SIDBI And Dun & Bradstreet India Launched SIDBI – D&B SPeX, India’s 1st Sustainability Index Dedicated To MSMEs

* The SIDBI - D&B SPex, India’s 1st Sustainability Perception Index, which will act as a reliable indicator towards  ESG adoption in Indian enterprises, was launched as first step towards accelerating greening of MSME eco system  in India.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Dun & Bradstreet, the global leading provider of business decisioning data and analytics, signed an MoU to create the SIDBI -D&B Sustainability Perception Index (SIDBI – D&B SPeX). The index will be presented as a quantitative measurement for policy makers and enablers to nudge businesses towards adopting an ESG framework in their business strategy over the coming years.

To be released every quarter, the survey will capture the sentiment of businesses on various business parameters that, when analysed at an aggregate level, will provide valuable insights on adoption of an ESG framework.  SIDBI – D&B SPeX will also capture feedback on specific events and policies. Later it is planned to cover the sectoral and sub sectoral perceptions/aspirations & preparedness where the sectoral enterprises can track themselves in regard to improvement on ESG.

The survey will cover the views of the respondents about the preceding quarter and the outlook for the upcoming quarter. This will help analyse the changing sentiment over a six-month period. It will also capture information on critical events that have an impact on MSMEs.

The SIDBI-D&B Sustainability Perception Index was launched on 30th September 2022 in an event held in Coimbatore in the presence of Industries Commissioner and Director Industries and Commence, Government of Tamil Nadu, CMD of SIDBI, and MD of D&B.  During the event attended by around 200 representatives of MSMEs, financial institutions, government departments, and other stakeholders, SIDBI and D&B also signed an MoU for developing and implementing the Index.

Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI in his remarks at the opening event noted that Sustainability disclosure and reporting play an important role to help MSMEs and investors to reduce risks across their supply chain and enable an efficient decision-making process, toward greening MSMEs as well as lending institutions. He further added that understanding and awareness about ESG is gaining momentum in MSMEs and it is relevant in view of changing scenario related to climate aspects,. ESG related compliances will emerge essential in coming days and a must compliance to remain competitive in global world. Mr Ramann said that the SIDBI- D&B SPeX will help to gauge the understanding of sustainability within the sector. He hoped that the newly launched Index will help the stakeholders and enable MSMEs to integrate the responsible good practices within their operation in the longer run and be part of national commitment on energy independence and carbon neutrality. 

Ms Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, Industries Commissioner & Director of Industries & Commerce, GoTN welcomed SIDBI’s attention on Greening the finance for MSMEs. In her remark, in view of several programs being run by central & state government for MSMEs, she hoped that a new category of ‘Platinum’ should be created under ZED program beside already having Bronze, Gold, Silver category. She hoped that sustainability index shall act as barometer of enterprise responsiveness. She mentioned that state values partnership with sidbi and offered all help from state govt in this regard. 

Speaking at the signing event held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Avinash Gupta, Managing Director & CEO – India, Dun & Bradstreet said “Across the globe, ESG has become a mainstay conversation in corporate boardrooms and, more importantly, in the allocation of capital. According to a Dun & Bradstreet survey highlighting top compliance and procurement challenges, 51% respondents said they needed more data to verify entities and 43% said it is difficult to identify application of ESG guidelines within the due diligence processes of the customer. Inefficient data usage and management are at the core of such challenges.”

“Many Indian companies are still dependent on manual processes to collect internal ESG data such as water consumption, carbon emission, workforce demographics, etc., and therefore these data resources are often housed across databases in different formats. Digitizing these processes and products will save time and money, expediting the speed of decision making. The Survey will track the awareness/sentiment of MSMEs in manufacturing and services (including trading) across India. It will cover nearly 250 MSMEs every quarter from the D&B/SIDBI database of MSMEs,” added Gupta.

An interesting approach during launch was to make MSME walk live through the questions through QR Code which will lead to index deriving its inferences. MSMEs took part in this with great interest. The D&B SIDBI Sustainability Perception Index will help:

Assess the role and impact of internal drivers in organisations

Assess the impact of regulations and government policy on environmental practices in the SME sector

Assess how these factors impede the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices in the SME Sector

Assess the role and impact of social factors – community, equal opportunity, diversity, and competition

Analyse the implementation of sustainability practices across the value chain

Measure the progress in awareness, willingness, and adoption of sustainability measures by SMEs

Establish the Indian economy and markets (especially mid-market segment) towards a sustainable future, attracting sustainable capital and investments

Provide valuable information to policy makers and other stakeholders to study the changes in economic environment that may occur due to policy changes or dynamic market conditions

Enrich investor experience, create benchmark for other economies/markets towards sustainable businesses and business practices creating value for all stakeholders, including environment, society and government

About Dun & Bradstreet:

Dun & Bradstreet, the leading global provider of B2B data, insights and AI-driven platforms, helps organizations around the world grow and thrive. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud, which comprises of 455M+ records, fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to grow revenue, increase margins, build stronger relationships, and help stay compliant – even in changing times. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. Dun & Bradstreet is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DNB).

Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions in domains of finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India’s vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make In India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity.

India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly-skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses.

Visit www.dnb.co.in for more information.

About SIDBI:

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in its role as the Principal  Development Finance Institution for MSME sector has played a significant role in developing the financial services for MSME sector through various interventions including Refinance to Banks, Credit Guarantee programs, Development of the MFI sector, Contribution to Venture capital/AIF funds, MSME ratings, promoting digital lending ecosystem, etc. The Bank has proactively been working toward Energy Efficiency (EE) in MSMEs since 2005-06 as part of Direct Finance business using support of multilaterals like   World Bank, ADB, GiZ, FCDO, JICA, AFD, KfW etc for energy efficient projects. SIDBI has taken steps to promote Energy Efficiency and Cleaner production in the MSME sector and propose to accelerate its efforts for MSME sector for their survival, growth and competitiveness in long run during prevailing climate related challenges.

Looking to importance of ESG aspects and the need for a simplified, customised ESG risk rating framework, SIDBI has already started integration of ESG framework into its operations. Subsequent to setting up of Green financing and development Vertical for prioritised focus, a Board level Committee has been constituted for guidance, oversight and monitoring on ESG, Green Strategy of the bank, including relevant SDGs etc. To lead with the example, SIDBI has set a target to become Carbon Neutral by 2024 and Net Neutral organization in subsequent years.

Through Green Financing products and other developmental activities, SIDBI enables the manufacturers and service providers in MSME sector to adopt green energy efficient technologies helping in lesser waste leading to positive impact on environment and sustainability.

Visit www.sidbi.in/en for more information.

Doctors Take To Road On Bikes, Jeeps To Create Awareness About Cardiac Health

A group of cardiologists, neurologists, nephrologists and other doctors from Sagar Hospitals took to the road as a part of a unique Bikeathon on Sunday Oct 2 to create awareness about heart health on the occasion of World Heart day.

The Bikeathon, organised in association with Harley Davidson , Mudstar Jeep & Traffic Warden Org., saw 45 high end bikes and 20 Jeeps with medicos riding them with pillion riders holding informational placards about heart health.

"Take care of your heart and your heart will take care of you" read one placard. Banners with messages like “Vegetables are the savior of your heart” and “Rest a little more, run an extra mile to save your heart” were also being carried to create awareness amongst the public. 

The Bikeathon was flagged off from Sagar Hospitals, Banashankari at 7 am by Member of Lok Sabha, Mr Tejaswi Surya along with popular Kannada actor Mukhyamantri Chandru. The Bikeathon followed a prescribed route that covered Kadirenehalli underpass-> Devagowda petrol bunk flyover->Ittamadu signal-> u turn under Hosakerehalli flyover-> kamakhya signal-> u turn at Sarakki signal.

The Bikeathon finally culminated at around 8 am outside the hospital where a talk was organised on emergency measures to be taken in case of a serious cardiac condition or a heart attack. Healthcare professionals also shared their knowledge and provided tools that one needs to live longer, healthier lives. Also, at the heart health stall, the hospital distributed the information leaflets prepared by the Cardiology Department.

Created by World Heart Federation, World Heart Day is a global campaign where individuals, communities and governments participate in activities to create an awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD) including heart disease and stroke, which is one of the leading causes of death every year. On this World Heart Day, we are celebrating good heart health, highlighting actions that individuals can take to prevent and control Cardiovascular diseases. This year’s theme is “Use Heart for Every Heart.”

Speaking about the event, Ms. Ishiqa Multani, President, Sagar Group of Hospitals said, “World Heart Day is one day that insists us to reflect upon our heart health, the choices we make, for the next 364 days of the year. Our overall well-being is extremely important for us and our loved ones. So let’s take charge of our and our family’s well-being NOW. We at Sagar hospitals are committed towards building healthier communities by engaging with people around us, by providing them quality healthcare which is affordable and accessible.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr. K.S. Kishore, Sr. Consultant Cardiologist, Sagar Hospitals, said, “The main objective on this day is to create maximum cardiac awareness, which will help us to lower the cardiac incidences. Our team of specialists at the Cardiac Department remain totally committed to offering patients effective evidence based structured programmes to prevent and treat cardiac issues.”

The audience included a mix of people from all over Bangalore. As heart health gets more and more traction in the country, Sagar Hospitals wishes to provide a holistic environment to its patients by continuously creating awareness about heart health, and treating people with the best state-of-the-art technologies and techniques for better outcomes.

About Sagar Group

The Sagar Group is a renowned Business Conglomerate with interests in Education, Healthcare, Research, Services, Technology and Infrastructure verticals. All these business verticals put together is anchored by an extraordinary workforce of close to 5,000 professionals and an equal number of support staff, thus impacting the lives of large sections across society.  Today, the Group operates in the key areas that drive economic growth and enjoys a leadership position in Education & Healthcare sectors.

About Sagar Hospitals

Sagar Hospitals is one of the foremost luxury multi-specialty hospitals in the city, with two centres in Jayanagar and Banashankari. Equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, Sagar has grown to become one of the most recognized and trusted household names in the healthcare sector today.

pTron Announced New TWS Starting At 799; Huge Discounts Ahead Of The Festive Season

* Introduces three new True Wireless Earbuds - Xtreme, Rush & B21 to the Bassbuds Series with innovative design & advanced features at affordable pricing

* Offers up to 80% discount on its most hot-selling Audio & Smart wearables starting 399/- only

* The offers will be available across Amazon, Flipkart, JioMart & other major platforms.

Homegrown Digital Audio accessories and lifestyle brand, pTron is all geared up for the festive season with exclusive new TWS launches.  To add to this festive fervour pTron is also offering massive discounts on its best-selling gadgets at rock-bottom prices, with speakers starting at 399/-, TWS starting at 499/- and Smart watches starting at 1099/-.

Speaking at the launch of the new range, Mr. Ameen Khwaja, Founder & CEO, pTron said, “We launched several new products this month to cater to our consumer demands during the e-commerce giants Amazon & Flipkart’s annual festive sale and had a great start with healthy growth in demand for our TWS & Smart wearables. With Dusshera & Diwali approaching and in an environment of positive customer sentiment, the demand for TWS is expected to rise. Accordingly, we are launching 3 new TWS earbuds with innovative design and the best of technology starting at 799/-. We have also curated an excellent product line-up with products and offers that fulfill the audio and smart lifestyle needs of our consumers at massive festive discounts that also make for great gifting options.”

Bassbuds B21 - Ergonomic, lightweight, and leaf-shaped, the Bassbuds B21 features a dual mic for clear calls. Priced just at INR 799/-, the Bassbuds B21 is equipped with BT5.2 and a Type C port for fast pairing and quick charging. Tuned with pTron signature sound the touch-controlled earbuds offers 24Hrs of ever-lasting playback in a single 90mins charge alongside spectacular bass for a thumping listening experience.  The Basbsuds B21 is also equipped with advanced features like mono & stereo modes, and IPX4 water & sweat resistance with voice assistance, making it an all-rounder for music lovers on a budget.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0B9SVCYJD

Bassbuds Rush - Expanding the list of futuristic gaming earbuds, the Bassbuds Rush offers 50ms low latency gaming. The earbuds are built with proprietary AptSense ® Gaming Technology for a crisp, clear, and accurate gaming experience. The earbuds are built with an HD mic and ENC technology for enhanced voice calls. Designed to complement every look and use in an ergonomic structure, the Bassbuds Rush delivers the best audio experience. With unique features such as precise touch for effortless call & music control and power efficiency and flawless BT5.3 connection, Bassbuds Rush is a must-have TWS for every gadget freak. Available at a special festive price of INR 1299/- the Bassbuds Rush offers 35Hrs non-stop music and flawless call.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BFRK2BZV

Bassbuds Xtreme - With a cutting-edge, mecha futuristic design, the unique and ultra-durable Bassbuds Xtreme features a rugged extra-terrestrial charging case design. The matte surface is comfortable to touch, dust-proof, fingerprint-free, and premium. Semi-in-ear earbuds closely fit the contours of your ear and greatly improve wearing comfort, for hours of music without discomfort. IPX4 rated for extreme usage the Bassbuds Xtreme is also equipped with BT5.3 that offers low power consumption, with a more stable connection. With ultra-low latency, these wireless earbuds provide you with the perfect entertainment experience with almost near-zero lag. Available at a special festive price of INR 1499/- the Bassbuds Xtreme offers 32Hrs non-stop music and ear-bouncing beats without sacrificing clarity and treble with 13mm large drivers.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BC1WNLFT

Rentokil Initial Hygiene Launches “Sani Pro Green” - A First-In-Category Process For Recycling Sanitary Napkins

Safe and hygienic disposal of sanitary napkins is an ongoing challenge in India. Studies say that India generates around 12.3 billion sanitary napkins translating into 113,000 tonnes of menstrual waste annually*.  Rentokil Initial Hygiene, the leading hygiene service provider in India, has introduced a unique process to recycle sanitary napkins by launching all new ‘Sani Pro Green’ initiative.  

By adopting a sustainability-focused strategy whereby used sanitary napkins can be recycled, the initiative has been created to assist women in accessing safe and hygienic feminine services while also protecting our environment. 

As part of the ‘Sani Pro Green’ process innovation, Rentokil Initial Hygiene will recycle the used sanitary napkins collected in feminie hygiene units from its customers. The recycling process would be performed under LTTD (Low-temperature thermal decomposition) and would not have any hazardous effects on the environment or release any dangerous by-products. The entire process is completely environmentally friendly and is a big step towards the sustainability agenda that Rentokil Initial Hygiene is committed to across the globe. 

Rentokil Initial Hygiene has supported several other endeavors to provide women with hygiene safety in line with global hygiene standards. To promote the cause of women’s health and sanitation, Rentokil Initial Hygiene provides Feminine Hygiene Units for safe disposal of used sanitary napkins as well as sanitary napkin vending machines to address menstrual emergencies. It also offers the widest range of washroom hygiene services, including the provision and maintenance of products such as soap and hand sanitiser dispensers, hand dryers, air care and purification, large area scenting, cubicle and surface sanitisers,  and floor protection mats.   

The ‘Sani Pro Green’ service will first be launched in Bangalore, soon followed by the rest of India.  

Nishat Goyal, Chief Operating Officer, Initial Hygiene India said, “We are pleased to announce our new ‘Sani Pro Green’ process - India’s first environmentally friendly service for recycling used sanitary napkins. This enables us to offer our hygienic, yet sustainability focused feminine services to our customers at the workplace.”  

For more details, visit the YouTube Video URL - https://youtu.be/fUpVJiBeu9w 

About Rentokil Initial  

Rentokil Initial is the leading hygiene service provider in India.  Rentokil Initial provides services that protect people and enhance lives. Rentokil Initial protects people from the dangers of pest-borne disease and the risks of poor hygiene. Initial Hygiene also enhances lives with services that protect the health and wellbeing of people, and the reputation of customers’ brands. Initial Hygiene has presence across North America, Europe, UK & Rest of World, Asia and the Pacific. Operating in more than 88 countries.  For more information,  visit - www.initial-hygiene.in     

Honda Cars India Registers 29% Growth In Domestic Sales In September’22

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 8,714 units in September’22 registering a growth of 29% over the same period last year. The export numbers for HCIL stood at 2,333 units in September’22.  

Sharing thoughts on the Sept’22 sales performance, Mr. Yuichi Murata, Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “The festive demand for has been strong and continues to show good momentum. On the supply side, we were able to increase our factory output compared to last month which is also a positive for the festive sales in terms of better availability of Honda cars during Navratras, Dussehra and Diwali period. Our volume models, Honda City and Amaze continue to nurture customer trust and clock good sales. City e:HEV is giving us additional opportunity to serve our customers with advanced electrified mobility solution and we are getting exceptional user feedback from them.”  

The company had registered 6,765 units in domestic sales and exported 2,964 units in September’21. 

About Honda Cars India Ltd. 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, was established in December 1995 with a commitment to provide Honda’s passenger car models and technologies, to the Indian customers. HCIL’s corporate office is based in Greater Noida, UP and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located at Tapukara, District. Alwar, Rajasthan.  

The company’s product range include Honda Jazz, Honda Amaze, Honda WR-V, Honda City and Honda City e:HEV catering to diverse needs of its discerning buyers across different segments. Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from their established qualities of durability, reliability, safety and fuel-efficiency. The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country.  

Besides the new car business, Honda offers one stop solution for buying and selling pre-owned cars through its business function Honda Auto Terrace. The Honda Certified Pre-owned cars come with an assurance of quality and peace of mind that caters to the diverse and burgeoning needs of pre-owned car buyers across the country. 

Shiprocket Joins Hand With ONDC For Beta Testing Launch In Bangalore

 

~Shiprocket integrates with ONDC to help about 200 merchants with logistics support across Bangalore region~

Shiprocket, India’s largest tech enablement platform integrates with ONDC or the Open Network for Digital Commerce, a Government of India-backed initiative to democratize e-commerce in India. ONDC is set to begin its beta testing with public users in Bengaluru Urban District today onwards.

With this assimilation, Shiprocket aims to serve more sellers through ONDC network and book more shipments through its platform. The integration enables products to be picked up and delivered from any part of the country, while also giving small retailers and sellers the opportunity to choose the most viable delivery partner for each order and ensure high-quality delivery service to the customers.

Speaking on this integration, Saahil Goel, CEO & Co-founder, Shiprocket said,  “We are pleased to create access for sellers to be a part of the strategic ONDC network, which aims to democratize the digital commerce space and entrust more power to businesses. This association will enable us to positively impact the business momentum of our MSME customers across India by providing them with quality fulfillment services at a competitive price. We started along this journey of democratizing e-commerce in 2017 and are happy to work with ONDC to take this mission onto an even larger platform."

“This integration will accelerate our efforts to make last-mile logistics accessible to a wider audience of buyers and sellers across India. Today, small businesses find it difficult to sign contracts with large logistics companies to ship their products. With Shiprocket and ONDC working in tandem for the beta launch in Bangalore, sellers can now access an improved experience” - T Koshy, CEO, ONDC

Through this, Shiprocket will provide wider reach and various options to the merchants to choose from and to strengthen their end-to-end logistical needs without the hassle of signing contracts with multiple courier partners.

About Shiprocket

Shiprocket is India’s largest eCommerce enablement platform providing digital retailers an end-to-end customer experience platform. The platform which is creating an operating system for direct commerce enables shipping, fulfillment, customer communication and marketing tools as well as providers for SMEs, D2C retailers, and social commerce retailers in India. With 17+ courier partners on board, the brand enables pan-India as well as international shipping deliveries. Its shipping solutions are available across 24,000+ pin codes within India and 220 countries worldwide.

Launched in 2017, Shiprocket is on a mission to create a seamless logistics data platform that connects retailers, carriers, and consumers across national and international locations. Shiprocket provides a technology stack to help retailers integrate their shopping websites on Shopify, Magento, Woocommerce, Zoho, or others with the platform’s multi-carrier API to manage orders, print shipping labels, and avail tracking information from multiple providers including managing Cash on Delivery (COD) orders and payment reconciliation. Shiprocket also offers state-of-the-art fulfillment solutions with more than 45 warehouses located across India. The technology stack provides a robust post-purchase experience to consumers, resulting in higher engagement and lower RTO (failed deliveries).

Today, Shiprocket is the platform behind 2.5 lakh plus sellers who generate a GMV of more than $2.5B annually. The platform delivers packets to more than 70M consumers annually and is growing transactions 2.5-3X year on year.

udaan Announces ‘4X4 Delivery Service’ For Pharmacies Across 6 Indian Cities

* Offers multiple delivery options for medicines across 6 cities; Service to be scaled to more cities in the next 6-8 months

* Delivery every 4-hour to chemists 4 times a day for superior customer service

* Pharmacies to have language selection options in the udaan app for easy ordering

* Pharmacies opting for 4-hour delivery service will also enjoy benefits of up to a 30-day credit period along with attractive offers

As part of its drive to offer superior customer experience, udaan, India’s largest business-to-business (b2b) eCommerce platform today announced the launch of ‘4X4 delivery service’ for pharmacies. As part of the new service offering, udaan will provide medicine delivery to pharmacies every 4-hour with 4 delivery slot options (5 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM and 5 PM) in a day to order medicines across six cities - Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Pune. udaan plans to scale the ‘4X4 delivery service’ to more cities / towns in the next 6-8 months for the convenience and faster delivery of medicines to the pharmacies.

The pharmacies opting for ‘4X4-hour delivery service’ will also enjoy benefits of up to a 30-day credit period along with attractive offers on the total order value on items available on the platform.

The ‘4X4 delivery service’ has been launched after a successful pilot program and receiving extensive feedback from pharmacies in select cities which required enhanced delivery capabilities. During the pilot phase the business witnessed a 45% increase in orders in the select cities. Further, to simplify and provide ease of ordering from the udaan ‘app’, pharmacies will have the option to select the language for easy ordering. Going forward, as the service will be scaled to additional towns & cities, more regional language options will be offered to the pharmacies for their convenience.

Sanjay Sharma, Business Head – Pharma Category, udaan, said, “Our 4X4 delivery service is aimed at offering ease and convenience to pharmacies while ordering a range of medicines from the udaan platform. We believe this industry-first initiative will enable us to cater to daily needs of pharmacies in a more efficient manner, who in turn will be able to offer quick and better service to their end customers. The 4X4 delivery service has been made possible due to our extensive logistics & distribution network capabilities, and we are confident that this initiative will benefit a large base of pharmacies across Bharat.”

The pharma category on the udaan platform currently lists Medicines, Medical Supplies, and Over the counter (OTC) Products. Currently it has over thousands of pharmacies registered on the platform.