mission ‘Skills4All, Anytime, Anywhere’, NSDC aims to provide access to opportunities to all through quality vocational education and training. Since inception in 2008, NSDC has trained over 3 crore people through its collaboration with 700+ training partners and over 11,000 training centres spread across 700+ districts in the country. NSDC has established 37 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and implements the Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others.

NSDC also funds enterprises, companies and organisations that provide skill training. The organisation enables private-sector capacity building in skill development by offering concessional loans, other innovative financial products, and strategic partnerships.

Zoho Books Offers To Support QuickBooks' Customers In India

 Zoho announced that it is open to supporting and serving customers of QuickBooks in India. In a recent turn of events today, Intuit’s QuickBooks announced its discontinuation from India market effective January 31, 2023. Their products and service offerings for accountancy and small business customers will no longer be available in India. As of July 1, 2022 no new signups to QuickBooks products will be accepted in India.

Prashant Ganti, Head of Products - Tax, Accounting & Payroll, Zoho commented, "The continuation of financial systems for any business is essential for its growth and sustainability. At Zoho, we understand how challenging it can be for businesses to find a replacement for their existing financial system. Zoho Books will be glad to serve the needs of those businesses looking for an alternative solution, and help them transition smoothly." Zoho Books is a comprehensive, cloud-based financial platform that helps businesses take care of their finance, perform core accounting functions, track stocks, reconcile bank accounts, manage projects, and keep them GST compliant.

“Zoho Books is hyperfocused on strengthening its operations in India, enabling businesses to simplify and abstract GST filing and compliance,  e-invoicing, and e-way bill compliance, and gain deep visibility into their finances. We have a strong customer base in the country, and will continually work towards serving them. Zoho is also a GST Suvidha provider," further added.

Apna Chooses Google Cloud To Enhance Its Offering To Connect Millions of Professionals With Hyperlocal Opportunities

* Creates India’s leading cloud-based jobs marketplace powered by Google Cloud

* Drives scalable ML model with up to 500 million user interactions processed per day

* Reduce the time taken to create AI algorithms by 20 percent.

* Enabling AI algorithms that bolster platform safety and security by uncovering fraud

With an aim to embrace digital transformation and enhance platform safety, apna.co – India’s largest jobs and professional networking platform – has chosen Google Cloud to democratize the job hunt market and to optimize upskilling and job opportunities for millions pan-India.

apna is using a combination of Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), BigQuery, and Vertex AI; and will provide targeted networking and seamless matchmaking for job seekers across the country. The company has been constantly striving to enhance its operations for better results, and hence felt the need to be a cloud-native app that runs on Android handsets due to affordability. The company also aims to strengthen its scalability provided by Kubernetes-based micro-services.

Through the collaboration, apna aims to build its infrastructure on GKE-enabled agile interaction between all Google Cloud managed services, as well as seamless Android compatibility, with the latest features and technology. Google Cloud infrastructure has been powering apna’s backend technology infrastructure and improving the experience for its over 22 million users, who are largely based out of tier II and tier III cities in India.

Elaborating on the association, Shantanu Preetam, Chief Technology Officer, apna.co said, “Google Cloud has been known in the industry for its dependability, versatility, and user-friendliness and hence, they were our unanimous choice. Through our association with Google Cloud, we have managed to reduce the time taken to create AI algorithms by 20 percent. Additionally, the team is also saving up to 40% of DevOps time through a combination of managed services.

Google Cloud has been supporting us in continuous app enhancements in order to provide a better user experience and bolster platform safety and security. In a situation where fraudsters constantly evolve methodologies, Apna is able to identify and remove up to 60 percent of inappropriate content on the platform daily, this has been possible with Google solutions such as Vertex AI.

Through cloud native capabilities in Google Cloud, including GKE, BigQuery and Vertex AI, we have managed to create a level playing field for millions of professionals in India’s rising workforce. Google Cloud has been an important partner in our journey and we look forward to continuing our mission of #AcceleratingIndia with them”. He added.

“apna leveraged Google Cloud’s ML and intuitive AI and has grown its user base to 22 million in just 3 years across 70+ cities enabling 80 million job interviews per month. We are thrilled to support apna in building the future of intelligent job searches on Google’s agile cloud infrastructure.” said Bikram SIngh Bedi, Managing Director at Google Cloud India

Community building remains a significant component at apna. Similarly, peer learning is an invaluable resource for finding jobs and sharing essential tips ranging from learning English to interview techniques that boost one’s chances of success. However, with an influx of community-powered forums, there is a potential risk of fraudulent job postings and some users bullying others.

apna uses Vertex AI to build ML models that can detect abusive or fraudulent behavior based on keywords with high accuracy. The collaboration with Google Cloud Will lead to results-based empowerment for a continuously evolving job platform and foster the growth of safe communities with AI-driven content analytics.

About apna

Founded in 2019, apna.co is India’s largest jobs and professional networking platform dedicated to helping India’s rising workforce to unlock unique professional networking, and skilling opportunities.

Having secured more than $190 million from marquee investors such as Tiger Global, Owl Ventures, Insight Partners, Lightspeed India, Sequoia Capital India, Maverick Ventures, GSV Ventures, Greenoaks Capital and Rocketship.vc apna is on a mission to enable livelihoods for billions in India. With more than 22 million users in 70-plus cities and counting and more than 200,000 employers that trust the platform, India has a new destination to discover relevant opportunities.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology – all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

Ashok Soota Conferred With Prestigious CII Quality Ratna Award 2021

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital . Born Agile,’ Mindful IT Company, announced today that Ashok Soota, Executive Chairman, is conferred with the prestigious CII Quality Ratna Award 2021 during the 21st CII IQ Anniversary Programme, on 25th June 2022, at Hotel Hilton, Hebbal, Bengaluru.

The Annual CII Quality Ratna Award constituted in the year 2019 is in recognition of outstanding leadership, contribution, and distinguished service to the Quality Movement in India. The CII Awards Committee unanimously concurred to bestow the 2021 Award to Mr. Ashok Soota considering his significant contribution to building the competitiveness of the Indian industry through Quality Initiatives.

About Happiest Minds Technologies:

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/augmented reality, etc. Positioned as ‘Born Digital . Born Agile’, our capabilities span digital solutions, infrastructure, product engineering and security. We deliver these services across industry sectors such as automotive, BFSI, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, EduTech, engineering R&D, healthcare, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail and travel/transportation/hospitality.

A Great Place to Work-Certified™ Company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and Middle East.

GE’s engineers At JFWTC Develop Job Description Decoder To Help Make Hiring Managers More Inclusive

Engineers at GE’s John F Welch Technology Centre in Bengaluru have developed an inhouse tool to help hiring mangers write more inclusive job descriptions. Called the JD Decoder, the tool has been under testing for over two years now.

“We have decided to open the tool up to all our hiring managers and talent acquisition teams in South Asia,” said Sukla Chandra, I&D Council leader, GE South Asia. “This is another step forward in our inclusion journey,” Chandra added.

Alok Nanda, CTO, GE South Asia and CEO, GE India Technology Centre, said, “At GE, we use technology to solve many challenges and problems in the energy, healthcare, and aviation sectors. I am delighted that our engineers have brought their scientific thinking to solve for unconscious bias and have developed a tool that helps make our job descriptions more inclusive.”

The GE India Technology Center regularly participates in LGBTQIA+ focused job fairs and has made successful offers to candidates. They have also onboarded a LGBTQIA+ inclusion focused organization as an approved talent acquisition partner thereby being deliberately inclusive in all their external hiring activities. They have various inclusion and diversity commitments in place which can be categorised under gender, disability advocacy network and Pride Alliance to ensure an equal and safe work environment for all genders.

GE in India is celebrating Pride month during June. On June 9th over 1500 GE employees participated in Pride walks across 10 GE campuses across India. As part of its Pride Alliance, GE has an array of initiatives to inculcate gender positivity and create an inclusive workspace. The GE Pride Alliance community is driving inclusion, diversity, and equity by influencing Policies, Practices, Infrastructure and Mindset. The Pride walks were conducted across GE campuses at Bengaluru (Karnataka), Sanand (Gujarat), Durgapur (West Bengal), Dabaspet (Karnataka), Maneja (Gujarat), Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Senior leaders from GE also participated in the Pride Walk at different campuses. As a part of the celebrations, ally briefings and panel discussions were conducted across campuses as well as awards to the most active and vocal allies for being solid pillars of support to the Pride Alliance were presented. 

GE is an equal opportunity employer and employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE in South Asia

GE has been operating in South Asia since 1902. Today, its 19,000 employees based here work in research, development, product design, manufacturing, project execution and services. Over the decades GE has built deep partnerships with local joint venture partners, customers, and suppliers. GE’s partners and customers in India include Government enterprises, large Indian conglomerates as well small and medium sized companies in Aviation, Healthcare and Energy sectors. In 2018, GE started to mentor health-tech start-ups through its India Edison Accelerator.