Doctors and Health Professionals Appeals for Introducing Regulations on Sale of Smokeless and Other Untaxed Tobacco Products

* Regulations on manufacturing, distribution and sale of non-virginia tobacco can enhance Government revenues in the range of Rs 35,000 Cr – Rs 40,000 Cr protecting health of youth 

Shram, a self-help group working in collaboration with doctors and professionals working in the field of health and education to build awareness against tobacco and alcohol abuse, appeals to Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance to regulate the unorganized manufacturing, distribution and sale of smokeless and other non-virginia tobacco in India to curtail its widespread consumption, protecting health of citizens  and bring it under a taxation structure.

Smokeless tobacco in India is currently used majorly for unorganized manufacturing of chewing tobacco, gutka, pan masala variants, zarda and others. These products are widely available and consumed by the poorer section in India due to their affordability and accessibility in the absence of any regulations and taxation. According to a study published in BMC Medicine, India accounts for 70% of deaths globally caused due to chewing of smokeless tobacco. The need for regulations to curtail their use is even greater during COVID-19 as this variant of tobacco is mostly chewed and spat thereby aiding the spread of the virus. The requirement for regulations is driven further by the fact that India, as per the research, is a hotspot for smokeless tobacco consumption. 

While India has an expansive set of rules and laws to restrict and regulate tobacco used in cigarettes and cigars at par with international norms, smokeless tobacco products and variants do not fall under this umbrella despite being 85% of the tobacco grown in India across 15 states. This largely unorganized and unregulated sector sees consumers of all age groups with the average age of tobacco consumers being as early as 17.4 years, according to Global Adult Tobacco Survey. The survey also found that close to 30% of tobacco users across India used smokeless tobacco yet this remains a sector away from the purvey of any rules and regulations. 

The debilitating state of the smokeless tobacco sector demands a regulatory structure akin to that in place for other tobacco products. If smokeless tobacco is traded or processed through auction platforms governed by the Tobacco Board of India or via APMCs then it will ensure fair pricing and ample taxation. Regulations will also ensure that manufacturers do not evade taxes in this highly unorganized sector. 

Placing an appeal for introducing a regulatory framework for trading of smokeless tobacco, Dr. Pranasmita Kalita of Shram said, “Smokeless tobacco industry in India is majorly an unorganized sector that sees producers, manufacturers and distributors take advantage of it being outside the ambit of any regulatory or taxation structure. This has led to wide exploitation of labour and massive tax evasion. The need of the hour lies in putting in place the government taking into account this crisis and introduce policies and laws to regulate and ensure legally taxed trading of smokeless tobacco and its products. Suitable taxation on non-virginia tobacco can bring in revenue to the Government in the range of Rs 35,000 crores to Rs 40,000 crores approximately.”

Steps to tackle the sale, manufacturing and production of smokeless tobacco is of utmost importance now, during COVID-19 as products derived from this category of tobacco are chewed and spat instead of being swallowed or breathed in. A definitive regulatory policy and subsequent taxing can play a hand in curtailing its widespread consumption.  

Rs 29,000 Crore Revenue Loss to Karnataka Due to Ban of Iron-Ore Export from the State: FIMI Southern Region

 

Summary

* Appeals to Ministry of Mines, Karnataka to make submissions to Hon’ble Supreme Court for allowing permission of iron-ore export from the state

* Karnataka is the only state in India which is suffering because of these restrictions while the rest of India is exporting iron ore as per the EXIM policy of Government

The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), Southern Region has made an appeal to the Ministry of Mines, Karnataka to take appropriate facts and urgently submit necessary facts before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in order to rectify the gross imbalance that has arisen due to the prohibition on exports and seek urgent rectification of the situation by permitting export of iron-ore from Karnataka.

The restrictions on trade of iron ore in Karnataka is suppressing the growth of the sector and have significant deleterious effects on the industry and also the public Exchequer. The restrictions on sale of iron ore in Karnataka were imposed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court keeping in mind the situation prevailing in 2011-12. At that time, mining operations had come to a complete halt in view of prohibitory orders made by the Apex Court. As per estimates, the gross loss over a 10-year period to the State of Karnataka is approximately INR 29,058.8 crores due to ban of iron ore exports. 

The rest of India is exporting iron ore as per the EXIM policy of Government of India thereby ensuring fair revenue to the State Exchequer including foreign exchange as well as overall growth of the nation by using the railways, port facilities etc. As per the data available, the total export in the year 2019 from other parts of India shows export of 10.34 MMT of fines and 1.16 MMT of lumps.

While, during the same period, the state of Karnataka, lagged when there is a surplus of 5.19 MMT fines arising due to additional production from auctioned C category leases and expired leases. Hence, an alternative market is urgently required since surplus iron ore may remain unsold even if the entire domestic demand is met from leases in Karnataka and without recourse to material from outside the State.

In Karnataka, approximately 70% of the sourcing is by single major steel player. These restrictions are also distorting the market as the buyer has the freedom of trade, i.e. right to purchase iron ore from either the e-auction or from other States or even to import from overseas. This has created a skewed market, disadvantageous to sellers as they can only sell to domestic end-users.

At present, the value of iron ore which is consumed captively, is derived from the IBM prices. This is affected by the monopsony arising from the e-auction system. The huge pressure on the lessees due to large scale imports (sometimes at higher prices than local ore) has forced lessees to resort to distress sale (since the iron ore remained unsold for many months and in some cases years). Consequently, IBM index price for Karnataka is low. From Jan 2018 to May 2019, iron ore prices have gone down in Karnataka by -18.7 %, although IBM prices for Odisha and Chhattisgarh have only marginally reduced by -2.7% and -7.7% respectively.

The reduced price of iron ore sold in e-auction, also has a direct impact on levies to be paid to State of Karnataka since the same are fixed, ad valorem and on the basis of the sale price. The State’s revenue is 30% of the sale price. Hence, the recovery of true value will substantially enhance the revenue of State Exchequer. Pertinently, revenue at the aforesaid rate will accrue to the State even on export. On the other hand, where ore is imported by consumers in Karnataka, the State earns only 2.5% import duty.

In 2018-19, approximately 6.67 MMT of iron ore was imported into the state, as a substitute for locally produced iron ore, thereby leaving unsold stock in mines and causing loss of revenue to the State of Karnataka. These imports have also affected sale of 8 MMT of old stocks.

Organ Donation-Myths Vs Facts During the Covid 19 Pandemic in India

Observed every year on August 13th every year, Organ Donation Day aims to dispel prevalent myths as well as encourage people to pledge to donate their organs after death. Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India had formally launched the day in the year 2010 in New Delhi with a twin focus of raising awareness and inviting people to commit to the act by eliminating common myths and fears that surround the process of donation. Through various campaigns it is aimed to educate people about the life changing practice and its importance in giving a fresh lease of life to those in need of these vital body parts. The significance of organ donation is underpinned by the fact that a single donor can save up to eight lives. Kerala's Deceased Donor Organ Transplantation Program, a Kerala Government Initiative was established on 12th August 2012.  

Some statistics

* According to National Health Portal, each year 500,000 people die on account of non-availability of organs. Following statistics further illustrate the urgency in this area: 

* 200,000 people die due to liver disease, 10-15% of these could be saved by a timely transplant, however only 1500 receive one;

* 50,000 people succumb to heart disease, only 10-15 transplants done annually; 

* Only 6,000 people of the total 180,000 who await a kidney transplant receive one;

* 25000 corneal transplants conducted as opposed to a requirement of 100,000

* Source:DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF HEALTH SERVICES, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

Common questions 

What is an organ?

A part of the body that performs a specific function is called an organ. Some examples of organs are heart, lungs, kidney, liver, eyes and ears. 

What is Organ Donation?

Organ donation is an act when a person chooses to donate an organ from their body to a person who has an end stage organ disease and needs a transplant.

Which organs and tissues can be transplanted?

Medical sciences have made great advancements and the organs that can be transplanted to far are liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, intestine, cornea, middle ear, skin, bone, bone marrow, heart valves and connective tissue. 

Who can donate?

Anybody can donate organs. Strict medical criteria and not age, caste, religion, community decide who can be a donor. Typically, there are two categories of donors: 

Living donor is a healthy person who voluntarily authorizes the removal of an organ or /and tissue during his or her lifetime. They should not be below 18 years of age.

Deceased donor is someone who, regardless of his or her age, donates the organ after death. 

How can you be a donor?

There are two ways to become a donor:

a. A person can pledge to donate organs while he or she is still alive. In this case they will be issued a Donor Card which is acts as a will after the death. To become a voluntary donor, visit the official site of National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) (www.notto.gov.in). People who have pledged to donate organs are encouraged to publicize this act in order to inspire others to follow suit. 

b. In case of an absence of a formal registered pledge for people declared brain dead or dead, the organs can be donated after obtaining consent of the surviving family. Transplantation of Human Organs Act lays down the rules in such cases. Before commencing the process, it is mandatory to procure consent from family, coroner and legal authorities in addition to following the procedures laid down in the act.

Myths and reality regarding Organ donation

1. Myth: My doctor or the emergency room staff may not work with as much dedication to save my life if I agree to donating my organs. They will be in a rush to remove my organs to save someone else. 

Reality: Doctors are under oath to save your life and not someone else’s at your expense. Besides, the doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplant. Please note that the organ transplant can only be undertaken once declared brain dead. 

2. Myth: What if I am not really dead when they sign my death certificate? It will be too late if they take my organs. Perhaps I could have recovered? 

Reality: People don’t start spluttering or wiggling their toes once declared dead; this is a popular topic in the tabloids only. Far more rigorous testing is done to ensure that those who have signed a pledge are really brain dead than those who have not undertaken any such promise.  

3. Myth: Organ donation is against my religion.

Reality: Organ donation is one of biggest acts of ‘giving’ and all religions exhort generosity. None of the religions object to organ donation and transplantation. In case you have doubts, check with your religious leader or community. 

4. Myth: I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.

Reality: That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.

5. Myth: Organ and tissue donation will disfigure my body.

Reality: Organ and tissue donation doesn't disfigure the body. Donated organs are removed surgically, which doesn't disfigure the body. Also since the donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. (For eye donation, an artificial eye is inserted, the lids are closed) For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back, no one can see any difference.

6. Myth: I'm too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.

Reality: Age does not account for factors of significance while deciding on organ donation. Strict medical criteria are adhered to in such situations. Besides, there is no prescribed cut-off age and successful transplantations have been conducted from donors in their 70s and 80s. It is for the doctors to decide at the time of death, whether the organs are suitable for transplantation or not. There is no point in stopping yourself from undertaking that pledge which could potentially save a life or more.  

7. Myth: I'm not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.

Reality: Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Let that decision be the doctor’s based on the medical assessment.

8. Myth: Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There's no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who've waited the longest or are the neediest.

Reality: Organs donations are not decided on the basis or wealth, social status, caste, religion, gender but purely on the need for the organ, the time spent waiting, blood type and other important medical factors. There is a lot of publicity surrounding celebrity organ transplants which may give the impression that because of their money and clout they can jump the cue but they are not given priority in allocation of organs. 

9. Myth: My family will be charged if I donate my organs.

Reality: Hospitals pass on the costs of organ removal to the transplant recipient and never to the donor’s family. The family is charged only for the cost of all the final efforts to save the donor’s life, which might get misconstrued as charges related to organ donation. 

10. Myth: People can buy and sell organs

Reality: Any commercial dealing is prohibited and a punishable crime under the tenets of “The 'Transplant of Human Organs Act'.

Brigade Group Announces Q1 FY21 Financial Results Operational Highlights (Q1FY21)

Residential

Achieved 0.4 mn sq ft. of new sales in Q1 FY21 valued at Rs. 250 Crore vs 1 mn sq ft. valued at Rs. 593 Crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year

Realization per sft has gone up by 14% compared to the same period in the previous year

Jasper Block at Brigade El Dorado of 0.62 mn sft launched during the quarter

Strong pipeline of 16.24 mn sq ft. and upcoming 2.06 mn sq ft. to be launched in FY21

Lease rental:

Leasing segment for offices remains stable with over 95% collections

Construction of the Brigade Twin Towers development has commenced

Hospitality:

All hotels are operational with Ministry of Home Affairs and State Government protocols in place

Average occupancy of 11% due to impact of COVID-19 & lockdown

All non-essential capital expenditure and renovation has been deferred to reduce cash outflows

Various cost saving measures taken including reduction of manpower costs of about 40% and reduction of about 70% in other overheads during the quarter

Financial Highlights:

Consolidated Performance Q1FY21 vs Q1FY20: 

Total Revenues at Rs.214 crores vis-à-vis Rs. 717 crores

EBITDA at Rs. 58 crores vis-à-vis Rs. 191 crores

EBITDA margin at 27%

PAT/(Loss) after Minority Interest at Rs. (53 crores) vis-à-vis profit of Rs. 41 crores

Commenting on the results, Chairman & MD Mr. M.R Jaishankar said, “While this quarter was  impacted by COVID-19, our continued focus on digital marketing,  online booking of apartments  and collections have yielded results even though most of the first quarter was under lockdown.    Despite the pandemic, our total collections for the quarter was Rs. 376 crores. The rental collections from Office in the Leasing Segment is stable. Although the biggest impact has been in the hospitality and retail segment, all efforts are being taken to improve their performance and we are positive that these segments will normalize soon.”

COVID-19 Impact & Outlook

Company outlook:

Construction has resumed at 30% labour strength post unlock 1.0 & has now crossed 50%. We expect to reach 100% by end of Q3 FY21

Green shoots are visible in residential business with a pickup in enquiries and sales

Office business remains stable with 95% collections, retaining a positive outlook

Business in malls and hotels will pick up gradually along with the improvement in economy

Brigade has a strong balance sheet and is in a good position to manage operations while maintaining liquidity to meet business obligations

Industry outlook:

Rate reduction by RBI and consequent low rate of interest for housing loans is a big positive

Adequate liquidity in the economy has helped restrict the damage

Recent announcement by RBI to allow banks to restructure loans in impacted sectors is a step in the right direction

Economy is expected to rebound in the later part of the calendar year; however, GDP contraction is expected for the financial year

Operational Impact:

Construction activity was impacted because of intermittent lockdowns

Lower revenue recognition in real estate segment was due to government office shutdowns

Malls and Hotels underperformed because of the lockdown, travel restrictions and weak consumer sentiment

Collections were impacted because of the reasons mentioned above though partially mitigated by prudent capital expenditure and reduction in overheads

Relief & Efforts:

John’s Health Centre at Brigade Meadows was inaugurated on June 24, 2020

Donation for purchase of an ambulance by St. John’s

Donation for purchase of prefabricated 5 bed ICU module to K C General Hospital

Donation for purchase of ventilator to Sri Vasavi Hospital

Dry ration to more than 3000 families in Bangalore

Sustenance allowance provided to migrant workers and supported them with ‘dry rations

80,000 Meals provided during lock down period

Workers engagement programmes viz. exercises, aerobics, yoga, as well as workers’ counselling

Awards and Recognitions:

Brigade Enterprises Ltd. has been recognised as one of India’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020, in one of India’s largest workplace study conducted by the Great Place to Work®️ Institute and The Economic Times.

This year, Brigade Enterprises Ltd has been "Ranked 43", in the coveted Top 50 category, across companies. Brigade Enterprises Ltd also has the distinction of being among India’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For, 10 years in a row.

Brigade Hospitality Services Ltd. has been ranked 3rd amongst India’s Great Mid -Size Workplaces in 2020 by the Great Place to Work Institute and The Economic Times.

Revive Both Demand and Supply Drivers Say FAITH Bodies to Ministry of Tourism

 - Dual task forces strategy

- Safe gatherings learning from holy temple site templates

- Focused multi - language social media product advertising spurts

- Free E visa across categories

- Uniform quarantine policies

- Create consumer confidence, dispel fear

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) had an inter association meeting with ministry of tourism.

FAITH and its 10 member associations in a multi association meeting with Ministry of Tourism proposed multi-step strategies for revival of tourism. These issues were identified to enhance tourism demand while protecting tourism supply in India.

Tourism encompasses multiple ministries and happens across states. It thus requires a coordinated approach across all the ministries at the central government level and between centre and state. FAITH Associations have proposed a dual task force strategy. An inter- ministerial task force at the central government level and an inter- state task force. These two task forces need to be empowered and need to be agile to fast track decision making as tourism will be the last sector to revive.

To stimulate domestic tourism FAITH associations recommended dispelling consumer fear and confusion by ensuring uniform inter-quarantine air & land border policy across all states. This will provide confidence and give knowledge to bath business and leisure tourists.

FAITH 10 associations proposed incentivising two segments domestic conferences and domestic consumers to travel within India by creating structured tax breaks.

As travel bubbles have started between India and international countries, FAITH associations proposed a multi-year e-visa holiday for all visa categories as and when till inbound demand to India stabilises. This needs to be complemented by publicising widely the revised 96 hour RT PCR policy for COVID testing and ensuring standardisation across all airports.

They also discussed holding the Indian Tourism Mart for international tour operators to establish confidence and showcase the incredible Indian tourism products in the first or the fourth week of November.

Marketing communication of tourism should be kickstarted which should focus on positivity & safety of Indian tourism while weaving these messages around different product segments, destinations, and incredible concepts of Indian tourism.

These could be multiple series of social media ads each with different versions of Indian and international languages to help stimulate both domestic & international tourism

Tourism demand can truly be activated if the tourism supply and value chain is healthy and doesn’t break down anywhere across travel agents, hotels, tour operators, tourist transporters or restaurants. Faith associations recommended multiple support and revival strategies for the same.

Tour operators and travel agents recognised by tourism ministry should be allowed to operate tours for adventure, religious, or education purposes which are recognised as LTC enabled agents & operators.

For the tourist hinterlands, remote last mile air connectivity must be enabled through a hub & spoke system under the Udaan policy with increased state support till private demand picks up. To ensure best practices in adventure, satellite phones and helicopter search and rescue needs to be enabled for adventure tours across the beautiful Indian adventure spots.

The meetings segment has to begin its revival process and FAITH associations said guidelines must be  considered to be revised upwards by allowing 300 indoors and upto 500 in open areas. A fine example of safe gatherings is the inauguration of the holy temple site by the honourable PM which can be showcased as a role model gatherings format. Meetings segment must now formally also include, recognise and officially support all forms social gatherings and movie shoots and virtual meetings. It is also critical for IGST to be enabled for hospitality industry which will enhance cross-state Indian meetings industry movement with companies getting gst credit while using hotels for meetings tourism in other states

FAITH Associations have requested Delhi Hotels to be unlocked as Delhi is the gateway of North India. They have also requested for all states to support hospitality by giving a statutory waiver on all fixed liabilities power costs, liquor permits, property cesses and so on. They have suggested that GST be rationalised for hotels above ₹7500 to be brought down to 12% from 18% which will stimulate domestic travel.

FAITH Associations to revive restaurants also requested for the GST option with full setoff made available for restaurants and restaurant GST be delinked from hotel tariffs.

To financially protect the tourism companies, till the resolution plan is set in motion by the RBI, FAITH Associations proposed extension of the moratorium of tourism & hospitality companies. They have also requested for automatic extension of all tourist transport and tour operators  permits , liquor licenses and other extensions.

The Indian travel agents are key enablers of the travel distribution. FAITH Associations requested for an even more healthy partnership approach between Indian travel agents, IATA & Air India. Travel agents and consumers also need to insured against airline payment defaults of their advances and cancellations and mechanisms need to be put in place.

FAITH spokesperson said that the FAITH Associations are hopeful that the demand generation measures and supply protection measures for tourism will be implemented quickly to kick start Indian tourism and express their gratitude to Tourism Ministry for initiating this exercise.

 About FAITH: FAITH, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, is the National Federation of the 10 National Tourism, Travel and Hospitality organisations of India. These associations are ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI & TAFI.

North East has Potential to Emerge as Largest Oil Palm Cultivator in the Country

Summary

* OPDPA, continues to request government to introduce structural and policy changes to fully leverage the potential of the crop for the benefit of farmers, employment generation, and reduced dependence on imports and economy at large 

* Region has the capacity to produce 1 billion dollars equivalent of Crude Oil Palm imports 

OPDPA (Oil Palm Developers And Processors Association), the Nodal Agency for Oil Palm Cultivation in India lauds the message by the PM Mr. Modi for recognising the need and importance of being self-reliant in edible oil, and asking Farmers and State Governments of North East to pursue Oil Palm cultivation. His message clearly underpins the benefits of Oil Palm cultivation to the overall Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda as well as its potential to help with the growth story of the region. 

The PM has recommended the State Governments of North East region to set up oil palm missions in their respective States to promote cultivation of the Oil Palm. The setting up of these missions will help boost the ecosystem as well increase focus for the adoption of the crop. Oil Palm cultivation in North East Regions can tremendously boost the economy of the region leading to large scale development and progress of the region. 

Commenting on the progressive step taken by the Government, Mr. Sanjay Goenka, President of OPDPA said, “The expanse of Oil Palm cultivation in the country is very negligible today as compared to the potential the crop possesses. We have seen the transformation this crop has brought about in the lives of farmer community in Andhra Pradesh and we hope to emulate the same in the Northeastern States as well. A strong and robust long term policy mechanism needs to be introduced to give this crop the required push across India. Given the Honorable Prime Minister’s Atmanirbharta vision, India can truly achieve its goal of self-sufficiency in Edible Oils by pushing for development in the Oil Palm Plantation sector 

In North East, the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have tremendous scope for undertaking and increasing area under Oil Palm. The Agro-Climatic conditions of the region are extremely suitable for Oil Palm cultivation and therefore, the region has the potential to cover over 2,00,000 Acres. Equivalent to 1 billion dollars of imports can be prevented. 

Members of the OPDPA, Including 3F Oil Palm, have already set up base and are working closely with the state governments of NE to create awareness on the benefits of the crop. 3F Oil Palm, a pioneer in Oil Palm cultivation in the country, currently operates in Arunachal Pradesh and has already covered over 5000acres of Area under Oil Palm in the Lower Debang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. Plans are in the pipeline to set up a state of the art Processing facility with a captive power plant.   

Oil Palm crop is a highly remunerative crop that has the potential to provide the highest return on investment per acre compared to other commercial crops. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh are a living testimony to the far-reaching benefits of this crop for their livelihoods and future. 

India is heavily dependent on imported edible oils, With nearly 15 million tonnes (or nearly 68 per cent) of edible oils getting imported to meet the country’s annual requirement of about 22 million tonnes. Of the total 15 million tonnes of import, about 9 million tonnes (or nearly 60 percent) is palm oils. 

“The  industry is in need of several reforms to maintain its viability and attract further investments in various states of India. OPDPA has been aggressively pursuing the agenda with the Government to bring in structural policy changes which will greatly propel the industry to new growth levels. With the policy changes proposed by us, we can truly achieve our Hon. PMs vision of Atmanirbharta in Edible Oils”, Mr. Sanjay Goenka added further. 

Some of the key asks by the association are: 

Stable pricing mechanism to be put in place for protecting the Indian Oil Palm farmer from fluctuations in price of the produce and continue to motivate him to grow the crop. A fixed MSP mechanism as suggested by the draft CACP report of 2018, will go a long way in this regard.  

A special package for the northeast will quickly help the country in bringing large areas under oil palm plantation (Including making available unutilized government land to Oil Palm companies for captive Oil Palm plantation). 

About OPDPA: 

The Oil Palm Developers and Processors Association (OPDPA) is a consortium of companies that include 3F Oil Palm Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd. etc, established to work towards the growth of the Oil Palm Industry. Despite a challenging policy and regulatory environment, over the last 2 decades the industry has grown from a ‘0’ hectares in oil palm then to a respectable 200,000 hectares across several states including the North East. The industry has a huge potential to help India bridge the country’s edible oil deficit, generate several thousand jobs and help in nation building. 

Cruise with Confidence on Jalesh Cruises from November 6, 2020

Restart of Cruises

* Indian Government announces commencement of cruises from October 2020῀

* Jalesh Cruises offers FREE COVID19 rapid testing to all its passengers ῀

After four months of the country experiencing lockdown, home confinement, restricted movements and no summer vacations, it is now time for some unbelievably good news! As part of its Mission Begin Again, the Indian Government has announced that it will permit cruise ships to commence sailing from 1st October. In the light of this major development, Jalesh Cruises announces the commencement of its cruise MV Karnika from Friday 6th November 2020.

In line with its commitment to its valued passengers to offer an enjoyable, safe and secure holiday in your home (away from home) on the sea, Jalesh Cruises will offer all passengers FREE rapid Covid19 and all other flu related testing at the time of embarkation! Passengers will receive their test results in 15 minutes, board the ship without any fears or worries and set sail into the blue sea and the bright horizon.

Start planning your much deserved and well-earned break aboard the magnificent MV Karnika, starting November 2020. Choose a cruise in India with your family members or friends to put the worry of the last four months behind you and create fresh, new, happy and memorable moments with your own Indian cruise line Jalesh cruises, which offers an international experience while cruising within India.

Jalesh Cruises invites Indians to hop on board its premium cruise Karnika and have a wonderful vacation without any fear. Karnika is a home away from home with the best in class amenities and offers the option of discovering the beauty of one’s own country India while sailing in the lap of comfort. 

Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO, Jalesh Cruises said, “The announcement by the Indian Government to permit sailing by cruise companies comes as a fresh breath of air to all of us. We have been waiting to set sail with passengers and we eagerly await November. The health and safety of our passengers and our crew has been and will always be our priority. I would like to reassure our valued guests that they would not find a safer and cleaner ship than Karnika. We eagerly wait to welcome guests on board Karnika with open arms and promise them an experience that will wipe away the gloom of the last few months. Our guests will return home invigorated, refreshed and all charged up after their oceanic voyage.” 

In addition to excellent accommodation, dining, entertainment and leisure offerings, Karnika is proud of its first-rate hygiene and security practices.

MV Karnika has been in Mumbai, India since 12 March 2020 and has been in India ever since.

About Jalesh Cruises

Jalesh Cruises is the owner and operator of India’s premiere cruise liner – Karnika, which commenced operations from 17th April 2019 in Mumbai. Jalesh Cruises, is India’s first multi-destination cruise line that has world-class entertainment shows, activities and exotic authentic cuisines packed with international hospitality on the high sea. The cruise is designed and customized especially for the Indian audience to experience the flavor of Indian and International culture, food & hospitality while sailing in India.

Wockhardt Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership with UK Government

Wockhardt, the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology major today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the UK Government to fill finish COVID-19 vaccines. The manufacturing will be undertaken at CP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Wockhardt based in Wrexham, North Wales.

As per the terms of the agreement the company has reserved manufacturing capacity to allow for the supply of multiple vaccines to the UK Government in its fight against COVID-19, including AZD1222, the vaccine co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca.

Dr Habil Khorakiwala, Founder Chairman of Wockhardt emphasised, “The pandemic of COVID-19 is a challenge for all and needs a concerted effort to overcome. We are proud to be collaborating with the UK Government to make vaccines available and the arrangement brings in a huge sense of purpose and pride, it upholds our ongoing commitment to fight against such a pandemic of global human importance. As a global organisation, we are focussed and committed to assist in mitigating the worldwide impact of COVID-19.”

Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Government of U.K said, “Ensuring the UK has the capability to research, develop and manufacture a safe and effective vaccine is critical in our fight against coronavirus.

“Today we have secured additional capacity to manufacture millions of doses of multiple Covid-19 candidates, guaranteeing the supply of vaccines we need to protect people across the UK rapidly and in large numbers.”

Speaking about the contract Ravi Limaye, Managing Director Wockhardt UK said, “We are immensely proud to have been selected to partner with the UK Government on this project. In doing so we are taking a lead role in the nation’s fight against pandemic of COVID-19”.

“We have a sophisticated sterile manufacturing facility and a highly skilled workforce. We expect to start delivering the first doses of the vaccine later this year.” He added.

The government has reserved one fill and finish production line for its exclusive use for the next 18 months in order to guarantee the supply of vaccines required to fight COVID-19 in the UK.

Dr Murtaza Khorakiwala, Managing Director and Global CEO of Wockhardt adds, “The arrangement with the UK Government for manufacturing vaccines for COVID-19 showcases our global strength in world class sterile injectable facilities and capacity. With four decades of expertise and experience behind us we are able to quickly scale to manufacture and assist in mitigating the worldwide impact of COVID-19.”

Kate Bingham, Chair of U.K. Vaccines Task Force said, “Never before have we needed to find and manufacture a vaccine at this speed and scale in order to protect the UK population. We have made significant progress in securing a diverse portfolio of potential vaccines and treatments for Covid-19, adding a fourth vaccine candidate from GSK and Sanofi last week. However, discovering a successful vaccine is only part of the solution, we also need to be able to manufacture it. Fill Finish is a critical step in the process to get the vaccine in a form to be given to patients. The agreement with Wockhardt will boost our capability to ensure that from the moment a successful vaccine is identified we will be able to produce the quantities of vaccine required, as quickly as possible, for the people who need it.”

Wockhardt is a global pharmaceutical and biotech organisation that brings affordable, high quality medicines to market. In the UK, Wockhardt is one of the largest suppliers into the NHS for over 20 years, has had a presence in Wrexham for over two decades and employs over 400 people at its 612,000 square feet high-tech manufacturing facility.

About Wockhardt:

Wockhardt is a research based global pharmaceutical and Biotech Company headquartered in Mumbai, India. Wockhardt’s New Drug Discovery programme has focussed on the unmet need of making anti-bacterial drugs effective in mitigating untreatable superbugs. Wockhardt is the only company in the world that has received QIDP Status (Qualified Infectious Diseases Programme) from the US FDA for six anti-bacterial discovery programmes – three of them are Gram Negative and three Gram Positive and are effective against untreatable “Superbugs”. Wockhardt has a dedicated and experienced Drug Discovery team as part of its clinical research organisation.

Wockhardt employs over 7,000 people across 27 nationalities with a presence in the USA, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Mexico, Russia and many other countries. It has manufacturing and research facilities in India, the USA and UK and a manufacturing facility in Ireland. Wockhardt has a significant presence in the USA, Europe and India, with around 73% of its global revenue coming from international business.

Wockhardt UK specialises in the supply of generic and speciality medicines and is one of the leading suppliers to the NHS. They have a portfolio of over 250 product lines which are available in a wide range of preparations, including tablets, capsules, injections and liquid medicines.

The UK manufacturing site based in Wrexham, North Wales manufactures a number of sterile injectable products covering a wide range of therapy areas including diabetes, anticoagulation and pain management. The products are available in many forms such as vials, cartridges and ampoules including lyophilised (dry powder) products. In addition to their own Wockhardt branded products, they also provide contract manufacturing services for companies all around the world.

What COVID-19 Means for the Data Breach Landscape?

A three-month analysis on the possible impact of COVID-19 on the data breach landscape has shed light on an increasing number of threat actors worrying cyber-security specialists.  The Verizon Business study reviewed 474 data breach incidents from March – June 2020 based on contributor data, publicly disclosed incidents and Verizon’s own observations drawn from its collective years of experience. It focuses on 36 confirmed data breaches which were identified as being related directly to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“ In view of the COVID19 pandemic,  many large and small organisations have adopted new technologies such as software- as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, increased cloud-based storage and the use of third-party vendors in record time to continue to support their customers. While the  SaaS solutions mentioned above, or the cloud itself, are not inherently less secure, however the  concern arises from the fact that due to the conditions the pandemic has created, most organizations are adopting them in a hurried fashion, and they are often forced to do so while relying on fewer resources in terms of both personnel and revenue thereby multiplying the risk.. ” said Prashant Gupta, Head of Solutions, Verizon Business.  

The analysis has thrown up an increasing number of commonly seen threat actors, which include: 

Increase in Error -- The Verizon Business 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) outlined that almost a quarter of all breaches were due to human error and this trend continues during the pandemic. This is due in part to organizations operating with a reduced number of staff due to illness, redundancies and/or with staff who have limitations due to their remote status. At the same time, these organizations are often experiencing unusually heavy workloads with a much higher reliance on new and unfamiliar solutions that need to be deployed quickly. 

Stolen credential-related hacking -- The DBIR shows that over 80 percent of breaches within the hacking category are caused by stolen or brute­ forced credentials. During the pandemic, this is now being exacerbated by the large number of employees working from home and the maintaining external workstations for remote access, leaning on SaaS platforms. Business IT departments are being challenged to secure company assets on the corporate network while the majority of the workforce is out of the office. 

Phishing -- In order to utilize stolen credentials, an attacker must first be able to obtain them and phishing remains one of the most commonly used methods. Prior to COVID-19 the 2020 DBIR flagged that credential theft and social attacks such as phishing and business email compromises were at the root of the majority of breaches (over 67 percent) and this trend has continued. Specific terms in combination with "COVID" or "CORONAVIRUS," such as "masks," "test," "quarantine" and "vaccine” were found to be widely used within the time period. In March, a phishing simulation, conducted by a DBIR contributor, performed on approximately 16,000 people found that almost three times as many people not only clicked through a phishing link, but also provided their credentials to the simulated login page.  

“Businesses need to start taking far greater responsibility in protecting their technology infrastructure. From deploying more robust security protocols to ensuring timely data breach disclosure policies. Once you lose public confidence, gaining that credibility back can often be an uphill task”, said Dr Zaki Qureshy, Founding Father, Hyderabad Security Cluster. 

Verizon Business 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report 

The Verizon Business 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report, analysed 32,002 security incidents, of which 3,950 were confirmed breaches; almost double the 2,013 breaches analysed last year. These cases came from 81 global contributors from 81 countries including the Government of Telangana and the Hyderabad Security Cluster.  

FAITH Revises Indian Tourism Value at Risk Guidance to ₹ 15 Lakh Cr

‘Now or Never’ Point 

* Worst period ever for tourism in 100 years. 

* Till a vaccine is found, concept of tourism will be in dire threat

* Tourism COVID Support Fund needed

* RBI must give a multi-year moratorium on principal & interest to tourism.  

* Stop the clock on all central & state Government for statutory payments

* 75% value or minimum 9 months of the almost 10% of India’s GDP from Tourism at risk from collapse 

* Generations of tourism businesses and crores of jobs getting impacted

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality,the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) & cause partner AIRDA has further revised upwards it’s value at risk to Indian tourism to ₹ 15 lakh crores. 

FAITH’s first guidance which was calculated and was shared with the Government in March 2020 had put tourism’s economic value at risk at ₹ 5 lakh crores from this pandemic.  FAITH revised this further during the quarter as the situation deteriorated and the value at risk was put at ₹ 10 lakh crores. This has been revised again to touch a value at risk of upto ₹ 15 lakh crores in terms of the economic output of tourism in India 

Given the way the virus is progressing, tourism supply chains have  broken down in India across all its key inbound, domestic & outbound markets and is not expected to recover for the next  5 months too making the total impact to a minimum of 9 months starting from March this year. 

The direct and indirect economic impact of Tourism industry in India is approximately estimated at ~ 10% of India’s GDP.  This roughly puts the full year economic multiplier value of tourism in India at ~ ₹ 20 lakh crores. Minimum three quarters of tourism will be fully impacted 

This value covers the whole tourism value chain from airlines, travel agents, hotels, tour operators, tourism destinations restaurants, tourist transportation, tourist guides. Each of these segments of tourism is non - performing or under performing and will stay that way for many months of this year.

This is evident across all segments of tourism. Pending refunds for travel agents,  shut down or vacant  hotels & restaurants,  empty or locked down conventions and meeting or wedding halls, no order pipelines for tour operators, tourist transport lying locked in parking lots, laid off or leave without pay staff , managers, the summer domestic and outbound holiday season gone,  no visible bookings for the peak October - March season, meetings shifted to virtual apps , non - essential travel closed and so on. 

Be it leisure ( inbound, outbound, domestic) corporate travel, heritage, adventure, meetings incentives, exhibitions & events religious, spiritual and in upcoming high value niche tourism products such as sea & river cruises, camping, rafting, golf  film tourism, jungle tourism, agri tourism and many more across all states, this will the worst performing year for tourism in a century. 

Tourism has one of the largest economic multipliers and FAITH based upon its industry estimates believes that each rupee spent on tourism could have an economic multiplier of upwards of  3- 4 times more for India given its most globally unique natural and cultural heritage spread across the Indian hinterlands. The cumulative job losses for the full year both in organised & unorganised category of tourism could go as high as 4 crores. 

FAITH has been requesting over the past 5 months that for revival of any demand in tourism, it is first important that the survival of tourism businesses in India has to first remain intact. 

Tourism sector requires a very customised sector specific relief package and it cannot be delayed any further,  FAITH spokesperson said.

The following are immediately critical to maintaining the survival of tourism businesses 

* A Tourism fund which can be used by tourism enterprises in India for taking care of their employees. 

* A multi-year moratorium by RBI on principal and interest payments by tourism, travel & hospitalty businesses. 

* An immediate full year waiver of all central and state statutory liabilities be it PF , ESi, income taxes, GST , fixed power and utilities tariffs, property , excise , inter-state tourist transportation taxes and license fees, all without any accumulated or penal interest has to be done immediately. 

* Robust booking payments refund mechanism for travel agents & tour operators from airlines, railways, state tourism parks and other suppliers. 

Only this will keep the Indian tourism track and hospitality industry alive for a revival, it will keep the jobs intact and it will protect the exposure of the banking sector to tourism preventing their loans from becoming NPAs. 

Post the Unlock tourism is seeing some spur, but that too very limited, very  short -  haul  domestic travel and not enough to make any tourism business viable. 

FAITH has already raised requests over the past five months to the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, to each of the 28 chief ministers , to the RBI, Niti Aayog, to tourism parliamentary panel, ministries of aviation, commerce, Finance and to more than 600 parliamentarians and is closely in coordination with ministry of tourism.  

It has also requested the Parliamentarians to raise the question as to ‘why not tourism’ for sector specific support when tourism industry contributes to pan India jobs across urban & rural, forex , robust IT & GST collections, capex driven GDP & so on. 

Tourism is a very unique business and is a discretionary activity.  Tourism is a means of unwinding, letting oneself immerse in local experiences. With each aspect of the travel journey now under the threat of virus from contact, this puts tourism at risk. Till the time there is a vaccine found, the very concept of tourism will be in question.  

This will be reflected in all data points of the Government whether in GST collections, banking data, PF, ESI or state level fixed charges. 

Tourism cannot be treated economically like any other business and needs NOW a Fiscal & Monetary structured package coordinated among all arms of Governments. 

The whole value chain of Indian tourism will be under threat - which catered to almost 10.8 million incoming foreign travellers , almost 1.8 billion Indian domestic tourism visits, almost 5 mn- + expats Indians visiting back,  almost 28 mn + outbound travelling Indians & almost $ 29 bn + forex earnings.

BOCI and Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation Seek Help from Government Due to Financial Crisis

 

Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India - (BOCI) & Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation Bangalore representing district association of bus owners operating buses from various district of Karnataka and neighboring states urged the Karnataka government to provide immediate relief to the public transport sector which is on a  stand still due to COVID 19 lockdown. The public transport sector has requested waiver of taxes, deferment of tax payments, extension of vehicle insurance validity, increase in price/fare on tickets, extending the loan moratorium and subsidies on diesel and tax reduction on spare parts for a stipulated period which would help reduce the vehicle running cost to save the sector from collapsing.

The Current fleet of vehicles under the Private Passenger Services is approximately 4lakh in Karnataka. The extended lockdown has hit the sector hard with many operators in dire straits and on brink of closure.  When compared to other countries, in India public transport sector does not receive financial support, instead it has severe burden of taxation including GST on tickets and purchase of vehicle tires and spares, GST and CESS on fuel and lubricants and toll tax.

Considering social distancing norms and only half the seats being used, paying tax for all seats per quarter in advance has affected the transport operators badly.  Due to non-operation of vehicles for more than four months, it has impacted the public transport sector severely. The layoff has also caused tremendous inconvenience to commuters, the salaried middle-class and unprecedented hardship for migrant daily wage laborers in India who depend entirely on public transport for their commute. The sector has made several representations to the authorities in the transport department, Ministries of state and to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka to draw their attention to multitudes of issues faced by the sector and have urged urgent action to alleviate their pain.

The key asks of the sector to various authorities in the Government of Karnataka are:

Waiver on Motor Vehicle Tax for six months

Extension of Vehicle Insurance

Increase in price in tickets

Waiver on Toll tax for public transport vehicles

Reduction in State tax & CESS on Diesel for public transport sector vehicles for next six months

Portal access to interact with RTO for payment of fees, documentation etc. avoid person to person contact and reduce virus spread

Insurance coverage to drivers and transport workers plying during pandemic to ferry passengers, essential goods

Allow utilization of ESI / EPF funds to pay staff salaries

Viability Gap Funding for Public Transport

Deferment of EMI payments for next 6 to 12 months

Addressing this concern, Mr. Rajavarma Ballal, All India Sectorial Vice President of Stage Carriage Service Sector, Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) said, “Transport sector is one of the major sectors contributing to the economy of the state and the nation. Government must provide necessary support to revive the sector in these critical times by providing tax exemption and extension of loan repayment tenure amongst other provisions. Though Banks have extended the moratorium for few months, but they should extend the mortarium by waiving interest to existing loans because more than 80% of the vehicles are usually financed and many are availing the moratorium. The Central Government has also provided COVID loan facilities for MSMEs. But as per the provision the loan facilities can be availed only by the owners of the travel companies. This loan facility must be extended to the individual owners who are using their personal vehicles for transport.  Also, the economic relief announced by the government to the public sector transportation must be extended.”

Mr. Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) said, India moves on public transport, as more than 90% of our people use it for their daily mobility needs. We have over 17 lakh operational buses on Indian roads, out of which, about 1.50 lakh buses are operated by various STU’s. The remaining 15.5lakh buses, accounting for almost 30 Crore passenger trips, are run by private operators which are the member of various Associations & Federations affiliated to Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). Being a labor-intensive sector, we request the government to support and save the sector from a total collapse. The fiscal relief sought will help the sector see through these tumultuous times.”

BOCI has also addressed these issues in a letter to the Honorable Prime Minister requesting for a job security of 1 crore people who have not been paid during the lockdown and requested government to take responsibility to pay salaries for 3 months. Rescheduling of all EMIs and Banks should be instructed to reschedule loans by giving at least six months moratorium period to all customers and to waived off the interest for the moratorium period. Banks and NBFCs should be advised to provide top-up working capital at low interest rates to resume business.

YES BANK Launches Banking Services on WhatsApp; Brings 60+ Products and Services to the Popular Messaging App

Uninterrupted banking Now Just a Message Away

* 24x7 Banking assistance, without the need for branch visits for key services

* Fully secure interactions with end to end encryption

* Potential customers can apply for 60+ products and services through WhatsApp

YES BANK announced the launch of WhatsApp banking services to empower customers and enable them to bank securely from the safety of their homes. This is in line with the Bank’s strategy of building a transformed ‘Digital Bank’ by making banking simpler and intuitive for customers.

Customers can now check their savings account balance, view recent transactions & digital banking products, avail loan against fixed deposits, order cheque book, report unauthorized transactions, connect with Contact centre via call or email, apply for 60+ products & services, donate to PM CARES Fund, view COVID-19 relief package, redeem reward points and locate nearby ATMs and branches, all just through a message.

Built on an AI enabled 24*7 personal banking assistant, YES ROBOT, banking through WhatsApp provides convenience as well as highest level of information security - the messages are secured with end to end encryption. Also, the green badge against the Bank’s name ensures that customers are interacting with a verified business account.

Key benefits of YES BANK WhatsApp banking services

* Trained for 10,000+ Banking related queries

* Powered by AI-enabled chatbot, YES ROBOT with Microsoft Azure’s cognitive services

* 24*7 Banking assistance on-the-go

* No additional app download needed

* Safe and secure transactions with end-to-end encryption

* Easy access and convenient banking

Commenting on the launch, Ritesh Pai, Chief Digital Officer, YES BANK, said “We are pleased to offer the convenience of round the clock banking assistance on WhatsApp, a platform that customers are familiar with and use frequently. The banking requests from customers will be addressed on a real-time basis through the messaging platform, thereby making banking more efficient. YES BANK will continue to leverage technology to create simple and innovative solutions for customers to enjoy banking services in a seamless and secure manner.”

To activate WhatsApp banking services:

Missed call: Give a missed call on +91-829-120-1200 to receive an SMS with a link to activate services.           

Save the contact: Save +91-829-120-1200 to contacts, open WhatsApp application and say ‘Hi’ to get started.           

Click Hi: Click on 'Hi' on YES BANK website (bitly link) and start chatting.     

About YES BANK

YES BANK is a ‘Full Service Commercial Bank’ providing a complete range of products, services and technology driven digital offerings, catering to Retail, MSME as well as corporate clients. YES BANK operates its Investment banking, Merchant banking & Brokerage businesses through YES SECURITIES and its Mutual Fund business through YES Asset Management (India) Limited, both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Bank. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a pan-India presence across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories in India including an IBU at GIFT City, and a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi.

Central Square Foundation and Omidyar Network India Release ‘State of the Sector Report on Private Schools’

Central Square Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works towards ensuring quality school education, and Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focussed on social impact, released the first-of-its-kind report today on the state of the private school sector in India. The report highlights the need to improve learning outcomes in private schools which educate nearly half of India’s school-going children.

The report is a comprehensive analysis of existing research and evidence on the sector. It suggests reforms to streamline the operations of private schools with a focus on improving student learning. It aims to be a ready reckoner for policymakers, academicians, researchers, philanthropists and educationists amongst other stakeholders associated with the sector.

About 70% children in urban centres and a quarter from rural households attend private schools. Over 50% students in 16 Indian states are enrolled in private schools. The increased enrollment can be attributed to the rising demand by aspirational parents. A large number of parents — about 70% — pay less than Rs. 1000 per month as school fees. The report finds that 73% of parents with children in private schools believe these schools provide a better learning environment. However, student performance in private schools is only marginally better than government schools after adjusting for disadvantages in student backgrounds. About 35% of rural private school students in Grade 5 are unable to read a basic Grade 2-level paragraph.

The report finds that parents lack the means to make informed decisions while choosing schools based on learning performance. Board Examinations, among the only few reliable and standardised metrics to assess learning, are held in the last few years of schooling making it difficult for parents to judge the quality of schools during the early years of education. Moreover, nearly 60% of the private schools across India do not go up to a Board Examination grade.

Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, released the report at a digital event and said, “An educated and literate India is not possible without the private sector working towards our nation building. We must pay attention to getting it right. We need to bring reforms using access, equity and quality as guiding factors. More importantly, we need to shift the focus from monitoring of inputs to monitoring of outcomes. Quality education has been this government’s priority and NITI Aayog is drafting a model regulatory act in consultation with all stakeholders. We believe we will see fruitful results based on the references and results underlined in this report."

Highlighting the fact that private schooling is not popular among the elite alone, Mr Ashish Dhawan, the Founder-Chairman of CSF, emphasised that many families from underprivileged households send their children to private schools as well. “Today the private school sector in India is the third-largest school system in the world. These numbers are mainly made up of parents from low- and middle-income backgrounds who believe their children will have better learning outcomes in private schools. It’s critical now to institute a system that will give parents assessment-based information based on key stage examinations at Grades 3, 5, and 8, as the NEP suggests. They can use this information to compare school quality and pick the best school for their child.”

And speaking about the creating a demand for quality education among parents, Roopa Kudva, Managing Director, Omidyar Network India, said, “We need to empower parents to make informed decisions based on learning quality when choosing a school. In the absence of meaningful information on how schools perform on learning, parents tend to give weightage to tangible parameters like school infrastructure or English as the medium of instruction. Philanthropy capital can play a vital role in setting the ground in three main areas: greater awareness building, increased transparency from the schools themselves and improving the quality of engagement between parents and the schools.”

About the Report Launch

Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education delivered a special address and spoke about the need for bold reforms to improve the quality of education and help India’s children acquire 21st Century skills for gainful employment. Other key speakers included Baijayant Panda, National Vice President & spokesperson of BJP; and Gurcharan Das, author and former CEO of Procter & Gamble India.

The release of the report was followed by two panel discussions. The first session on ‘Never waste a crisis: re-engineering the private school sector post Covid-19’ witnessed Baijayant Panda; Gurcharan Das; Arun Bharat Ram, Chairman, SRF Limited; and Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, Chair of Education Economics and International Development at the Institute of Education discuss how learning can be incentivised for private schools. The session was moderated by Ashish Dhawan.

The second session on ‘The need for reforms in the private school sector: Voices from the ground’ saw a very engaging discussion on the impediments in running and scaling private schools between Prabhat Jain, Co-Founder, Pathways World Schools & Pathways Early Years; Kulbhushan Sharma, President of NISA, and President, Federation of Private Schools Association, Haryana; Bhuvana Anand, Director, Research at Centre for Civil Society; and Vikas Jhunjhunwala, Founder & CEO of Sunshine Schools. Dilip Thakore, Co-founder and Managing Editor of EducationWorld moderated the session.

State of the Sector Report on Private Schools in India: About the Report

The report highlights the importance of private schools in educating India’s children. It provides details on the size of the sector, deep-dives into the challenges and outlines potential reforms to ensure improved learning outcomes for students. Specifically, the report stresses on two key challenges that need to be addressed urgently:

Under-regulation of learning outcomes

73% of parents believe their children will receive a quality education and have better learning outcomes in private schools. However, in the absence of a standard metric to measure learning outcomes, it may be hard for them to judge how much their children are learning in school in absolute terms, or how good their school actually is in comparison to other schools in their neighbourhood that charge similar fees. Grade 10 and 12 board exam pass percentages, sometimes used as a school learning marker, do not cover 60% of India’s private schools which end at Grades 5 or 8. Subsequently, parents tend to choose schools based on proxies for learning like "English medium" or the "School Infrastructure".

The information gap that exists for parents also means that schools are less likely to invest in learning-focused, invisible improvements like teacher training and quality, and more likely to spend on things that are observable by parents but may not lead to much improvement in learning - like computer labs, or marketing that proclaims English medium instruction.

Over-regulation of inputs

The second barrier is the over-regulation of inputs and a lack of policy focus on learning. Input-focused regulations prescribing playgrounds, computer labs, teacher salaries, etc., tend to be contextually unfit for under-resourced low-fee schools which make day-to-day operations difficult for them. Extensive licensing requirements deter quality providers from entering the sector and limits competition. For instance, opening a private school in Delhi calls for 125 documents, and applications move through at least 155 steps within the Directorate of Education. The non-profit nature of the education sector also discourages high-quality providers from entering or scaling up. These regulations have a direct impact on the capacity of private schools to deliver high-quality education.

The report also dives into the five-pillar sectoral reforms that account for the above-mentioned challenges and can help improve learning outcomes:

Create a universal learning indicator to help parents compare learning performance across schools and make informed decisions

Develop a pragmatic accreditation framework that factors in constraints of low fee schools and state capacity to implement while focussing on learning outcomes and child safety                    

Establish an independent regulatory agency for the private school sector

Review non-profit mandate and existing fee regulations to attract investment and enable easy access to credit for schools

Strengthen RTE Section 12(1)(c) which mandates 25% reservations for underprivileged children to ensure more robust targeting and fee reimbursements

While the report focuses on private schools, many of the regulatory issues raised in the report are also relevant for the public education domain.

Busworld India Postponed Until 2022 Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic

Taking into consideration the current state of affairs and caution advisories still in place by the Indian government, the organisers of Busworld India - Busworld and Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd in consultation with stakeholders have decided to cancel the 2020 edition of the fair. In order to keep the industry updated with the changing business landscape in the Bus & Coach sector, the organisers will continue to host a series of virtual webinars and interactive events to keep the industry connected until its next edition in 2022.

In consultation with key OEMs and exhibitors from the bus and coach industry, the 2020 edition of Busworld India that was postponed to 6th - 8th October 2020 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru is now set to be hosted in 2022. The organisers have confirmed that the dates for the next edition of the trade fair are currently under dialogues and will be announced after detailed discussions in the coming months. 

PNB Launches Nationwide Campaign to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic Across 662 Districts

India’s second-largest Public Sector Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a nationwide initiative to combat the spread of COVID-19, complementing the Government of India’s extensive efforts to contain challenges and risks posed by the growing pandemic.

Honourable Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the campaign at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. The initiative is launched as PNB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign and it will entail providing COVID-19 related prevention materials like masks, sanitizers, etc. across India in 662 districts.

The Honourable Union Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “This is a great initiative, taken by Punjab National Bank, to distribute the COVID-19 precautionary kits nation-wide. PNB has a distinguished history of undertaking such an act of kindness. This initiative of PNB will inspire public and private institutions to come forward and help the citizens of our country, not only to fight the pandemic but also to come out healthy and strong.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I would like to thank PNB and its officials for supporting and fighting this pandemic together.”

Commenting on PNB’s biggest CSR effort so far, Shri CH SS Malikarjuna Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The Honourable Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan is in forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and we are certain that the country will soon come out of this pandemic under his capable leadership. We are highly obliged that he took his valuable time for the Bank’s noble cause. On this occasion, we also assure him that Punjab National Bank is committed to play its role in this difficult time.”

Besides the MD and CEO, other senior officials, Executive Director, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Yaduvanshi and Chief General Manager Shri B N Mishra were also present at Nirman Bhawan for the inauguration of the campaign. The same campaign was launched at 5 locations simultaneously. Further Bank’s 22 zonal offices across the nation also marked their presence through live video conferencing.

Photo Caption 

The above picture is of Dr. Rajesh Kumar Yaduvanshi, Executive Director, PNB, Shri CH SS Malikarjuna Rao, MD & CEO, PNB, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences & Shri B N Mishra, Chief General Manager, PNB. 

Educational Project Adds Feather in the Cap for Nadakkavu School in Calicut, Kerela

Nadakkavu School, an educational project that has become the exemplary model for the hundreds of government schools all across India has done it again and proven to us that if the right atmosphere and tools are provided, anyone can be a leader. 

TiE Young Entrepreneurs is a Global program aimed at fostering the future generation of entrepreneurs; with focus on teaching entrepreneurship to high school students and helping them discover the rewards and challenges of becoming an industry leader.

It is with immense pleasure that Faizal and Shabana Foundation announces that a team of five students from Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls Nadakkavu, Calicut, Kerala have reached the finals of TiE Young Entrepreneur competition.

Beating the odds and 23 other teams from all over the world, the prodigious team of five girls made it to the finals which are being held today in Seattle, USA but due to COVID is being held online at 8 am Pacific time, 8.30 pm IST.

“This is the very first time a Government School is taking part in TiE Global Finals and these students stand tall before the world  

as representatives of all the Government School Students. This 

moment is of great pride and pleasure for the education system 

of Kerala and the nation as a whole”, says Kozhikode North MLA A. Pradeep Kumar.

Faizal and Shabana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of KEF Holdings has a vision to transform the education system in India replicating the PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Intervention) model which was conceptualized and initiated by A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA, Kozhikode North. 

Faizal and Shabana Foundation truly believe that education should not be an elite commodity to be consumed by only a few, but rather it should be made available to all. This is the only way forward to a progressive society.

FCC & NPCI to Host Global Virtual Fintech Festival on July 22-23, 2020

Fintech Festival

* One-of-a-kind global event convened by NPCI and IAMAI and presented by RBI and Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), to bring together Fintech & BFSI ecosystems

* Event supported by World Bank and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

* Premier global fintech event to be hosted on 22-23 July 2020

* To host 50+ countries, 100+ speakers and 10,000+ delegates

* Amitabh Kant, Nandan Nilekani, Uday Kotak, V Vaidyanathan, Sachin Bansal and Alderman William Russell among key speakers

* To facilitate discussions on the road ahead and collaborations for businesses in the post-pandemic world

To bring together fintech and BFSI ecosystems across the globe, the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) the flagship fintech committee of Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) along with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Payments Council of India (PCI) will host the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) a first-of-its-kind international virtual fintech event.

The event is presented by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The two day event themed – ‘Fintech: With and Beyond COVID’ is scheduled for 22-23 July 2020. The event is also supported by the World Bank and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

In times of global uncertainty, India continues to be a bright spot in the world economy. GFF aims to showcase India’s thought leadership across the global ecosystem, while harnessing the BFSI and fintech sector to be the ‘change agent’ for the economy in the post-pandemic world.

Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council & Chairman Emeritus, Payments Council of India, said, “The bank and fintech ecosystem has the potential to act as ‘agents of change’ for the economy in the post-COVID-19 world. With more than 2000 fintech startups as we speak, India today stands tall as the world’s second biggest fintech hub which puts a lot of onus on us to drive this growth momentum. GFF is our endeavour to bring all stakeholders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the BFSI and fintech sector globally whilst sharing ideas on fuelling sectoral growth through collaboration.”

Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and CEO, NPCI said, “The contribution of fintech start-ups in digitalizing the economy is important and hence NPCI wants to act as a catalyst for bridging the gap between the established financial entities and the start-ups. By encouraging open discussion among start-ups and established entities we hope that it will lead to collaborations benefiting the nation.

GFF will be the largest virtual congregation for the BFSI and Fintech ecosystem. It will be the ‘go to platform’ for companies and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations and ideas as well as connect with peers, investors and potential customers thus creating growth and networking opportunities for the eco-system.”

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, Infosys, Uday Kotak, Managing Director & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, V Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC First Bank and Alderman William Russell, The Rt Hon Lord Mayor, City of London are among the keynote speakers for the fest.

Justice BN Srikrishna, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India, Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore, G Padmanabhan, Non-Executive Chairman, Bank of India, Sachin Bansal, Founder, Navi, Stephen Ingledew, Chief Executive, Fintech Scotland, Lizzie Chapman, Co-founder & CEO, Zestmoney, Denise Gee, Managing Director, Finexable, Dilip Asbe, Managing Director & CEO, NPCI, Praveena Rai, COO, NPCI, Arif Khan, CDO, NPCI, Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Sequoia Capital, Kunal Shah, Founder & CEO, CRED, T R Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, India & South Asia Visa, Sameer Nigam Founder & CEO, Phonepe, Shivananda - SVP & CTO, Paypal, are some of the distinguished speakers among many others.

The global platform will host discussions by eminent industry stakeholders on -- the next stage of growth for financial institutions, ways for businesses to collaborate and the role fintech will play in the post pandemic world. The fest will drive thought leadership and conversations across sectors and subjects including -- Digital Payments, Digital Lending, Digital Insurance, Data Management, Financial Inclusion, Digital Transformation and Blockchain etc.

With 50+ countries, 100+ speakers and 10000+ delegates in attendance, GFF will bring together representatives of banking, financial technology and investment industries from across the globe to host impactful dialogues, public discussions and a curated exhibition of the latest disruptive technologies.

The fintech fest will stream live on social media platforms of YouTube and Facebook and is likely to be viewed by 100,000+ audience. For more information on GFF, including how to participate in or sponsor the event, please go to https://www.globalfintechfest.com

FCC has been at the forefront, working towards positioning India as a thought leader across the global fintech map. In the recent past, the body had joined hands with the Mumbai Fintech Hub, Government of Maharashtra, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NPCI to host ‘India Fintech Festival (IFF)’. A first-of-its-kind global platform, IFF eyed for a collaborative growth ecosystem for fintech in India. The event which got stalled on account of the global pandemic is set to resume soon and the dates are expected to be out shortly.

About NPCI –

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC Fastag) and Bharat BillPay. NPCI also launched UPI 2.0 to offer a more secure and comprehensive services to consumers and merchants.

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

Talent Demand Tanks in Most Sectors in June 2020, Green Shoots in BPO, Health & Auto: TimesJobs RecruiteX June’20

Highlights

-        Retail, BFSI shed most talent demand in June 2020 M-o-M study 

-        Talent demand picked up in BPO, Health & Automobiles in June 2020 

-        In Y-o-Y analysis, the demand for talent remained same in June’20 and June’19

 

The TimesJobs RecruiteX, monthly talent demand index, marks a 4% growth in talent demand in June’20 (89) over May’20 (85). However, the demand in high-volume sectors including IT, BFSI and Retail records a steep fall. The Y-o-Y analysis showed that the talent demand index for June’19 (89) and June’20 (89) was the same. 

M-o-M talent demand trends: The growth in demand index is contributed by Automobiles (17%), Healthcare (16%) and BPO (14%) sectors who are re-hauling the business post the Unlock 1.0. With the Government relaxing lockdown norms, companies in these sectors are eyeing growth hacks by customising their offerings in the changing business scenario. 

Q-o-Q talent demand trends: The Q-o-Q analysis shows that demand for talent in IT and Retail sectors witnessed growth in AMJ’20 over JFM’20. Both, these sectors witnessed double-digit growth. Talent demand index stood at 370 points in AMJ’20 over 338 points in JFM’20, a 9% growth. The Retail sector witnessed a 30% growth in AMJ’20 in comparison with JFM’20. 

Y-o-Y talent demand trends: The Y-o-Y analysis for talent demand shows no growth, or loss from June’19 to June’20.  The Consumer Durables sector showed a growth of about 30% in Y-o-Y talent demand analysis, followed by Healthcare. The BPO sector saw the steepest fall of (-34%) in talent demand in the yearly comparison.

Commenting on the findings of RecruiteX June 2020, Sanjay Goyal, Business Head, TimesJobs and TechGig said, “The findings of RecruiteX June 2020 are a silver lining in the present scenario. The rise in BPO, Healthcare and Automobile’s talent demand hints that companies are striving hard to get back to normalcy after the Unlock 1.0. Not just the M-o-M analysis, but even the Q-o-Q comparison (AMJ’20 v/s JFM’20) has shown growth, with a double-digit hike in the IT and Retail sectors”.   

Here are the major findings of the RecruiteX June 2020 edition:

Industry-wise

Sectors which gained talent demand:  

- Automobiles: (17%)

- Healthcare: (16%)

- BPO: (14%)

Sectors with steepest loss in talent demand: 

- Retail: (-13%)

- IT/Telecom: (-6%)

- BFSI: (-2%)

Functional areas: 

Functional areas which gained talent demand:  

- Doctors/Nurses/Medical Professional: (20%) 

- Logistics/Supply Chain Management/ Procurement: (10%)

- Engineering: (5%)

 Functional areas with steepest loss in talent demand:  

- IT/Telecom: (-10%)

- Sales/Business Development: (-3%)

Location-wise: 

Cities which gained talent demand:  

- Indore: (4%)

 - Ahmedabad: (2%)

 - Hyderabad/Secunderabad: (2%)

Cities with steepest loss in talent demand:  

- Bengaluru: (-18%)

- Jaipur: (-6%)

 - Chennai: (-5%) 

Work experience-wise: 

 Work experience category which gained talent demand:  

- Over 20+ years of work experience: (6%)

- 10-20 years: (5%)

- 2-5 years: No gain, no loss 

Work experience category with the steepest loss in talent demand:  

- Freshers and people with less 2 years of work experience: (-13%)