Hero Motocorp To Increase Prices Of Its Motorcycles & Scooters From July 1, 2021

Hero MotoCorp will make an upward revision in the ex-showroom prices of its motorcycles and scooters, with effect from July 1, 2021.

The price hike has been necessitated to partially offset the impact of continuous increase in commodity prices. The company continues to drive cost savings program aggressively, in order to minimize the impact on the customer.

The price hike across the range of motorcycles and scooters will be up to Rs. 3,000 and the exact quantum of the increase will depend on the basis of the model and the specific market.

Youth For Seva Launches Rehabilitation Program For Children Who Have Lost Their Parent During Covid-19

* This will be part of their Vidya Chetana project in association with Sewa International

Youth for Seva (YFS), the India-wide volunteering movement, today announced the launch of a rehabilitation program for children who have lost either of their parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This Pan-India initiative is being launched as part of their Vidya Chetana project in association with Sewa International. While launched especially for children from the economically weaker sections of the society, the initiative will also provide support to a few middle-class families this year. Adding to this, YFS will extend its support to children who were orphaned during the pandemic by helping them get access to the benefits of the PM Care fund. YFS will make sure that their paperwork is done, and the funds reach them on a timely basis.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Venkatesh Murthy, Founder, Youth For Seva said, “To ensure that our efforts make the biggest impact possible, we have shared the collaterals of our initiatives with a vast network of volunteers and partner NGOs across the country to gather details of the children that need rehabilitation. 

Furthermore, we are taking the help of websites, social media, and media campaigns to widen our reach to the ones in need.”

The grassroots initiative will facilitate grief counselling and Satsang sessions conducted virtually for the child and the surviving parent. In addition, to ensure that the child does not get separated from the family owing to financial constraints, Vidya Chetana plans to offer all possible support to ensure that the child has a reasonable financial framework to support himself or herself until graduation. 

“In these challenging times, India needs all the help it can get. Many who are close to us have been impacted, thus this is the time for all of us to come forward and give generously,” Venkatesh added.

As per the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), over 30000 children across India were affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Children from families who have suffered the loss of parents to Covid-19 are eligible to enrol in the Vidya Chetana program. The enrolment process involves filling out a google form. In addition, YFS has also introduced “Project Aalamban” which provides emotional, spiritual, and financial assistance to families who have lost close kin to the pandemic.

Venkatesh also said, “With the help of ‘Project Aalamban,’ we plan on supporting families in need, both financially and mentally, during the ongoing crisis. Our hearts go out to all of those who are suffering, and we are making our best efforts to help families achieve a level of financial peace of mind and stability at a time when everything else is uncertain.”

YFS, founded in 2007, is geared towards inspiring the youth to volunteer and provides them with meaningful opportunities to serve the community. More details about their initiatives can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Government Strongly Recommends A Policy-Driven Approach To Holistic Disease Management Of Sickle Cell Disease In India

* FICCI, in collaboration with Novartis, NASCO and GASCDO, hosted 2nd National Sickle Conclave to raise awareness on Sickle cell disease today

* The conclave spearheaded discussions on the evolving SCD landscape, emerging therapies, and SCD care for women and children, including pregnancy and neonatal care

FICCI, in collaboration with Novartis, National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organizations (NASCO) and Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO), held the 2nd National Sickle Cell Conclave to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease today. The conclave, aimed at raising awareness and combat the disease, was attended by eminent speakers in the field, sparking insightful discussions on disease management in women and children.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that poses a significant health burden to India. It is highly prevalent across central India, predominantly affecting tribal groups. Yet, it remains severely neglected.  Characterized by episodes of debilitating pain, SCD prompts significant costs to the patient, health system and society. The disease is also associated with pronounced social stigma, which exacerbates patient burden and interferes with disease awareness and screening. Healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, remain ill-equipped to support timely diagnosis and robust disease management.

Mr. Saumil Mody, General Manager, Novartis Oncology India and Member of the National SCD Council said, “At Novartis, we are committed to driving awareness and partnering with patient communities, to ensure SCD warriors are not alone in their fight. Through innovative and digitally-enabled solutions, we hope to meet our dual objectives of empowering our patients through improved SCD screening and access to advanced therapies across the country. Through various targeted initiatives like health system strengthening at the primary level, Novartis is committed to building a holistic and effective ecosystem for management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in partnership with relevant stakeholders.”

There is an urgent need to recognize Sickle Cell Disease as a public health priority and ensure continued momentum across initiatives and policies with the core objectives of raising awareness, tackling stigma, expanding screening coverage and ensuring effective disease management. This can accelerate the strengthening of health infrastructure and streamline access to quality care. The SCD landscape in India is beginning to transform across the core areas of diagnosis and treatment. A combination of novel, innovative diagnostic and care solutions, especially in rural settings, multi-stakeholder partnerships and policies is crucial to effecting large-scale positive change.

Mr. Arjun Munda, Hon’ble Union Minister for Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MOTA), GoI commented, “India is making strides in Sickle Cell Disease management as we continue working towards new advancements to accelerate data collection, screening programs, awareness and newer treatment options to combat the disease in the country. We aim to scale the impact of such efforts, through various collaborations and commitment to disadvantaged communities, including tribal and non-tribal populations. SCD has also been highlighted by the Hon’ble Prime Minister who has identified the need to combat the disease through advances in treatment.”

The 2nd National Sickle Cell Conclave was convened with the hope of spearheading a vital discussion on SCD in this evolving landscape and the way forward for the same. The event was graced by speakers including Brig. Dr. Arvind Lal, Chair – FICCI Swasth Bharat Task Force and Executive Chairman, Dr Lal Pathlabs Ltd and Mr. Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MOTA, GoI who outlined a roadmap for India, discussing a new SCD guidelines report currently underway that will be jointly issued by MOTA and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He also emphasized the key role of public-private collaborations to scale impact and benefit patients.

Speakers also included Dr. Aparup Das, Director, ICMR-NIRTH Jabalpur and Dr. Anurag Agrawal, Director, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, who discussed diagnostic and therapeutic advancements with CRISPR technology. Dr. Shailendra Hegde, Senior Vice President, Piramal Swasthya also introduced the ‘Unmukt’ project, with Mr. Arjun Munda, Hon’ble Union Minister for MOTA, GoI and Ms. Renuka Singh Saruta, Hon’ble Minister of State, MOTA, GoI, by flagging off the mobile vans for SCD screening and giving a keynote address.

Mr. Kevin Zou, Head of Oncology, Asia Pacific Cluster, Novartis and Mr. Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, MOTA, GoI, also addressed the conclave. A poignant video message addressing the challenge of SCD from Ms. Mary Ampomah, President and CEO, GASCDO was also showcased. The event also discussed challenges and recent advancements in SCD management through a panel discussion with health experts in the field, moderated by Ms. Vinita Srivastava, Tribal Health Cell, MOTA, GoI and Dr. Tulika Seth, Professor Haematology, AIIMS. The panel explored the need to augment awareness, introduce effective preventive, management and novel treatment initiatives with a focus on women and children, including the need to scale neonatal and pregnancy screening. 

Mr. Gautam Dongre, Member Secretary of National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organisations (NASCO), is the father of 2 sickle cell patients. According to him, "Inclusion of patient's and caregiver's voice is essential to frame and implement any policy for the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) community across India. Our mission is to ensure every Sickle Cell Disease warrior across India lives a pain-free life and gets timely access to comprehensive quality care & treatment at all healthcare facilities."

In alignment with the event’s objectives, Novartis has established several key initiatives to educate patient groups, healthcare practitioners, government bodies and policymakers on the disease and its associated challenges. The company also introduced digital resources to empower patients and caregivers, most recently including a VOC Diary – a customized diary for SCD patients to maintain details of pain episodes and a web platform for SCD warriors to share their story, via the website Notaloneinsicklecell.com. At today’s National Sickle Cell Conclave, Novartis embarks on its latest endeavour towards enabling patient access, facilitating a CSR initiative, ‘Unmukt,’ to send mobile vans across Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for SCD screening. Novartis has also signed a MoU with Sickle Cell Institute, Raipur to create a center of excellence and strengthen the public healthcare system’s approach towards SCD.

MG Motor India Donates Hector Ambulance To Jeevan Jyothi Trust In Bengaluru

Under its MG Sewa initiative, MG Motor India has delivered a Hector Ambulance equipped with modern life-saving equipment to a Bangalore-based non-government organization (NGO) Jeevan Jyothi Trust. The NGO requested the ambulance for a healthcare facility, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre, in Kolar Gold Fields, Kolar district, Karnataka.

Volunteers from “Here I’m Squad” - a group known for its social welfare initiatives were also present at the event. Nicole Cherian, a final year student at St. Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, and other volunteers from “Here I’m Squad” (including Tina Cherian and Samuel Joseph) have helped with the dignified burial of the COVID-19 victims at the Indian Christian Cemetery.

The ambulance donation is a part of MG India’s efforts to strengthen medical infrastructure in KGF. The donation is a part of a request by the NGO and Here I’m Squad’ to make KGF’s healthcare facilities more robust. Earlier, the people from KGF had to travel to Bangalore for their healthcare needs. Jeevan Jyothi Trust will be the first to provide 24/7 medical care at KGF including facilities for hospitalization. The NGO has made necessary arrangements for the procurement of medical equipment, healthcare personnel, relevant permissions, and so forth. 

Commenting on the occasion, Nicole Cherian of “Here I’m Squad”,said, “We are happy MG Motor India is working for the people during their time of need. I hope the ambulance will be a vehicle of help for many.”MG Motor India has already donated ambulances to Nangia Hospital in Nagpur, GMERS Hospital in Vadodara and CHC Hospital in Halol, Gujarat.

Nippon Paint's KIDZ All-In-One Paint Receives NHA Certification

 
* KIDZ Paint is India’s first-ever paint exclusively developed for child wellness

* The product aims to create a safe indoor environment for children amidst the pandemic

Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) Asia’s leading paint manufacturer today announced that they have received the NHA (National Health Academy) certification for their product KIDZ All-in-one child wellness paint. The KIDZ All-in-one paint was created with a strong commitment to championing indoor safety and child health and is tailored to fulfil the demands of a child's entire childhood.

Since the pandemic hit India last year in March, all of us have been confined indoors. Earlier, much of the concern for good air quality was directed towards the outdoor air quality, but with the nationwide lockdowns and increased confinement indoors, indoor air quality has currently taken the precedence. The impact of indoor air quality is especially crucial for new-borns and children.

Prior to the launch of KIDZ All-in-one PAINT in 2018, Nippon Paint's R&D team had come up with three main findings and corresponding ways to address them, all under one label – The KIDZ All-in-one paint – based on extensive testing and years of industry study making it the ‘Safest Interior Paint for Kids’.

Finding 1:

* Since new-borns have a respiratory rate up to three times that of adults, good air quality is critical for their developing lungs.

* Anti-formaldehyde technology for Clean Air - Allows for air purification by removing toxic formaldehyde in the air as well as formaldehyde released by other household items such as wooden furniture, carpets, bedding, and so on, leaving only new, child-safe air.

Finding 2:

* Since babies and toddlers spend the majority of their time indoors, they are more susceptible to bacteria, viruses, mould, and fungi.

* Anti-viral & Anti-bacterial for Safe touch - The Silver-ion technology combats a variety of dangerous bacterial and viral infections, ensuring a 99 percent germ and infection-free environment for a child's development.

Finding 3:

* 76% of parents said their children use the wall to practise drawing and for other cognitive skills

* Superior Washability for Creativity – The patented anti-stain system provides a hassle-free cleaning experience that lasts even after 10,000 scrubs.

Emphasizing the need for such a breakthrough product for Indian homes, Mr. Mahesh Anand, President – Nippon Paint India (Decorative) commented, “We are delighted to receive the certification from NHA for KIDZ All-in-one-paint. This has further bolstered KIDZ All-in-one paint’s position as the safest paint for children. The KIDZ All-in-one paint is aimed at combating the indoor air pollution while nurturing their creativity. According to WHO (World Health Organization), every day around 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air which is so polluted that it puts their health and development at serious risk. The pandemic has further enhanced the need for such a revolutionary paint. The excellent features of this paint like anti-formaldehyde, anti-bacterial and silver ion technology will help children in growing up into a healthier, brighter individuals.”

https://www.nipponpaint.co.in/products/nippon-paint-kidz-all-in-one-paint/

About Nippon Paint:

Founded in Japan, Nippon Paint has over 141 years of experience in paint manufacturing. Nippon is now the number one paint manufacturer in Asia, and is one of the top paint manufacturers of the world. Nippon Paint produces a wide range of international quality hi-tech paints for decorative, automotive, and industrial sectors. Over the years, Nippon Paint has perfected its products by quickly adapting breakthrough paint technology, with an emphasis on innovation and eco-friendliness. Nippon Paint’s mission is to create advanced products that boost quality of life while protecting the environment. Through innovative technology, Nippon Paint benefits its customers and society. The company and its subsidiaries are active in 31 countries including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, China, India, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Germany, Greece and Russia.

About NHA

The National Health Academy (NHA) is an independent body of eminent professionals from diverse fields of health and medicine, social and behavioural science. It was established to proffer an impartial and authoritative voice in the healthcare sector and to improve health and the performance of the health system.

Medikabazaar Patents VIZI, An Intelligent AI/ML-Based Inventory Management

* Patent granted for System and Method for Inventory Management in Hospitals ~

* Application also filed under Patent Cooperation Treaty to enable marketing in over 61 countries ~

Medikabazaar, India's number one online B2B platform for supply of medical consumables, pharma products and medical equipment, today announced that VIZI, it's AI and ML-powered hospital inventory management and forecasting software application, has been granted a national patent for System and Method for Inventory Management in Hospitals. The grant of the Patent is a testament to Medikabazaar's success in identifying emerging technology opportunities and its strength in innovative research and technology to leverage these opportunities to benefit healthcare organisations.

Medikabazaar has also filed an international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty(PCT), which would give patent protection to VIZI in many countries. With this, Medikabazaar would be able to exercise its Patent in more than 61 countries and market the product to customers across these nations.

Mr Vivek Tiwari, CEO, Medikabazaar, said, "We are glad that VIZI's cutting-edge technology that uses AI/ML to empower key decision-makers at hospitals to make smart decisions has been granted a patent in India. To open up new windows of opportunity, we have also applied for an international patent and are sure that this will be granted in due course. This will allow us to deliver our path-breaking products and solutions to customers around the globe. The receipt of the Patent encourages us to continue to conduct research in application of AI to products and new domains to develop tools to leverage technology to transform the healthcare industry."

Since its launch in 2019, VIZI has transformed inventory management by enabling hospitals to plan procurement of supplies by providing an actionable purchase list of products with safety or reserve stock required to avoid stock out situations and the level of safety stock with colour indicators. Hospitals do not need to take any additional steps for data entry to use this application. VIZI allows hospitals to source supplies at the best prices from a single point of contact, Medikabazaar, rather than sourcing from various suppliers, a task which can be daunting and often unrewarding. Customers in India have appreciated VIZI's contribution to cost optimisation, operational efficiency and optimum inventory management in their healthcare organizations and hospitals.

About Medikabazaar:

Medikabazaar is India's pioneering and largest online B2B platform for medical supplies. Founded in 2015 by Vivek Tiwari and Ketan Malkan, the company has been growing exponentially and is now clearly the most prominent digital platform in India's medical procurement and supply chain.

It started with a simple idea to help improve Indian healthcare by making it accessible and affordable. The company devised a website coupled with additional value-added services via which medical establishments can search for their required supplies, order them at the right prices and time, and receive them at their doorsteps irrespective of their location.

Working Women Are 2x More Likely To Be Worried About Availability Of Jobs Compared To Working Men: LinkedIn Index

 

* Working women are also 4x less confident compared to working men

LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network, today announced findings of the most recent edition of the Workforce Confidence Index. Based on the survey responses of 1,891 professionals from May 8 to June 4, findings reveal how the aftermath of the pandemic’s second wave has left Indian professionals — particularly Gen Z and working women — increasingly vulnerable to the economic uncertainty in today’s evolving job market.

The latest edition of the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index shows that India’s overall workforce confidence has declined after peaking in early March, with a composite score of +54 today (down 4 points from +58 in March). This dip in confidence is reflected strongly across professionals from creative industries such as Entertainment, Design, and Media & Comms, who expressed being uncertain about the future of their employers. But as several parts of the economy gradually reopen, professionals from Software & IT and Hardware & Networking are growing increasingly confident about the future of their organizations. 

Commenting on the findings, Ashutosh Gupta, India Country Manager, LinkedIn said, “As India slowly begins to come out of the second wave of Covid-19 cases, we see the year-over-year hiring rate recover from a low of 10% in April to 35% at the end of May. Despite this modest revival, confidence levels of working women and young professionals are amongst the lowest in the workforce today. Twice as many working women are concerned with job availability compared to working men, and  30% of Gen Z professionals worry due to lack of jobs. Remote jobs can be the ray of hope, to provide the much-needed flexibility and growth in opportunities to help them bounce back into the workforce.” 

Second wave worsens ‘shecession’; twice as many working women worried about availability of jobs, time for job-seeking compared to working men

The plight of India’s working women has worsened after the second COVID-19 wave, as the individual confidence index (ICI) scores of female professionals fell from +57 in March to +49 in early June ー a 4x decline compared to working men (+58 in March to +56 in June). Decoding India’s evident ‘shecession’, findings show that India’s working women are ~2x more likely to be worried about the availability of jobs, their professional network, and time devoted to job seeking, than working men today. This uneven impact has also bruised the financial stability of working women as 1 in 4 (23%) female professionals are concerned about growing expenses or debt, in contrast with just 1 in 10 (13%) working men.

30% Gen Z professionals troubled due to lack of jobs, compared to 18% Baby Boomers

The pandemic’s recent peak in India has amplified the importance of work experience and professional connections, as young Indians were found twice (2.5x) as worried as their older cohorts, about the impact of COVID-19 on their careers. Nearly 30% of Gen Z professionals and 26% of millennials are troubled due to lack of jobs, in comparison to 18% of Baby Boomers. The uncertainty widens when it comes to finances as 1 in 4 Gen Z (23%) and millennials (24%) report being more worried about their debt or expenses, when compared to just half as many Boomers (13%) in India today.

As per LinkedIn Labour Market Update, LinkedIn platform data suggests that the average time for fresh graduates to find a new job has also increased by 43% (from 2 to 2.8 months) in 2020 compared to pre COVID-19 times in 2019. But while the conversion time has increased, so have remote opportunities, as LinkedIn platform data further suggests that the proportion of entry level jobs labelled as ‘remote’ posted between Jan-March 2020 have increased by 9x between 2020 and 2021.

‘Flexibility’ and ‘work life balance’ become as important as ‘salary’ and ‘benefits’ today

As India continues to navigate the ongoing health and economic crisis, ’self-care’ appears to have become a greater priority for job seekers in the current environment. While 1 in 2 job-seekers value employee benefits (55%) and salary (53%) more post COVID-19, an equal number of job-seekers are found prioritizing work-life balance (48%) and location flexibility (50%) when looking for a job today.  

This growing demand for flexibility comes at a time when remote opportunities continue to grow. According to the recent Labour Market Update, remote job postings that increased by 35x across 2020, grew further by almost 3x year-on-year as of May 2021.

Aspirants also seek a sense of belonging and long-term growth within their new organizations as 2 in 5 job seekers prioritize workplace culture (43%), internal movement & promotions (44%), and a visible commitment to diversity & inclusion (42%) from their potential employers.