Healthcare IT Leader Supports Medical Communities and Migrant Labourers During COVID-19

emids, a leader in digital engineering and transformation solutions to the healthcare industry, donated essential equipment to healthcare professionals leading the charge against COVID-19 at the Bangalore Medical College and Research Center.

The company’s Bangalore-based teams provided 300 PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, 300 N95 masks, and food for nearly 60 members of the hospital’s COVID-19 response team for 30 days, through a contribution of INR 8 lakhs.

“As a healthcare IT leader, we understand how important it is for patients to access the right quality of care and at the right time. Doctors and medical professionals are working tirelessly to provide such care in the wake of COVID-19, while placing their own health at risk. Our contributions to Bangalore Medical College and Research Center are a way of thanking and empowering the healthcare community in their fight against this disease,” says Saurabh Sinha, Founder & CEO of emids.

emids also donated INR 20 lakhs to provide food and rations to 3,000 families of migrant labourers and daily wage workers, who were severely affected by the nation-wide lockdown. The company partnered with ‘Smiles for All’, an initiative by a group of volunteers to help the marginalized communities during the lockdown, and with Kaushalya Foundation, a non-profit working to empower the resource-poor in India, to reach out to those in dire need.

Sumit Gandhi, Chief Delivery Officer at emids, explains, “COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown in India created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It affected lakhs of members from economically vulnerable communities. As a responsible corporate citizen, emids decided to help them by supporting food relief programs organized by Smiles for All and Kaushalya Foundation.”

emids has consistently supported community welfare programs in the area of healthcare and education, while pursuing business goals. The company has witnessed rapid growth in the last two decades, fueled by technology investments that are driving digital change in healthcare. emids’ teams based out of Bangalore and Hyderabad solve some of the toughest problems in global healthcare IT and augment the company’s digital engineering capabilities.

About emids

emids is a leading provider of digital transformation solutions to the healthcare industry, serving payers, providers, life sciences, and technology firms. Headquartered in Nashville, emids helps bridge critical gaps in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare by providing digital transformation services, custom application development, data engineering, business intelligence solutions, and specialized consulting services to all parts of the healthcare ecosystem. With over 2,200 professionals globally, emids leverages strong domain expertise in healthcare-specific platforms, regulations, and standards to provide tailored, cutting-edge solutions and services to its clients. 

Peter England and HeiQ, Switzerland Jointly Launch Innovative Antiviral Collection Including Work Wear, Lounge Wear and Face Masks

Peter England, a leading international menswear brand from the house of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, is set to offer a fashionable and stylish collection with virus and bacteria resistant properties. The brand has collaborated with Switzerland-based HeiQ, a global leader in textile innovation, to bring the unique HeiQ Viroblock® fabric technology to India. Under this collection, Peter England will be launching work wear, lounge wear and face masks to meet complete lifestyle demands of the new-age consumer.

The HeiQ Viroblock® fabric is specially infused with virus resistant properties to ensure safety by inhibiting the persistence and growth of viruses and bacteria on its surface. For masks, the fabric retains these properties up to 30 gentle washes*. For apparel, the fabric retains these properties up to 20 gentle washes*.

Elaborating on the launch, Manish Singhai, COO, Peter England, “Safety and protection has never been more important than it is today, given the current situation which the entire world is facing. Peter England has a rich and strong legacy of introducing innovative products catering to spoken and unspoken needs of today’s consumers. We’re happy to announce our partnership with HeiQ, one of the world’s leading textile innovator from Switzerland, to launch our range of apparel and masks enriched with virus and bacteria resistant properties. We will be launching work wear, face masks and lounge wear in phases to address the country’s need for protection and safety. We believe that this new technology is a breakthrough in the lifestyle category and will bring us closer to the hearts of the consumers.”

In addition to the antiviral technology, Peter England has independently enhanced their mask offering with droplet resistant finish & Smart Straps. The droplet repellent finish makes the fabric hydrophobic. This repels contagious droplets on the masks’ outer surface, making it a perfect shield for the consumer. The smart straps used in the mask have a soft-finish and three-way adjustment to provide comfort, fit and a choice to carry the mask around the neck ,when not in use. Face contour design with chin mask and nose-clip make the mask sit over the consumer’s face comfortably. All these power-packed features come in varied styles and patterns, making this a comprehensive offering for protection, comfort and style in one go.

Co-founder and CEO of HeiQ Group, Carlo Centonze stated, “The team at Peter England undertook a through yet rapid learning about HeiQ Viroblock technology in order to quickly adapt it into their offerings, both in fashion masks and apparels. We worked closely with the teams to ensure that products that they have launched are fully validated in their performance to ensure that our stakeholders in India have the opportunity to add these fashionable article for their day to day protection from the current pandemic.”

Peter England’s new collection is currently available at www.peterengland.com and will shortly be available across the country through the brand’s retail network of outlets and multi-brand counters.

*Disclaimer: The fabric used in these products is treated with HeiQ Viroblock Swiss Technology that is tested to provide resistance against common viruses and bacteria, based on AATCC 100 and ISO18184 global testing methods, up to 30 gentle washes in masks & up to 20 gentle washes in apparel. Resistance to COVID-19 is yet to be assessed.

About Peter England:

Peter England is one of the most loved and largest menswear brands in India. It sells more than 14 million garments every year across 1000+ exclusive stores, 3500+ Multi‐brand outlets and across 800+ towns. The brand also holds a strong e-commerce presence. Peter England has been voted as India's Most Trusted Apparel Brand for 7 consecutive years by the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey. The brand is committed to offering varied styles across categories starting at an attractive price point of Rs. 999. Peter England was first launched in India by Madura Fashion and Lifestyle (previously known as Madura Garments) in the mid‐price segment in 1997; the company acquired the world rights for the brand in 2000. What began as a brand of honest shirts in 1997, in India, is today a complete lifestyle brand with merchandise available for every day and for all special occasions. The brand’s formal wear range of crisp formal shirts, well-tailored suits, jackets & trousers combines high fashion, impeccable fits along with a wide selection of highly curated looks for modern professionals. The casual wear range is a highly eclectic line of washed cotton shirts, denims, cargo bottoms, graphic tees, polos & winter-wear. The ‘Select’ line brings together premium formal wear with emphasis on fine detailing with a hint of color, comfort and panache. While the assorted collection of ties, pocket squares, belts, wallets and footwear assert a distinctive style statement, the finely crafted vests, boxer shorts and briefs from the newly launched innerwear line ensures highest comfort and great fit. While the brand continues to expand across India, they introduced a brand new retail identity called the Peter England Men’s Obsession, which is a large format store housing over 2000+ unique designs at an unmatched value, all the while delivering a young, vibrant shopping experience for all.

About ABFRL:

ABFRL is a part of USD 48.3 billion Aditya Birla Group. With revenue of Rs. 8,743 cr. spanning retail space of 8.1 million sq. ft. (as on March 31, 2020), it is India’s first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats.

Blue Dart Encourages the ‘Bonds of Solidarity’ Thanking COVID-19 Warriors with Special ‘Rakhi Express’ Offer

Blue Dart, India’s leading logistics service provider and part of Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), announces the launch of its annual ‘Rakhi Express’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Straying from tradition, Blue Dart aims to go one step beyond the celebration of the bond between siblings. This year, Blue Dart encourages the ‘Bonds of Solidarity’ to ship rakhis, not just to siblings within India and internationally, but to go one step beyond and send your love and spread the joy of the festival to all protectors including our COVID-19 warriors who have safeguarded the nation through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Blue Dart’s ‘Rakhi Express’ is a unique opportunity that has been loved by customers for years. Through its widespread Indian domestic network, Blue Dart will deliver rakhis to 34,000+ locations across India and to 220 countries and territories across the globe, as part of the DPDHL Group’s ‘Express Easy Rakhi’. Customers can avail a special rate of ₹200/- to send rakhis to COVID-19 warriors and ₹250/- to send rakhis to their loved ones between 10th July, 2020 and 05th August, 2020. The special rate applies for up to 0.5kg for domestic shipments (anywhere within India). These offers can be availed at any of the Blue Dart – DHL retail stores across India or by calling 1860 233 1234. Customers can send their rakhis through a specially designed ‘Rakhi Envelope’ and a greeting card for their personalized messages.

Speaking about the initiative, Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head - Business Development, Blue Dart said, “The year 2020 was different on every vertical. This year, the world crumbled around us, giving way to a Pandemic that shook businesses and individuals across the world. The only common underlying theme across industries, cities and nations was the ‘Bonds of Solidarity’ amidst people. While most of us stayed in the safety of our homes, our COVID-19 warriors geared up at their action stations to ensure the health and safety of all.

Our goal during this festive season is to ensure that Raksha Bandhan 2020 is more than a festival for sisters to send brothers their love; rather, it is to ensure that Raksha Bandhan 2020 is a festival that celebrates love in all its forms – to parents, to friends and most importantly to send gratitude to all our protectors including our COVID-19 warriors.

This initiative is a tribute to every Government Worker, Health Care Worker, every Armed / Paramilitary / Police Force personnel, every Civil Aviation / Railway / Bank employee who has tirelessly worked through the pandemic for the greater good.”

He further added, “We want to give families that live apart, the opportunity of experiencing Raksha Bandhan to the fullest by staying connected across the country and globe. In the world of social media, the Rakhi and personal note from a loved one delivered with care, holds a very special place. We strive to provide a hassle-free, accurate and timely delivery so that people may enjoy their Raksha Bandhan without any worries.”

Customers can register for the Rakhi Service at any of Blue Dart’s conveniently located stores across the nation. At the store, the customer needs to verbally confirm that the sender or receiver is a COVID-19 warrior. Blue Dart staff then offer the Domestic Rakhi Express at Rs.200/- on domestic Rakhi shipment up to 0.5kg. The Rakhi the customer brings is then inserted in the rakhi envelope along with the Blue Dart greeting card where the sender can write their personal message for their unwavered fighting spirit.

To avail our service or for any further enquiry, customers can call us on Customer Care Number - 1860 233 1234 or email us on - customerservice@bluedart.com.

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. 

Amazon Prime Video Drops the Trailer for the Highly Anticipated Amazon Original Series Bandish Bandits from August, 4, 2020

Amazon Prime Video has released the trailer of the highly awaited all-new Amazon Original Series Bandish Bandits which will be available to stream from 4th August, 2020. Produced and created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and directed by Anand Tiwari, the all-new Amazon Original Series is set in Jodhpur and tells the story of two young musicians, hailing from contrasting backgrounds. Bandish Bandits also features an exciting original soundtrack, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, who are also making their digital debut with this show.

Talent quotes:

Ritwik Bhowmik, lead actor: “Bandish Bandits has been a dream in the making. Working with stalwarts such as Naseeruddin Shah, Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chaddha and Atul Kulkarni for my debut was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Bandish Bandits is a blend of Indian traditions seeped in music that beautifully describes young love, ambition, passion and family values in a simple, yet powerful manner.”

Shreya Chaudhry, lead actress: “Working with Anand Tiwari has always been something I had wanted to do, so being part of Bandish Bandits is nothing short of serendipitous. I could not have asked for a better setting to work and learn more about acting, that too from some of the most talented and respected actors in India! I believe the show is a heart-warming journey of music and love and think it is something the audience would very much enjoy watching.“

Synopsis:

Bandish Bandits follows the story of Radhe and Tamanna. Radhe is a singing prodigy determined to follow in the classical footsteps of his grandfather. Tamanna is a rising pop sensation desperate to become India's first international popstar. Radhe's world is turned upside down when he falls in love with Tamanna. Torn between helping her achieve superstardom and staying true to his own music and his family’s legacy, will he succeed in juggling both at the risk of losing everything he has?

Vodafone Announces Launch of eSIM on Primary Device in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gujarat

Vodafone Idea Ltd., India’s leading telecommunications service provider has announced the availability of eSIM for Vodafone postpaid customers using eSIM compatible Apple devices including iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max & iPhone Xr. The service will be available soon on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold as well. The service is currently available in select circles Mumbai, Delhi, and Gujarat.

Vodafone postpaid customers using eSIM enabled handsets will no longer be required to put in a physical SIM card to access the network. eSIM comes in the form of an integrated SIM chip which will be compliant with all the supported mobile network operators. The consumer will be able to carry out normal calling, SMS, data access and more without having to change physical SIM cards manually.

Speaking about the eSIM technology, Avneesh Khosla, Director – Marketing, Vodafone Idea, said, “Vodafone Idea is excited to introduce eSIM technology for our postpaid customers which enables them to enjoy the benefits of convenience and flexibility of having more than one sim even on single sim device. We therefore believe that eSIM will provide enhanced experience to our customers as it will enable them to do a lot more with their device.”

How to  get eSiim on your phone

Existing Customer

* Send SMS  to 199 by typing “eSIM <space> email id” (If no email id is registered with your mobile number, send SMS “email <space>email id” to  199. Post registration you can reinitiate the eSIM process).

* If your email is valid, you will receive SMS from 199. You need to  reply back with ESIMY to confirm eSIM request

* Post your confirmation SMS, you will receive another SMS from 199 asking you to provide a consent over a call

* After providing your consent on the call, an email with a QR code will be sent to the registered email id.

* Scan the QR Code:

Apple device: Please make sure that the phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

* Go to "Settings" > Select "Mobile Data" > Click on "Add Data Plan"

* Now "Scan QR code" received on mail.

* Follow the prompts on the phone.

New Customer

* Visit nearest Vodafone store with  proof of identity and photograph to get new Vodafone eSIM connection

* Is it preferred if you carry the handset along, so that QR code generated during the activation process can be scanned immediately

The QR code sent through email will only be useful for a single scan and the eSIM will be successfully activated within 2 hours post scanning the code.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

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.