Eye Care Tips For Holi Festival Amid COVID19 Pandemic Across India

By Dr. Seshachalam Nitin, MBBS, MS, Cataract & Lasik Surgeon, MaxiVision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, Hyderabad

Holi- the festival of colours is almost upon us. Like last year, the cloud of the Covid-19 pandemic hangs over the festival this year too. Though the vaccination programme has commenced; it will take some time before a large section of our population is vaccinated.

Considering this, and the recent surge in the number of positive cases, we all have to keep our guard up and prevent spread of the dreaded virus by following social distancing norms and maintaining high levels of personal and public hygiene. In my opinion, it would be best to avoid playing Holi this year or just playing it indoors amongst the family members. However for those who still do go out and play, it is important to do so safely by avoiding large gatherings, wearing masks at all times and frequent sanitization to avoid any bitter experiences.

Though the festival of Holi has been enjoyed by people of all ages from time immemorial, gone are the days when only flowers and vegetables were used for making colours. Synthetic chemical colours  have become the order of the day. Although people have become Increasingly conscious about using natural and organic colors, a lot of people still use the inexpensive synthetic colors which are easily available in the market.

Eyes are amongst the most sensitive and the most vulnerable parts of the body, especially during festivals like Holi.Playing holi safely should be the first priority. I am listing a few points of caution below. These eye care tips should also be explained to children to keep them aware and alert on how to keep their eyes safe.

Not taking care of your eyes when playing with colours during Holi can result in eye irritation or allergies or even temporary blindness.

Eye care tips for a safe and joyful Holi:

USE SUNGLASSES

The first and utmost important step is to cover your eyes. Sunglasses should serve you very well for this purpose. If someone smudges color on your face, the first thing you should do is to close your eyes and will be best to cover your eyes with your palms.

APPLY A GOOD MOISTURIZER

Apply a good moisturizer or cold cream around your eyes to avoid getting any colour. Coconut oil can also be used for this purpose. The cream acts as a shield from Holi colours because of it’s oily cream base. It protects the direct contact of colour with skin and also helps in the washing of color post festivities.

DO NOT WEAR CONTACT LENSES

Another important thing is to avoid wearing contact lenses while playing Holi. There are chances of color getting trapped between the lens and the eye which can be very harmful. In case you still go ahead and play Holi with lenses on, please dispose of them thereafter.

AVOID RUBBING OF EYES

If colour gets into your eyes, the first thing you should do is rinse your eye with clear running water, preferably cold, two to three times. If it is   causing any irritation to avoid rubbing the eye. Rubbing may aggravate the situation, best will be to visit an Ophthalmologist for further treatment.

TIE YOUR HAIR

Tie your hair while playing Holi. If the hair gets wet it will stop the colour from dripping into your eyes. It is a basic and effective eye care tip while playing Holi. Also, oil your hair before you go out to play as it makes washing off the color easier.

USE NATURAL COLORS

Synthetic colors contain toxic heavy metals like lead which can cause pink eye, eye allergies, or even abrasions on the eye surface. Avoid them for a safe Holi.

AVOID WATER BALLOONS

One of the favourites during Holi is the water balloons. However, these can be dangerous as they can cause blunt eye trauma.

Do follow the tips and share them to have a happy and safe Holi!

IRM India Signs MoU With Eduvanz For Knowledge Partnership To Strengthen Indian ERM Ecosystem

* Both organisations to collaborate on a range of knowledge exchange platforms

India Affiliate of Institute of Risk Management (IRM India), the world’s leading professional body for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) qualifications, has announced a comprehensive and far-reaching knowledge partnership with Eduvanz, one of India’s leading NBFCs that enables students to Study Now, Pay Later at 0% interest rates. The organisations will collaborate on a range of thought leadership initiatives, including research papers, webinars, industry insights, and opinions and analyses, among others for driving the importance of Enterprise Risk Management in the Non-Banking Financial Sector.

Discussing the agreement, Mr. Hersh Shah, CEO, India Affiliate of Institute of Risk Management, said, “As we continue to rebuild our economy nearly a year after the pandemic lockdown, it is critical for Indian industry to retrospect and incorporate learnings from 2020, to secure businesses against future crises. Enterprise Risk Management provides a robust, strategic road map to empower organisations to achieve this. At IRM India, it is our mission to propagate this knowledge, and ensure that our nation can combat similar challenges successfully, going forward. As the globally-preferred professional body for ERM qualifications, we hope to make an impact at the grassroot levels, and this partnership with Eduvanz will go a long way towards bolstering our efforts to build a greater understanding of Enterprise Risk Management in the NBFC sector, and to educate industry leaders and students about the business value of managing risk in a holistic way.”

Speaking about their partnership, Mr Sukesh Tandon, Chief Risk Officer - Eduvanz, further added, “As a young company, Eduvanz has always given prominence to risk management practices. Our strategy to focus on holistic enterprise risk management proved itself when we were able to sail through the initial days of the pandemic with minimal impact on our operations. Where large banks were forced to slow down, we switched to work-from-home without a hitch, and continued with our lending operations. Over the years, we have also seen risk management evolving in the Fintech sector, from the crisis in 2019 when banks ceased lending to NBFCs, to the current practice of risk-sharing with Fintechs and NBFCs. 

Post-COVID, maintaining seamless business operations is a bigger challenge for organisations over growth or profitability. In the coming days, holistic risk practices will be the core of all business strategies for organizations, whether large or small. The agility and adaptability to the ever-changing environment will determine the success or failure of enterprises in the coming days. 

By partnering with a leading global enterprise risk management body like IRM, we hope to create a wider awareness of ERM practices in the industry and among students.” 

IRM India and Eduvanz will collaborate on different platforms to spread awareness about ERM. This will include webinars, panel discussions and other events, research, white papers and analyses, and industry insights and experiences, all of which will enable Indian industry to adopt ERM seamlessly and efficiently, and make informed decisions while managing risk. Under the partnership, Level 1 and level 2 qualified IRM India students will also have access to opportunities of working at Eduvanz, including availing zero-cost student loans.

About India Affiliate of Institute of Risk Management (IRM India)

Headquartered in the UK, the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) is the world's leading professional body for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) qualifications. IRM has been driving excellence for over 30 years with members across 143 countries. With 360 exam centres in India, candidates can join a professional community of risk leaders by pursuing IRM’s 5-level qualifications with designations that are globally recognized. IRM qualified students and members are working with companies across the globe including Acies Consulting, Swiss Re, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, PwC, EY, Deloitte, Barclays Bank, ANZ Bank, Mastercard, HSBC, IFC - World Bank Group, AIG, BBC and many other organisations.

About Eduvanz

Eduvanz is an NBFC Fintech that enables learners to Study Now and Pay Later in small easy on the pocket instalments. The core objective of the company is to make education accessible to all learners across K-12, Test-Prep, and Upskilling & UG/PG segments. Eduvanz offers a point of sales payment solution for institutes that helps them provide instant finance thereby helping them boost enrolments. They use proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithms and predictive analytics to provide loans based on the future employability of learners. Using the mobile app, end-to-end processing from Loan Application to Credit Assessment to Disbursal happens completely online in a matter of a few hours.

Backed by Sequoia Capital and Unitus Ventures, the company was co-founded in 2016 by Varun Chopra, an IIT Madras alumnus, and Raheel Shah, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Eduvanz has financially empowered over 20,000 learners and partnered with 350+ Institutes. They have a presence across 20 states, 240+ cities, and cover over 25+ skill industries. Achievements include winning Wharton 2018 Economic Start-up India Competition, selection by Oracle as part of their Accelerator Cohort, part of the Champions of Change organized by Niti Aayog and PMO, and among Top 13 startups of Maharashtra Fintech.

Samsung Baker Series Microwaves To Take Your Love For Baking And Healthy Cooking To A New Level

* The 2021 Baker Series microwaves offer features that were earlier available only in high-end convection microwave models

* The new range comes with intuitive touch panels, glass finish and extremely sleek design; available in attractive Clean Pink colour

Samsung, India’s most trusted consumer electronics brand, today announced the expansion of its kitchen appliances range by launching the Baker Series microwaves that come with industry first features such as steaming, grilling and frying with pro-level convection features that will appeal to young millennials who have turned into home chefs and are adopting healthy eating habits.

Along with world-class technology, this sleek and stylish looking range – also includes models in Clean Pink colour – enables the evolved home chef to make extremely delicious desserts, crispy, oil-free snacks and steamed dishes in the Baker Series microwaves, which was earlier possible only in high-end convection microwave models.

As people are spending more time at home, several of them love to try their hands at cooking and baking. The Baker Series microwaves are a must-have for any contemporary kitchen and perfect to help consumers explore the hidden chef in them.

“Besides working from home and studying from home, a new trend that we are seeing is people baking and trying new recipes at home. People across the country, especially millennials, donned their chef’s hat as they spent more time at home and restricted eating out. To address consumers’ renewed passion for cooking healthy and delicious food at home, we have launched Baker Series Microwaves with industry first Home Desert, Steam Cook and Grill Fry features in the entry level segment,” said Sandeep Singh Arora, Senior Director, Online Business, Consumer Electronics, Samsung India.

With its elegant and sleek design, more intuitive controls, distinctive handles, glass finish body, these microwaves have been carefully crafted to make them aesthetically appealing, blending perfectly with the modern urban modular kitchen decor.

Furthermore, these stylish looking innovative microwaves come with accessories such as glass steam cooker, round rack, and crusty plate. Its 99.9% anti-bacterial ceramic enamel interior makes the microwave durable and easy to clean.

Price and Availability

With advanced technology, enhanced functions and premium design features, Samsung has launched five models under the new Baker Series – two Grill Fry models and three Steam Cook models – that are available in 23 litre capacity. The range is available on Flipkart and Amazon, and Samsung’s official online store Samsung Shop, with prices ranging from INR 10,290 - INR 11,590. 

The new 2021 range of Samsung Baker Series microwaves come in Clean Pink, Pure Black and Clean Gray colours giving the aesthetics of kitchens a new and stunning enhancement.

Healthy Living with Samsung Microwaves

With consumer’s focus shifting towards health and hygiene, Samsung has introduced Baker Series microwaves that come in two variants: Steam Cook variant with auto steam function that come with glass steam cooker accessory and Grill Fry microwaves with Crusty Plate that enables oil free frying.

Both Steam Cook and Grill Fry microwave models come with a Home Desert feature for making delicious deserts at home in a jiffy.

Features of Baker Series Microwaves:

Home Dessert

Making microwave desserts like egg pudding, chocolate mud cake, banana bread, brownies and much more is possible with the touch of a button. Quick, easy & delicious!

Grill Fry

Grill Fry microwaves come equipped with a Crusty Plate which will enable consumers to perform frying without oil and enjoy oil free french fries, chicken nuggets, cheese sticks, chicken wings, potato chips etc.

Steam Cook

Steam Cook microwaves come with a Steam Cooker and the Auto Steam function allows one to steam vegetables, meat, fruits, eggs, porridge, rice, potatoes etc.

Hygienic & Easy Clean Interior

The 99.9% anti-bacterial, smooth and durable Ceramic Enamel is easy to clean and doesn’t discolour over time. It is highly rust and scratch-resistant, making the microwave last longer. Ceramic Enamel also ensures that cooking time is reduced, heat penetrates deeply and evenly, and all nutritional value is preserved.

Saves on Standby

Cook delicious meals while being energy-efficient at the same time. The ECO Mode significantly reduces energy consumption with the industry’s lowest standby power. When you are not cooking, the power used to maintain essential functions is kept to the minimum. So, you not only save energy, but you also save money while protecting the environment

Simple UX

Enjoy an intuitive and stylish way to cook. The Glass Touch control panel has just 6 essential buttons, which can be selected with a touch of your finger. And, being completely made of glass, it blends seamlessly with the front, mirroring the glass door, to create a minimalist yet stylish look.

New Design

The all-new Baker series from Samsung is elegantly designed to seamlessly blend and compliment your contemporary kitchen. Choose a microwave oven that perfectly matches your personal taste and the style of your kitchen.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For latest news on Samsung India, please visit Samsung India Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com/in. For Hindi, log on to Samsung Newsroom Bharat at https://news.samsung.com/bharat. 

Spotlight On Ford India’s Drive For Zero Water Consumption In Manufacturing For World Water Day

* Ford continues to get closer to its long-term target of zero fresh water use in manufacturing; Saves billions of gallons of water with technology upgrades and efficient processes

* Ford’s Chennai Vehicle Assembly and Engine Plant brought fresh water consumption down to 1.17 m3 per vehicle – from 7.3 m3; Sanand plant has zero water discharge with 110,000 m3 rain water harvesting

* World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22 since 1993, raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe drinking water

Of all water on the planet, only about one per cent is easily accessible fresh surface water available for consumption by the almost eight billion humans that inhabit it. Approximately 97 per cent is salt water, while the majority of remaining fresh water is frozen in ice caps and glaciers, or difficult to access ground water.

Two decades ago, Ford set out to reduce its per-vehicle water usage by an astonishing 72 per cent.

By 2013, Ford had already saved more than 10 billion gallons of water. In perhaps more digestible terms, that’s the same as 15,000 competition-sized swimming pools; or over 3 hours 40 minutes of thunderous Niagara Falls flow.

While an admirable target, Ford sought to do more, setting itself an aspirational long-term goal of using zero fresh water in its manufacturing. That target is still in Ford’s sights, and the company has already made considerable steps towards ensuring that the only fresh water use at its facilities is for human consumption.

At Ford’s Chennai Vehicle Assembly and Engine Plant (CVAEP), fresh water consumption is down to an incredible 1.17 m3 per vehicle – from 7.3 m3 per vehicle only a decade ago. Having identified an alternate source of grey water to treat for use in non-production activities, the smart water efficiency processes see it recycle almost 100 per cent of industrial waste water for use in manufacturing.

Ford’s Sanand Vehicle Assembly & Engine Plant in Gujarat has zero water discharge, with a 110,000 m3 rain water harvesting pond used for pallet washing, irrigation, and with plans in place to replace the cooling tower’s water with rainwater, too.

Ford’s Global Business Technology & Business Center in Chennai (GTBC) can also claim zero discharge, thanks to its 100 per cent reuse of treated wastewater for dual plumbing, horticulture, and cooling tower chiller. Ford GTBC – opened in 2019 – earned its Platinum green building rating at launch; the highest possible certification for sustainable buildings.

The globally recognized certificate not only factors in water conservation but also sustainable design, architecture, and building material resources; energy conservation including use of renewable energy resources; indoor environment quality; and innovation and development.

Similar efforts have been put in across Ford’s other manufacturing units globally.

ACC Limited Wins Climate Action Programme (CAP 2.0°) Award

* CAP 2.0° by CII is a recognition and capability enhancement programme for businesses to become climate resilient

ACC Ltd, one of the leading cement producers of the country, has been recognised for its efforts to reduce its CO2 emissions, with the Oriented Award at the Climate Action Programme 2.0° Awards.

CAP 2.0° by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a recognition and capability enhancement programme for businesses to become climate resilient. Based on a CII climate-maturity model and using the principles of business excellence framework, CAP 2.0° helps businesses to contract climate risks and exploit market opportunities. 

ACC won this award in the Energy, Mining and Heavy Manufacturing sector category. The award recognises the Company's continued focus on climate action, building a circular economy, and conserving resources and nature.

“Sustainable construction and environment conservation is our core corporate objectives. Through our consistent focus on sustainable business practices, we have emerged as one of the companies with the lowest carbon footprints in the cement industry. We are elated to have been recognised by CII CAP 2.0° for our climate action efforts and this will motivate us further to continue working towards building a greener planet.”, said Mr Sridhar Balakrishnan, MD & CEO, ACC Limited.

Sustainability is one of the defining factors for business excellence at ACC Ltd. As part of global cement major LafargeHolcim, the Company is committed to the Net Zero vision of the group, and is an industry leader in combating climate change through consistent commitment to sustainable practices.

ACC’s sustainability mission is defined by the Triple Bottom Line, which signifies accomplishing three interdependent and mutually reinforcing goals of economic development, social development, and environmental protection.

To further cement its position as a responsible manufacturer, ACC became a partner of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) which is a member-led programme of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The virtual award ceremony of the CAP 2.0° recognition for 2019-20 was held on 17 March 2021. Shri Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest for the event.

Moving Indian industry into climate action, CAP 2.0° is a benchmark programme recognizing industry climate mitigation initiatives with the purpose of cascading learnings and encouraging quick scale up, thereby contributing to India's climate goals.

About ACC Limited:

ACC Limited, a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, is one of India’s leading producers of cement and ready mix concrete. It has over 6,400 employees, 17 cement manufacturing sites, 80 concrete plants and a nationwide network of over 56,000 channel partners to serve its customers.  With a world-class R&D centre in Mumbai, the quality of ACC’s products and services, as well as its commitment to technological development, make it a preferred brand in building materials. Established in 1936, ACC is counted among the country’s 'Most Sustainable Companies' and is recognised for its best practices in environment management and corporate citizenship.

Hyundai Motor India Foundation Announces The Winner Of H-Social Creator 2020

* Mr. Bhagwati Prasad was declared as the winner of HSC 2020.

* Rs. 15 Lakh Seed Capital to be invested in his idea – ‘Accident Alert System for Blind Turns’

* HSC 2020 generated over 400 innovative ideas from 200 colleges

Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, today announced the winner of the second edition of the globally renowned H-Social Creator. The ‘H-Social Creator’ is a social innovation program instituted to felicitate young minds who can deliver innovative solutions in areas of Road Safety, Environment, Clean India, and Health.

Winning Idea - Mr. Bhagwati Prasad won the H-Social Creator of the Year 2020 Award for his idea – ‘Accident Alert System for Blind Turns’. His idea involves capturing data at blind turns and transmitting it on a real time basis to the drivers to avoid accidents. In addition, the display boards will give an indication to the drivers about the incoming vehicles.

Speaking at the Grand Finale of H Social Creator 2020, Mr. S.S. Kim, MD & CEO, HMIL said, “Embracing the vision ‘Progress for Humanity’, we are working towards creating an amicable ecosystem to realise the dreams of mankind. With the 2nd edition of the H-Social Creator program, Hyundai Motor India Foundation aims to engage the youth of India and future leaders to ideate, develop, and implement practical solutions to fathom social change.”

Mr. Kim further added: “We congratulate the winner, Mr. Bhagwati Prasad, and all finalists of H Social Creator 2020 for giving ideas to bring social change. The steadfast spirit of all participants and the zeal to unleash their full potential to develop ground-breaking ideas will further craft a better world.”

HMIF created the ‘H-Social Creator’ as a platform to encourage the youth to find solutions to problems and drive social transformation. The second edition of H-Social Creator received over 520 registrations virtually from 200 educational and technical institutions.

Out of the 401 entries received, 135 were from the road safety domain, 116 were related to environment, 101 were for the Health category, and the remaining 49 ideas were for a Cleaner India. Furthermore, a dedicated call centre supported all the participants to address their queries.

The eminent Jury members and Mentors, handpicked for H Social Creator 2020, have years of experience and an expertise in Road Safety, Healthcare, Environment, Technology, and Sustainability.  

The shortlisting and screening was done on the basis of complexity and application of the ideas. The subject matter experts selected the eleven finalists based on the criteria of innovation, sustainability, and more importantly the social impact. All the finalists were mentored by industry experts to refine and hone their final pitches. To culminate and choose the best social idea out of eleven big ideas, an independent panel of distinguished jury selected the final winner. 

mPokket Announces Appointment Of Sanjoy Kumar Agarwal As New Chief Financial Officer

 

mPokket – an Instant Loan App providing loans to college students and young working professionals – has appointed Mr. Sanjoy Kumar Agarwal as their new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Mr. Agarwal will manage the financial operations at mPokket. He will be responsible for creating robust, iterative development plans for long-term strategy while resolving key financial issues. His role will be critical in achieving core business objectives, while supporting the company’s growing presence and expansion.

With over 19 years of experience, across companies like ICICI Bank, Srei Equipment Finance and Rupeek Capital, Sanjoy has a strong foundation in maintaining relationships with stakeholders, fund raising, financial planning, regulatory compliances, risk management, and process re-engineering.

Speaking on the appointment of Mr. Sanjoy Kumar Agarwal as the CFO, Gaurav Jalan, CEO & Founder- mPokket said “Having Sanjoy as part of our team, will greatly help us in the next phase of our growth as an organization. I am sure that with Sanjoy’s vast experience & expertise in the domain, will help revitalizes strategies, introduce innovation, and facilitate solutions-driven team collaboration for us.”

About mPokket

mPokket is an Instant Loan App  that provides loans to college students and young working professionals. mPokket was founded by Mr. Gaurav Jalan in 2015. The company received early stage funding of $50,000 from VC Village Capital through a contest-type selection process. 

Borrowers can avail loans ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 20,000 and the amount is sent via instant credit to either their bank account or Paytm wallet. mPokket’s business model is similar to credit card lending but it focuses on a segment who are ineligible for that but requires instant loans. Loan is disbursed to clients instantly, and is credited to either their bank or Paytm account, executed on smartphones within seconds. The mobile application seamlessly delivers credit anytime anywhere..