Round Table India Honours ‘Freedom Fighters’ As Part Of ‘Freedom Drive’ In Bangalore

* Shri NS Srivivasa Murthy, Hony. Consulate for Vietnam in Karnataka, Shri Muniraju Gowda, Member - Karnataka Legislative Council & Shri M Goutham Kumar,Ex-Mayor of Bangalore Flagged off the Drive

Round Table India and Ladies Circle India - Area 6, on the occasion of 75 years of Independence, organized the 11th Edition of ‘Freedom Drive’ in Bangalore, and honoured freedom fighters. The drive also was to create awareness about Round Table India's objective of 'Freedom Through Education'. The Freedom Drive was flagged off by Shri NS Srivivasa Murthy, Hony. Consulate for Vietnam in Karnataka, Shri Muniraju Gowda, Member - Karnataka Legislative Council & Shri M Goutham Kumar, Ex-Mayor of Bangalore. 

Over 30 cars & bikes participated in the ‘Freedom Drive’ with the Chairman of Round Table India – Area 6, Sandesh Kumar and the Chairperson of the Ladies Circle India, Area 6 Nidhi Somani, present.  

Round Table India (RTI) is an energetic youth organization focused on nation-building and striving to promote ‘service through fellowship’. Its membership is comprised of young men from various professions spanning over 160 cities and towns across the country, driven to contribute to society at large. It has grown to a strong network of over 350 tables (Chapters) across the length and breadth of the country. RTI’s flagship programme, ‘Freedom Through Education (FTE)’, involves building classrooms, toilets, and providing other infrastructure like drinking water facility, library, science lab, sanitary pad dispensers, etc. in schools across the country that provide education to children from the less privileged sections of the society. 

Built one classroom a day for past 10 years

In the last 22 years, RTI has built over 7,141 classrooms in over 3,041 school projects, impacting the lives of over 78 Lakhs underprivileged children. In the last 10 years, RTI has built on an average one classroom a day, every day. 

Round Table India proudly claims itself to be a zero-overhead organization and every rupee of contribution received or fund raised goes directly into building schools and other community service activities for the less privileged.

Aspire Systems Consulting Reaches Specialist Level In B2C Commerce In The Salesforce Navigator Program

Aspire Systems Consulting Inc has been recognized as a Salesforce Navigator Specialist in B2C commerce by Salesforce. This accomplishment is a testimony to Aspire's commitment to platform expertise, certified team members to ensure benchmark consumer satisfaction score on implementation and support services.

Salesforce's Navigator Program evaluates its consulting partners based on their technical competence, project experience, and customer success. Ranking as a Specialist in B2C commerce, Aspire has emerged as a strong partner in end-to-end implementation and support services. Aspire’s agility, professionalism, and extensive management skills allow it to handle large and complicated projects with documented customer satisfaction. With a team of certified Salesforce experts, Aspire specializes in businesses win with Salesforce.

With a customer base in retail fashion, FMCG, sports, home furnishing, cosmetics, grocery, convenience stores, jewellery, watches and memorabilia, Aspire has proven its proficiency in both the technology and business needs of these specific industries. Aspire Systems will continue to scale its industry expertise with future innovation and industry-specific solutions. These specialist rankings acknowledge the unparalleled partnerships Aspire has created with its customers throughout their digital transformation journey.

About Aspire Systems

Aspire Systems is a global technology services firm serving as a trusted technology partner for more than 250 customers across the globe. Aspire works with the world's most innovative enterprises in Retail, Banking, Insurance, and software product companies, helping them leverage technology to transform their business in the current digital landscape. Its proven approach to Software Engineering & Digital Technologies helps companies run smart business models. Aspire’s core philosophy of ‘Attention. Always.’ communicates its belief in lavishing care and attention to its customers and employees. The company currently has over 4100 employees globally and is CMMI Level 3 certified. It operates across North America, LATAM, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Aspire Systems has been recognized for the 12th time in a row as one of the Top 100 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ by the Great Place to Work® Institute. 

MLA Seetakka Unveiled Sharat MaxiVision Vision Centre In Mulugu, Warangal

* Sharat MaxiVision plans to set up 60 centers by end of 2022: Dr.Sharat

Dansari Anasuya  popularly known as Seetakka, MLA (Member of the legislative assembly of Telangana)  has unveiled Sharat MaxiVision Vision Centre in Mulugu / Warangal today which caters to the need of  eye care services of remote areas of Telangana. This center will offer basic eye care examinations to all. People in villages are suffering from various eye-related problems and losing temporary / permanent vision with no outreach eye care facility in their areas. Many people have a fear that they need to shell out huge expenses if they go for eye checkups in cities like Hyderabad and Warangal which ultimately impacting the vision. Vision centers like Mulugu will rectify the basic eye care problems of villagers.

Speaking on the occasion Dr.Sharat Babu Chilukuri, Managing Director, Sharat MaxiVision Eye hospital said, making the society blind-free is the motive behind the vision center launch in Mulugu. Sharat MaxiVision is planning to open 60 such Vision centers in Telangana by the end of 2022. Optometrists are available in all the Vision centers apart from weekly visits by ophthalmologists / Eyecare specialist doctors to address any type of eye-related problem. People living in remote areas/villages can now access these facility centers to undergo eye checkups at a nominal charge. Sharat Maxi vision will offer free eye checkups to the poor on submission of substantial proofs.

All the basic eye problems like refractive error corrections/presbyopia etc. are rectified by the vision center doctors / optometrists. Depending upon the severity of the problems patients are referred to tertiary centers in Hyderabad, Warangal, Karim Nagar to undergo further examinations.

Sharat MaxiVision is planning a mass people outreach program with eye camps in villages across the state of Telangana with the help of eye care volunteers and optometrists in its mission to make society blind-free. We will train rural area people on how to conduct basic eye checkups for all those people who want to become volunteers in the mission. Volunteers on successful completion of the training will get a stipend from the Sharat MaxiVision.

Comfy Snug Fit Unboxes The Freedom From Menstrual Taboos With Its Independence Day Campaign

* Launches ‘Unboxing Freedom’ campaign to fight the discomfort hidden inside a brown paper bag

Comfy Snug Fit, a fast growing menstrual hygiene brand from the house of Amrutanjan Healthcare Limited (Amrutanjan Healthcare), attempts to unbox freedom from menstrual taboos in its latest digital campaign for Independence Day.  With this campaign being launched on the 75th Independence Day of India, Comfy aims to deliver a powerful message on what actual independence feels like for menstruating women by revealing the years of discomfort hidden inside a brown paper bag. It hopes to free our minds of age-old taboos surrounding menstruation. 

Through this digital campaign, Comfy highlights how women have progressed since independence, and yet they continue to face the stigma attached to menstruation. The menstrual period is a natural phenomenon and using sanitary napkins is no more than a hygienic need. Nevertheless, conversation surrounding menstruation is still considered taboo with the topic only alluded to in hushed tones. This extends to over-the-counter sales of sanitary napkins, which are sold wrapped in newspaper, or hidden in brown paper or black plastic bags.

This brown paper bag is a signifier of the years of shame, taboo, suffering, and ignorance that continues to stigmatise menstruation by our society so many decades after Independence.

Comfy’s ‘Unboxing Freedom’ campaign, which will feature an unboxing video in which the sanitary pad is ‘unboxed’ from a brown paper bag, is an earnest appeal to de-stigmatise menstruation and normalise it. 

According to National Family Health Survey, 62%* of young Indian women in the age group 15 to 24 years are still using cloth while menstruating and less than 20%* of women have access to sanitary pads in India.

Commenting on the condition of Indian menstruating women today, Mr. S. Sambhu Prasad, Chairman & Managing Director, Amrutanjan Health Care Ltd said, “The level of awareness and education regarding women’s menstrual health and hygiene remains low. Most critically, it is still considered a stigma in major parts of our country. We at Amrutanjan Healthcare, aim to highlight this issue. On this Independence Day, we aim to encourage free discussion and conversation around women’s menstrual health and hygiene, in an effort to empower the women of India.”

Mr. Mani Bhagavatheeswaran, Chief Marketing Officer, Amrutanjan Health Care Limited, “#Unboxing Freedom brings to life the fact that even after many years of independence, our ideas on menstruation and usage of sanitary napkins still need to gain freedom from taboo and societal stereotypes. The brown bag represents the very same stigma that society has around menstruation. The campaign urges society to free themselves of these inhibitions and make women feel more comfortable and confident while talking about menstruation. This is our attempt at unboxing the hidden freedom for every woman in India.”

Comfy’s digital campaign aims to activate #ThePowerToBeYou and empowers women to be who they are by ditching the brown bag and getting comfortable with the sanitary pad without feeling any shame or embarrassment.

Mr. Deepak Kumar, Chief Creative Officer at Korra said, "Unboxing is a trend we are all used to on the internet. So we thought of using it to unbox the stories of young girls that reflect the way our society trains us to be embarrassed about carrying sanitary napkins in the open. And we couldn’t find a better day to make this point clearer than on the most important day of the year for the country. We look forward to continued partnership with Amrutanjan in their effort to raise awareness on menstruation hygiene."

About Amrutanjan Healthcare Private Limited (Amrutanjan Healthcare)

Amrutanjan Healthcare Limited (Amrutanjan Healthcare) is a 127-year-old company with a rich legacy and is best known for its iconic brand Amrutanjan Pain Balms. A purpose-driven and innovative company, Amrutanjan Healthcare offers a versatile product portfolio. Its flagship brand, Amrutanjan, is a pain management expert that provides high-quality solutions using pure and natural ingredients. Its expertise lies in combining science and naturalness, rooted in Ayurveda. Amrutanjan Healthcare believes in ethical business practices and strictly stands against the use of chemicals such as Diclofenac which have harmful side effects and damage the environment as a whole. Apart from pain management products, Amrutanjan Healthcare offers products in other categories including women’s hygiene brand Comfy Snug Fit, beverage brands Electro+ and Fruitnik, and in cold and congestion category through the Amrutanjan Relief brand. As a company that is employee-centric, it endeavours to provide a culture that accepts new ideas, embraces change, and encourages innovation. The company’s commitment to supporting inclusive growth is uncompromising which is proven through the social services undertaken for generations by the company. The company is actively engaged in the fields of education for the deprived sector, preventive health, environment protection, animal welfare, and women empowerment.

VST Tillers Tractors Reports PAT Of Rs 24.01 Crore For Q1 FY22, YoY Rise Of 40.7%

Highlights for Q1 FY 22 Results.

•   Turnover of Rs 193.60 Cr. for Q1 FY 22. (P.Y. 146.24 Cr). Up by 32.39% YoY.

•   PBT increased to Rs 31.20 Cr (P.Y. 20.92 Cr). Up by 49.14% YoY

•   Reported PAT is Rs 24.01 Cr (P.Y Rs 17.07 Cr). Up by 40.7% YoY

•   EBIDTA % increased to 18.11% compared to 16.47% P.Y.

Operating revenues of VST Tillers Tractors rose by 32.39 % to Rs 193.60 crore in the Q1 FY22 as against Rs 146.24 crore during the Q1 FY21. Company reported PAT was Rs 24.01 crore for Q1 FY22, YoY rise of 40.7 %. EBIDTA % during Q1 FY22 was 18.11%

During the quarter, VST TILLERS TRACTORS set up a precision implement division. To further bolster its position in the compact tractors segment, the company has initiated the launch of its New Generation Range of Tractors.

About VST Tillers Tractors Limited.

VST Tillers Tractors Limited. was established in the year 1967 by the VST Group of companies. With a legacy of more than 53 years, VST continues to drive farm mechanization and empowerment of Indian farmers. The organization is the largest Indian manufacturer of Tillers, 4WD Compact Tractor and amongst the leading producers of the other category Tractors, Engines, Transmission, Power Reaper and Precision Components.

VST also exports products to European, Asian and African markets. To further strengthen its product portfolio and offer world-class technology customized to match the needs of Indian customers, VST has entered into strategic alliances with Pubert from France for Power Weeders and Zetor from the Czech Republic for Tractors.

VST believes in leveraging electric, driver optional, and connected vehicle technologies to offer sustainable, productive, and profitable farming solutions and has made a strategic Investment in Monarch Tractor (Zimeno Inc) – Maker of the World’s First Fully Electric, Driver-Optional Smart Tractor.

Kankatala Now Opens Its 12th Outlet In Jayanagar, Bengaluru

Queen of Sarees, Kankatala Sarees launches 12th Retail Outlet of India in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Kankatala is one of the oldest saree brands in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and has represented the age-old weaving techniques for more than 77 years. The brand has always been known for pioneering trends in its market and has been growing steadily. The Jayanagar outlet is Kankatala’s 1st Store in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and is dedicated to their clientele in Jayanagar and Bengaluru. The store was unveiled on Saturday at 10.53 am by M.B. Patil (Former Home Minister, Karnataka & current MLA) & his wife, Mrs. Asha Patil, followed by the lamp-lighting ceremony by Mrs. Sowmya Reddy, member of the legislative assembly, in the esteemed presence of Shri Mallik Kankatala, CMD, Kankatala Sarees, along with the entire Kankatala Family, including the third-generation Directors, Arvind, Bharat & Anirudh Kankatala and Mr. Sovit Nanda, Vice President of Kotak Mahindra Bank.  

Designed for the comfort of Queens of Kankatala, the interiors of the store are contemporary and classy. The store will house more than 10000 Sarees handpicked from 50 major weaving clusters of India starting from INR.5000 and going up to 5 Lakhs and above, making it a one-stop saree destination for every budget, occasion, and style. The store will host authentic handwoven marvels that are one-of-a-kind, including signature Kanchipuram, Banarasi, Patola, Ikat, Paithani, Kota, Uppada, Khadi, Jamdani, Organza, Kalamkari, Gadwal, Tussar, and more. 

Like all Kankatala stores, here too, handwoven exclusive sarees are handpicked personally by a Kankatala Family member to ensure that each saree is unique and no design is repeated, so that every Kankatala saree is as unique as their patrons. This process also ensures that only the finest quality products are presented to their customers. 

“We have spent 3 generations representing authentic handlooms in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana. Over the years, we have seen the geographic reach of our clientele expand outside our states. With our e-commerce foray 3 years back, we have been catering to the Indian diaspora all across the world. Our 12th store is the first store in Karnataka, which is launched to cater to our growing clientele in Bengaluru. We have received a very warm response over the last few years during our exhibition, and our patrons encouraged us to bring an outlet for them in their city. This is our 2nd store launch in this quarter as we recently launched our 11th company-owned and company-operated store of Hyderabad last month. With a vision to revive the charm of Indian handloom in India, we are planning to expand our national footprint further in the near future", said Mallikarjuna Rao Kankatala, Chairman, Kankatala Sarees.

IIFL Home Finance Ltd Signs Agreement With Asian Development Bank

Agreement for Technical Assistance of $1 million for supporting the green building ecosystem in the affordable housing sector in India

Asian Development Bank’s First Private Sector Agreement in India

Bengaluru 14th, August 2021: New Delhi: IIFL Home Finance (IIFL HFL), one of India’s leading housing finance company, has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Technical Assistance (TA) to support and foster the green building ecosystem in the affordable housing sector in India. This is ADBs first such private sector agreement in the country.

Thee cost of the activities to be exercised under this TA agreement is approximately $1 million, enabling activities addressing some of the key identified obstacles for building the ecosystem for green certified and affordable housing in India. IIFL HFL shall also contribute an additional amount of up to $150,000, for supporting the above mentioned activities and objectives as described in the TA agreement.

Speaking on the association, Mr. Monu Ratra, ED & CEO - IIFL Home Finance Limited, said, “We look forward to this association with the Asian Development Bank and intend to work towards our common and established goal of sustainable ecosystem, sparking a green affordable housing movement in the country. This initiative will integrate green lending and climate adaptation strategies in the context of affordable housing in India.”

IIFL HFL, through selected independent special consultants and with their Green Value Partners (certified Green Architects), will coordinate, support, direct and monitor the activities under the TA programme through its expertise and knowledge so as to achieve the desired outcome as envisaged.

Activities under the TA include:

1.    Promotional Activities: Organizing knowledge programmes for increasing awareness among affordable housing developers, and other stakeholders regarding the climate risk mitigation and adaptation benefits to promote adoption of green certified housing standards in the affordable housing segment.

2.    Capacity Building: Organizing training sessions for IIFL HFL’s technical team, staff of state housing boards and housing developers staff on subjects such as site risk assessment, climate adaptation measures and green certification process for climate resilient buildings.

3.    Research and Innovation: Undertaking market research initiatives across the entire value chain of climate resilient green housing including

a)    assessing current awareness of prospective buyers and developers and establishing a baseline of consumer understanding

b)    formulating a unified green building ratings system to encompass tailored adaptations to the local climate zones of various regions across India

c)    establishing a system to integrate green lending and climate adaptation strategies in the context of affordable housing

IIFL HFL has already been propagating green affordable housing in India through its platform ‘Kutumb’, which is a green building initiative addressing the affordable housing projects regarding issues relating to financing, technical know-how of green construction and certification, and ESG compliance.

About IIFL Home Finance:

Incorporated in 2006 and registered in 2009 with National Housing Bank (NHB), IIFL Home Finance Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IIFL Finance Limited. Through their affordable home loans, IIFL Home Finance makes people's aspirations a reality.

As one of the country's leading fintech housing finance companies, IIFL HFL is well-positioned with end-to-end digitized processes, in-house competencies, and customer centricity at its core. IIFL HFL leverages technology, being able to on-board and give loan decision to almost 100% home loan applications, within 25 minutes, through it’s digital tablet based application, enabling enhanced customer experience

The company’s comprehensive product suite includes small ticket size home loans, secured business loans and affordable housing project loans. With the group network of over 2,500 touch points, efficient technology-led operations and transparent processes, IIFL HFL is well-placed to serve the housing finance needs of marginalized sections of the society. With robust asset quality, ethical business approach and responsible social and environmental practices, the company continues to deliver the best-in-class customer experience.