Reliance General Insurance Participates In The PMFBY’s Policy Distribution Drive - “Meri Policy Mere Hath”

 

Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd (RGICL), India's 4th largest private general insurance company, has announced its participation in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana's nationwide Doorstep Crop Insurance Policy Distribution Mega Drive - 'Meri Policy Mere Hath' under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Campaign – India@75'.The Company fully supports the initiative and is committed towards playing its part in building a better financial ecosystem for the farmers. 

To drive the initiative effectively, Reliance General Insurance has set up special camps at gram panchayat/village level to educate farmers, who are enrolled with Reliance General Insurance under the PMFBY, about their existing crop insurance policies. Through this initiative, the farmer will receive first-hand information, and details of their crop insurance such as sum insured amount, types of crops insured and the premium amount. The Company will also distribute physical documents of the existing policies to the farmers. Having these documents handy will ensure hassle-free claim settlement for the farmers in the future. Furthermore, the initiative will also give the farmers a platform to share their feedback, queries and grievances directly with the insurance company.  

Commenting on this unique initiative, Rakesh Jain, CEO of Reliance General Insurance, said, "We welcome the initiative and give our extensive support to this exceptional drive. Agriculture provides livelihood to nearly 60% of our population. However, risks of natural calamities, large rain-fed areas, pests, and disease make agriculture a highly volatile sector. Thus, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was introduced to provide financial protection to the farmers against any such unforeseen events. 'Meri Policy Mere Hath' initiative takes the Govt.’s effort one step ahead by empowering farmers through crop insurance awareness and by bringing insurance policy to the farmers' doorsteps. It will also help increase direct communication between the farmers and insurance companies and increase their trust in insurance companies and PMFBY."  

The Company will also distribute a FAQ leaflet in regional languages to inform farmers all about crop insurance. 

About Reliance General Insurance 

Reliance General Insurance, a part of Reliance Capital, is one of the leading general insurance companies of India. The Company offers a well-rounded and comprehensive bouquet of products including Motor Insurance, Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, and Home Insurance, and offers customized solutions to meet the protection needs of each customer. Reliance General Insurance has a wide network of more than 62,000 intermediaries across 128 branch offices across India for offering its products and services to retail, corporates and SME clients.  

www.reliancegeneral.co.in | www.facebook/RelianceGenIn | @RelianceGenIn 

General MM Naravane Inaugurates Third Edition Of Ahmedabad Design Week At Karnavati University

* The three-day design confluence, ADW 3.0 is themed on Design and Innovation In Defence and Aerospace; Thought Leaders, Startups, Investors from Defence Design Fraternity participated in the event

Honourable General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army on Saturday inaugurated the third edition of Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW)– a melting pot of ideas and insights – organised by Karnavati University, based in Uvarsad, Gandhinagar. Karnavati University is a state private university dedicated to excellence in teaching and is focused on interdisciplinary learning. This year’s theme for ADW 3.0 is Design and Innovation in Defense and Aerospace – a topic of strategic importance.

Shri Prahalad Kakkar, Founder, Genesis Film Production, along with Air Marshall Ravinder Kumar Dhir PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC (retired) and Advisor to Gujarat state for Defence and Aerospace Industries, were present during the inaugural ceremony held at the varsity.

In his opening remarks, Shri Ritesh Hada, President, Karnavati University, said, “Karnavati University is a design-centric university and we aim to support and accelerate the Make in India cause through design and innovations.”

During the inaugural address, General M.M. Naravane also spoke about the four Ds of Design – Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver. Speaking of the importance of design and its applications in the defence sector, he said, “The Indian Army has recently embarked on a programme for future ready combat vehicles. Both these are at conceptualization stage and we are open to ideas. The future in aerospace and defence is electric in the way things are going to change. As we go ahead more and more electricity-based equipment will come up that are not dependent on fossil fuel. There's a lot of work that can be done in the field of miniaturisation. We cannot afford to have large platforms. The size of our ship and aircrafts have to be small.”

“When you're designing something today, you must see where it will be 50 years from now. Requirements of the modern day battlefield are daunting and diverse. Designing a system that fits all in one is daunting. In designing, you must keep these aspects vital, essential and desirable in mind. If this aspect is kept in mind we would be able to do much better. For instance, a vehicle that can efficiently operate across all terrains or say develop a technology that makes potable water available easily in inaccessible areas. We are looking for technology solutions,” General Naravane further added.

Retired Air Marshall R. K. Dhir, who was also present during the inaugural ceremony, said, “National security is essential for a nation. A nation becomes strong through pillars of military power, diplomacy and even economic might. Self-reliance that breeds from the need to exist and survive is crucial and today, the industry is looking inwards for dependence. To achieve this, entrepreneurs and industry must take the lead now.”

“The national leadership is creating an ecosystem to make India strong. A leading manufacturing company may soon come into Gujarat for defence manufacturing. This is where the scientists, DRDO and others have to work together,” Air Marshall Dhir further went on to say.

Shri Prahalad Kakkar on the other hand, spoke on the criticality of defence manufacturing in India. He said, “Anything will function better when better designed. Today we sit in a world which is dangerous. India lags in its defence abilities not just for defence but even technology.  Today, even though we are late, but it is important to look at defence production. The business of war today is not about protected world wars but about economics. It is a country's abilities to sustain a war is what decides it's might, where our focus must be stationed.”

Guest speakers present during the session include Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM (retired), Former Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency; Dr Sudhir Mishra, distinguished scientist and former CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace; Wing Commander Saurabh Chauhan, Indian Air Force and Dr R Shivaraman, Co-Founder, Big Bang Boom Solutions.

The day concluded with a panel discussion on Defence R&D in India – Designing for 2050 The Road Ahead at ADW 3.0 by RAdm Rahul Kumar Shrawat, AVSM (retired), CMD, Naval Group India; Lt Gen BS Jaswal, PVSM Bar to AVSM, VSM (retired); Major General Ashwani Kumar Channan, PVSM, SM (retired), Dr Greg Autry; Dr Sudhir Mishra; Col. Hariharan Shankar (retd); Leo Peter Charles; Group Captain, Ajay D Purandare, VSM, Mention – in-Despatches (retired).

Vice President Of India M. Venkaiah Naidu Unveils Sports And Arts Complex At Greenwood High International School

Greenwood High International School, a renowned educational institution in the country, witnessed an inauguration of L’ATELIER – An Ensemble of Fine Arts & State of the Art Indoor Sports Arena at its Sarjapur Campus in Bengaluru by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Vice President of India, in the presence of many other dignitaries including Shri. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Honourable Governor of Karnataka and many other noted personalities. The new complex offers globally comparable infrastructure for sports and co-curricular education.

The school’s Centre for Sports Excellence (CSE) is a world-class integrated sports arena built on two lush acres exclusively dedicated for sporting. The complex offers state-of-the-art facilities in Sports for aspiring young talent to excel in their choice of sport. The sports facilities include natural grass FIFA size football ground, AstroTurf soccer field, tennis courts and cricket pitches in grass with nets, top-of-the-line 50-meter swimming pools, world-class glass-backed squash court, shooting range, indoor basketball and badminton courts, golf simulator with professional golf clubs & data analyzer setup amongst many other facilities.

The dedicated Block for Arts, Drama & Music with state-of-the-art facilities aims to encourage creative and artistic individuals who see arts as a way of life. The complex has sound-proof music rooms with world-class acoustics to develop students’ varied talents. The other facilities include Arts Room to conceptualize and paint artistic canvases, Arts Gallery to showcase the artworks created by the students indigenously, Drama Room, Music Room, Design Tech Room for Design thinking and creative ideations using latest tech, Music Studio for producing sound records and grooming the School Band, Dance Studio for choreography of classical & contemporary dance forms and Soundproof Music Production Room for Music recording and streaming etc.

Addressing the students and the gathering, Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Vice President of India said: “It is an honor to be amidst you on this special day. A healthy body is essential for a healthy mind. Thus, Sports & Co-curricular Education plays an indispensable part in the growth and molding of young minds. He also spoke on the importance of our mother tongue and how students should be encouraged to learn their mother tongue. He advised students to respect our mothers, nature and our gurus and always respect our culture and diversity. Furthermore, he motivated students that with discipline, dynamism, dedication and devotion will give you promotion in life.

Shri. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Honourable Governor of Karnataka said: 'Our country has made great strides in the field of education, and I am glad to know that Greenwood High International School’s contribution is commendable. He praised the school to have received numerous prestigious awards over the years. He also mentioned that special attention should be given to all-round development of the students in the field of sports, arts, dance and music apart from imparting quality education. He further wished the students to achieve greater heights in the world and make our country proud.

Mr. Bijay Agarwal, Chairman, Greenwood High International School said: “It was indeed a great honour for us to have the Honourable Vice-President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Ji as our Chief Guest, as we inaugurated L’atelier, our Centre for Fine Arts and our state-of-the-art Indoor Sports Arena. We were also delighted to have in our midst Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot Ji, Honourable Governor of Karnataka, as our Guest of Honour. We are grateful for the many dignitaries, artists and sports stars, who graced this occasion. This marks a step forward in our mission to help our students develop in a holistic manner, with an all-round education. The untiring efforts of our school faculty have made Greenwood High a leading educational institution not only in India, but also on the global stage.

Organic India Felicitates The Heroes Of Indian Agriculture With Dharti Mitr Award At The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2022

Recognizing the contribution of farmers towards strengthening the entire ecosystem of organic farming, Organic India Private Limited (“Organic India”), in association with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival felicitated the top 5 organic farmers with Dharti Mitr Awards while celebrating the grandeur of Indian Cinema and commemorating 75 years of Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav).

The Dharti Mitr awards instituted by ORGANIC INDIA in the year 2017 to honor and recognize the efforts of organic farmers across the country, not just in growing crops without chemical inputs but also in balancing the ecosystem and creating innovative self-sustaining models. The Dharti Mitr awards also provides a platform for organic farmers across the country to share their innovation and cross populate their learnings. The winner of the first Dharti Mitr award 2017 Mr. Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, was bestowed with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India in 2019.

The winners of the Dharti Mitr awards 2021, felicitated by Bollywood actress Lara Dutta and Col. Tushar Joshi during the Dada Saheb Phalke International Film Festival, were Nathani Upendrbhai Dayabhai from Gujrat who won the first prize of INR. 5 Lakhs, Malleshappa Gulappa Bisirotti from Karnataka who won the second prize of INR. 3 Lakhs the third prize of INR. 1 Lakhs each went to Devaraddi Agasanakoppa from Karnataka, Rawal Chand and Urmila Ur Rubi Pareek from Rajasthan.

Speaking at the event and expressing gratitude towards the relentless efforts made by the farmers, Subrata Dutta, Group Managing Director, Organic India said, “Our farmers play a very crucial role for the ecology, economy and the society, at large. We conceptualized the Dharti Mitr Awards to celebrate our relationship with individual farmers that is built on interconnectedness – an approach that seeks to boost their confidence and the core objective of the event is to highlight the farmer’s exceptional innovations in the field of organic farming.”

Speaking on the efforts of Organic India, William Nanda Bissell, Chairman, Fabindia, said, “Organic India instituted the Dharti Mitr Awards four years ago and this year, it has returned bigger and brighter in collaboration with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF). Organic farming plays an important role in the sustainable and environment-friendly growth of India. This appreciation and recognition by Organic India will strengthen the confidence of farmers and further build the organic farming ecosystem in India. Organic India is a very critical part of our efforts to establish new benchmarks for growth driven by ESG values.” 

Organic India is currently working with over 2,200 farmers across the country to create favorable economic, environmental and social ecosystems, as well as to promote healthy lifestyles and conscious living via sustainable and regenerative organic agriculture. In the past years, Organic India has been rigorously working towards training the farmers and providing educational opportunities that enable self-sufficiency and the development of skills that can be passed on to future generations.

Expressing delight about the initiative, Dr. Ashok Yadav, Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture said, “The event has recognized the outstanding effort of organic farmers. We would like to congratulate all the participants and winners who are the unsung heroes of the agricultural landscape. Over the past 4 years of my association with Dharti Mitr, we have witnessed the participation and enthusiasm increasing and we are looking forward to witness more innovation in the segment which will add to the global organic farming movement to help the world in achieving the true meaning of sustainable development.”

Organic India received over 100+ nominations from farmers across the country, post which a rigorous screening process involving reviewing each entry followed by a farm visit and personal interview were undertaken by the jury.

About Organic India

ORGANIC INDIA is involved in the business of manufacturing, trading, exporting and importing all kinds of herbal infusions, ayurvedic medicines and preparations, herbs, herbal products, tea, food products and organic products. At the heart of ORGANIC INDIA is their commitment to being a living embodiment of love and Consciousness in action. Their products are made in India and reach consumers worldwide with a message of interconnectedness and oneness with Nature. https://www.organicindia.com/

Organic India is part of Fabindia Group, a consumer lifestyle platform with an established 62-year legacy focused on authentic, sustainable and Indian traditional lifestyle products. Fabindia is a unique business model of sustainable rural employment that has created a base for over 50,000 artisans through Contract Manufacturers and over 2,200 farmers engaged directly and 10,300 farmers engaged through associates in India. For more information, visit http://www.fabindia.com

Mainstreaming NFTs Will Open Up Huge Opportunities, Opine Industry Leaders

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are the latest craze in India’s digital space. An NFT is a digital asset like real-world objects such as art, music, in-game objects and videos, to name a few. Opportunities are tremendous. But challenges are also numerous, in terms of regulation, taxation and acceptance of NFTs in the mainstream. Blockchain and Crypto Assets Council (BACC), a council under the aegis of Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), organized a major virtual conference, NFTIndia, on February 24, to discuss such opportunities and challenges in the way ahead for mainstreaming NFTs in India. Leading figures of the NFT and metaverse world took part in the conference. 

The world of NFTs is truly diverse. India’s digital art space, for example, is witnessing a revolution through NFTs. Indian celebrities, including movie stars, sportspersons, musicians and people from various other fields are increasingly creating and selling digital arts. Artists are creating their own exclusive NFT collections. As Om Malvia, president, Tezos India, pointed out, “Artists won't have to worry about galleries, they have the convenience of exhibiting and selling their art with NFTs in open market places.''

Highlighting the potential of NFTs for the sports industry, Harsh Jain, co-founder and CEO of Dream11 and Dream Sports said, “With the largest number of sports fans in the world and over 140 million already within Dream Sports’ platforms, India has the potential to become the world’s largest NFT industry.  Sports NFTs will help every member of the sports ecosystem namely boards, leagues, teams and players to unlock and monetize tremendous value in the near future.”

Among others who put forward their valuable thoughts on the subject were Ankit Wadhwa, CEO and co-founder of Rario, Preeti Syal, Senior Specialist, NITI Aayog, Kristin Boggiano, President and Co-Founder, CrossTower, Swaneet Singh, CEO Xfinite, and Yat Siu, CEO, Outblaze, Animoca Brands.

In general, speakers discussed in details why we needed NFTs, why it was valuable and what were the regulatory impediments that such a nascent industry might encounter.

About Blockchain and Crypto assets council (BACC)

BAAC, is a council under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India. It represents the interests of the crypto ecosystem in India. With over 30 members from the crypto and NFT space in India, the committee has been in the forefront of crypto advocacy today and creates thought leadership content for the industry from time to time. BACC has also set up a self-regulatory code of conduct for the industry.

About Internet and Mobile Association of India

Established in 2004, the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is a not-for-profit industry body and the country's only organization representing the digital services industry with over 350 Indian and multinational corporations as its members, which include established companies in diverse sectors of the digital ecosystem as well as start-ups. Its mandate is to expand and enhance the online and mobile value-added services sectors. It is dedicated to presenting a unified voice of the businesses it represents to the government, investors, consumers and other stakeholders. IAMAI represents varied sectors such as digital advertising, digital entertainment, TravelTech, online gaming, digital payments, Fintech, digital commerce, Edutech, Healthtech, Agritech, blockchain, Big data, ML, AI & IoT, AR/ VR, LogisticsTech and so on.

Union Bank Launches ‘Union MSMERuPay Credit Card’ In Indian Market

* The card will be a new digital payment tool available to the MSME Customers of Union Bank of India for meeting their Business related operational expenses with interest free credit upto 50 days.

* MSMEs will also be benefitted with accidental insurance coverage, lounge access, and other rewards being offered by NPCI on RuPay cards.

Union Bank of India in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today launched ‘Union MSME RuPay Credit Card’ with an aim to provide digital delivery of Finance to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) in the current phase of progression towards a digital economy. The dedicated card for MSMEs is available to eligible borrowers of Union Bank of India and will provide a simplified payment mechanism to MSMEs to meet their business-related operational expenses.

With Union MSME RuPay Credit Card, the MSME borrowers will be able to enjoy an interest-free credit period of upto 50 days on their business spends. The Card also offers EMI facility to the Customers on their business-related purchases. MSMEs will also get specially curated efficient business services on this Card which will help them in taking their business on most of the digital platforms. Additionally, they will  also  be   benefitted   in   the    form   of accidental insurance coverage of upto Rs. 10 Lacs, domestic airport lounge access of 2 per quarter and other rewards using this Card.

Sepaking on the occasion, Shri Nidhu Saxena, Executive Diector, Union Bank of India said “To improve the digital delivery channel in servicing the MSME clientele in fast growing tech savvy economy, Union Bank of India, in partnership with NPCI, has launched Union MSME Credit Card, a first of its kind in the Industry. This Credit Card will reduce the demand for cash withdrawal by MSME for business expenses besides simplifying their payment mechanism. With the newly launched Credit Card facility coupled with the regular working capital limits, MSMEs can reap the benefits of best in class products being made available to them by the Bank.”

NPCI “We are pleased to partner with Union Bank of India to launch Union MSME RuPay Credit Card. We believe this initiative will digitally empower MSMEs and help them streamline their regular business expenditure and finances. MSMEs are considered to be the backbone of the economy and we are confident that this Card will address the existing credit gap in the MSME sector so that they can continue to contribute towards economic growth. We are also excited to witness the portfolio expansion of RuPay from retail users to business users. At NPCI, we are committed to providing a safe, seamless and delightful purchase experience to all our RuPay users.”

About Union Bank of India

Union Bank of India is one of the leading public sector banks of the country having its headquarters at Mumbai (India).Today, it has a network of 9113+ domestic branches, 11455 ATMs, 8216 BC Points, serving over 120 million customers with 78000+ employees. Union Bank of India is the first large public sector bank in the country to have implemented 100% core banking solution. The Bank’s total business as 31.12.2021 stood at Rs.16,06,986crores, comprising Rs.9,37,455 crores of Deposits and  Rs.6,69,531 crores of Advances. The Bank has received several awards and recognition for its prowess in Technology, Digital Banking, Financial Inclusion, MSME and development of Human Resources.

About NPCI:

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

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

FedEx ‘SME Connect’ Empowers Small Businesses To Leverage Global E-Commerce Opportunities

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, launches the fifth edition of ‘SME Connect’, as a part of its ongoing commitment to support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SME) in India. The virtual ‘SME Connect’ series is a thought leadership and knowledge sharing platform for SMEs to interact with industry and subject matter experts for solution-oriented discussions that benefit their business.

According to a Morgan Stanley report, the Indian e-commerce industry is expected to reach $200 billion by 2027[1]. On an average India adds 40 million new internet users every year[2], this coupled with increased smartphone penetration and improved digital payment infrastructure have been a catalyst in driving e-commerce sales, which was further accelerated with the onset of the pandemic.

Global cross-border commerce is fast emerging as the next big growth opportunity for the Indian e-commerce industry. According to a recent survey by PayPal India, 94% medium small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) recognized that transcending borders results in growth and are making cross-border trade a business priority[3].?

Seeking to connect SMEs with the immense opportunities that lie ahead, the virtual FedEx SME Connect session focused on ‘Cross-Border E-commerce’, includes industry thought leaders sharing business insights on e-commerce trends, opportunities, and challenges. The session highlights the importance of building supply chain resilience, technology enablement, and deciphering regulatory requirements.

Mohamad Sayegh, Vice President, India Operations for FedEx Express said, “FedEx plays an important role in connecting SMEs to a world of possibilities through the strength of our global network, tailored solutions, and valued-added services. We are delighted to launch the fifth edition of the SME Connect series, focused on the booming e-commerce industry in India.”

“The Indian e-commerce industry is growing at an exponential rate with cross-border sales being a key contributor. FedEx empowers SMEs in India to expand their e-commerce capabilities to new markets and grow their customer base. “SME Connect” provides a great knowledge-sharing platform for SMEs to gain insights on accessing global opportunities.” added Sayegh.

FedEx has a long history of supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses and is committed to helping them succeed. FedEx Express recently enhanced its cross-border e-commerce capabilities in India with FedEx® International Connect Plus (FICP), and FedEx International Priority® Express (IPE) to help SMEs achieve their global ambition.

About FedEx Express

FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its 600,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.