Union Bank of India Secures “1st Rank In EASE Reforms”

* Digitally-enabled customer offering, Big data and Analytics, Adoption of modern technologies, Employee Development and governance and extensive digital channels/products, Robust IT infrastructure with enhanced customer experience to facilitate integrated and inclusive banking was the highlight of the Bank’s performance in Q3 FY22-23. 

Union Bank of India, for the first time, secures 1st rank as per the report on EASE Reforms Index for Q3 FY 2022-23 published by Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).  

Enhanced Access & Service Excellence (EASE) is an initiative by the DFS (GOI) as part of the PSB Reforms Agenda and is currently under its fifth iteration which focuses on Enhanced Digital experience, Data – driven, Integrated and Inclusive Banking. 

Union Bank of India has been doing well in areas related to building analytics capabilities for retaining and deepening relationships, effective credit monitoring, comprehensive digital collection management system, fraud resilience and cyber security, adopting modern technology capabilities for integrated banking experience, customer centric digital offerings, employee development and better governance measures which resulted the Bank to continue its momentum and for the first time Bank secures 1st position among all PSBs for adopting various reforms prescribed for Public Sector Banks. 

The performance of PSBs is measured on five themes under EASE 5.0, in which, Union Bank of India has set the benchmark under the four themes i.e., “Digitally - enabled customer offerings”, ‘Big data and analytics’, ‘Modern Technology Capabilities’ and “Employee development and Governance” by securing 1st rank amongst PSBs. 

Motherhood Hospitals Launches “NICU Live - Virtual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Across India

* “NICU Live is One-of-a-kind digital telehealth innovation bridging Neonatal Intensive Care expertise gap between urban and rural India”

India’s leading network of women and children’s hospitals, Motherhood Hospitals which operates 21 hospitals across 10 cities has implemented an innovative remote patient monitoring technology and system to provide virtual life saving neonatal care to newborns admitted in nursing homes and hospitals in semi urban and rural areas which do not have proper Neonatal Intensive Care Units ( NICU ).   

Neonatal care which provides life saving clinical care to newborns is considered one of the most clinically demanding services in healthcare and Motherhood Hospitals NICU Live solution is helping transform this service to newborns in rural areas by using neonatal telehealth technologies backed by their team of highly experienced Neonatologists and nurses across multiple locations creating a network of virtual Neonatal Intensive Care Units. With state-of-the-art remote monitoring technology, critically ill newborn babies in remote areas can get access to the expertise of Motherhood’s Neonatology Care Team round-the-clock. Many birthing facilities do not have access to on-site neonatal care and NICU Live solution bridges this critical gap for preterm newborns or critically ill newborns. 

NICU Live is connected to 5 remote locations in India (Anantapur, Hindupur, Madanpalle, Patna & Hisar)

Treated 300 high-risk new-borns through NICU LIVE in 4mths

NICU Live uses the latest remote monitoring technology and a specialized digital solution to treat high-risk newborns admitted in distant NICUs. In the first phase of this unique initiative Motherhood Hospitals have set up a Central Care Centre  (Hub) which is connected to 5 remote NICUs located in Anantapur, Hindupur, Madanapalle, Patna & Hisar. The hub-and-spoke model is centred around full-time patient management and constant medical support. The Central Care team (hub) provides 24/7 monitoring and treatment support to the remote NICU (spoke) centres using high-resolution PTZ cameras that provide live video feed, a digital platform that ensures all critical information is shared digitally, -and a constant communication link between the teams, thereby improving medical outcomes substantially for these newborns. Additionally, the experienced team of Neonatologists & NICU nurses provide regular upskilling and training to the spoke centre care team on NICU treatment modalities. 

Mr Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO of Motherhood Hospitals, said, “Motherhood has been at the forefront of cutting-edge neonatal solution. We have established 300 NICU beds across our network which graduate more than 800 newborns each month. NICU Live is strengthening our mission of providing NICU care to the most distant parts of the country. With several new-borns in rural & semi-urban areas needing immediate NICU care, this program aims to bridge the gap and make NICU accessible to all. The technology is brilliant—what we’ve managed to do with it is a landmark moment in our journey to provide outstanding clinical care to newborns”

Dr Prathap Chandra, neonatologist & paediatrician at Motherhood Hospitals, added, “With NICU Live, we can now expect shorter hospital stays, better ability to deal with critical cases, and happier outcomes. From a clinical standpoint, the pilot programme has been a revelation: we’re able to simplify the entire process right from admission to discharge. NICU Live’s proactive interventions and guided emergency management will set benchmarks in neonatal care once we bring more hospitals into the programme.”

NICU Live brings down the cost of a physical NICU without compromising the quality of care, besides bridging the gap in the availability of specialists. Other disadvantages in NICUs located in remote locations are the lack of full-time availability of quality clinicians, absence of advanced nursing expertise, and poor management of records, which are addressed through the remote-monitoring system. Families can look forward to immediate access to advanced NICU care in remote areas and lower medical expenses.

Motherhood Hospitals’ NICU Live project is the result of years of innovation in the field of Neonatology, combining the experience in managing over 300 level-3 NICU beds and the expertise of handling the most clinically complex cases in the country. Nearly 15,000 babies have been treated in Motherhood NICUs in the last 5 years. Currently, there are 15 NICUs on wheels across India, with around 3,500 babies having been retrieved from rural regions: Motherhood has covered 74 towns and travelled more than 1,00,000 kms to reach newborns in remote locations and deliver care.

“ Motherhood’s NICU Live remote neonatal care is built on the backbone of India’s 3.5mn km of optical fibre cable network on which data, images and voice can travel seamlessly between the Care hub and the remote spoke to help save the lives of precious newborns. NICU Live virtual neonatology care network can potentially reach 1000 beds across the country over the next 5yrs and be a testament to the National Digital Health Mission ” said Vishal Bali, Executive Chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings  

About Motherhood Hospitals:

Motherhood Women & Children’s Hospital network is India’s fastest growing single specialty hospital network with 21 hospitals in 10 cities and over 1200 leading gynecologist, paediatricians & neonatologists across the country associated with the hospital network. Recognized for its best-in-class clinical expertise and range of comprehensive women and child care services, the leading healthcare chain has pioneered managing high-risk pregnancies, complex gynae surgeries such as fertility enhancement or uro-gynae surgeries, management of new-borns with critical conditions and extremely low birth weight babies. With the largest network of over 300 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds in the country, Motherhood Hospitals are acclaimed as India’s best referral center for handling the most complex preterm births. Motherhood Hospitals is a portfolio company of Asia Healthcare Holdings. 

Renowned Sanskrit Scholar Dr. Mattur Nandakumara Honoured With Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire (MBE)

Dr. Mattur Nandakumara, a highly respected authority on Vedic literature, philosophy, mythology, and rituals, has been appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his services to the teaching, performance, and accessibility of Indian classical arts in the UK. He has actively promoted Sanskrit education and Indian culture in the UK and Europe for over four decades.

Dr. Nandakumara is the current Executive Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (also known as The Bhavan) in London, UK and also been identified as one of the UK's top 100 most influential Asians for his role as an ambassador for India's art, culture, and philosophy.

Since 1977, Dr. Nandakumara has been associated with The Bhavan in London, where he has been teaching multiple Sanskrit courses ranging from introductory to expert-level courses in grammar, commentary, and discussion on the great literary texts. Over the past five decades, The Bhavan in London has become a dynamic and vibrant cultural hub with help from the numerous well-wishers who have contributed to its success. Notably, Smt. Sudha Murty has been supporting The Bhavan since 2008 and has provided unstinting support to numerous programs and artists.

Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the MBE award, Dr. Mattur Nandakumara said, "I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from His Majesty The King Charles III. I am committed to continuing my efforts in teaching and making Indian classical arts accessible in the UK and the rest of the world. I am grateful for the support of my family, mentors, colleagues, and students, without whom this would not have been possible."

Dr. Nandakumara's outstanding achievements in promoting and preserving Sanskrit education and Indian culture have been recognised with several awards, including the Kannada Rajyotsava Award in 2011, the Samskriti Seva Samman by Hindi Samiti UK for his contribution to Art and Culture, and the Award of Distinction in the field of Art and Culture in 2006, instituted by the India International Foundation and presented by Baroness Usha Prashar.

Apart from teaching, Dr. Nandakumara has also organised and run multiple Conversational Sanskrit courses in London and has lectured extensively on various aspects of Hindu philosophy and mythology across the UK. He has officiated hundreds of Hindu ceremonies in the UK, Europe, and the Far East and is also a writer of multiple poems in both Sanskrit and Kannada languages, with a focus on personal interpretations of key parts of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Gita.

Dr. Nandakumara has contributed to promoting Indian culture in the UK by organizing concerts for the benefit of The Bhavan. These concerts feature eminent artists like Pt Ravi Shankar, Pt Birju Maharaj, Dr. Balamuralikrishna, Pt Jasraj, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Anoushka Shankar, among others. Since 1984, he has been responsible for presenting over eighty events every year, featuring eminent artists and scholars, many of whom have conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations.

Dr. Nandakumara's dedication, knowledge, and contribution to the promotion and preservation of Indian culture and Sanskrit education are an inspiration to all.

Bookings Open For The First-Ever BMW X3 M40i xDrive In India

Limited units available for online booking only.

#BMWM #X3M40i #SheerDrivingPleasure.

BMW India will open bookings for the first-ever BMW X3 M40i xDrive from 12:30 hrs, 19 April 2023 onwards. The car will be available in limited units and can be exclusively booked at the BMW Online Shop for INR 5,00,000. The car is scheduled to be launched in India in May 2023.

Engineered by M, the car elevates the sporty, modern BMW X3 to the realm of M. Numerous distinct M elements in the exterior and interior give birth to a commanding personality suited for high-performance circles. Under the hood, the M40i 3-litre engine, a powerhouse charged with M genes, is raring for unadulterated sheer driving pleasure. An outstanding driving experience is guaranteed together with Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport differential, M Sport brakes and the BMW xDrive all-wheel drive. To further enhance the sporty appearance, customers can personalise their car with special M alloys.

Customers can visit https://www.bmw.in/X3M40i and explore a 360° view of the car’s exterior and interior. They will be directed to a bookings page where booking can be done through a secure online payment mechanism. Deliveries will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Introduction of the first-ever BMW X3 M40i xDrive builds on the enormous success of M powered BMW M340i sedan and the growing popularity of exclusive M Editions in India. This new M interpretation of the BMW X3 takes the excitement a notch higher into the Sports Activity Vehicle range. 

Vedanta Sesa Goa Inaugurates High-Tech Computer Centres And Labs To Upskill Youth In Chitradurga District

Four computer training centres and three computer labs are operating, benefiting more than 500 youth from surrounding villages in Chitradurga.

Aims to bridge the digital divide prevailing in the country through its computer literacy programmes.

Chitradurga April 2023: Vedanta Sesa Goa recently inaugurated 2 computer centres at Hirekandvadi and Hireguntanuru villages and 2 computer labs at Hireguntanuru High School and Kadleguddu High School, respectively. So far, Vedanta Sesa Goa operates 4 computer training centres and 3 computer labs, benefiting more than 500 youth from 24 villages in Chitradurga district. Under the computer literacy programme, Vedanta Sesa Goa is providing expert trainers to offer guidance and support to the students, along with infrastructure support for setting up these computer centres. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the Vedanta Foundation aims to bridge the digital divide prevailing in India, especially in the rural pockets of the country, through computer literacy programmes.

The computer labs and computer training centres are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and advanced equipment, providing quality digital learning opportunities for the youth and women from peripheral villages. Vedanta computer centres are also offering various certification courses which are helping youth in their upskilling to pursue employment opportunities.

Mr. Navin Jaju, CEO, Sesa Goa, Vedanta Limited, said, “As a forward-thinking company, we understand the transformative power of technology and the need for digital literacy in today's world. Our computer education programs are designed to provide access and opportunities for rural youth to enhance their digital skills and thrive in the digital age. This intervention is our contribution towards bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusivity in line with the nationwide vision of Digital India.”

Mr. Shrishaila Gouda, CEO – Iron Ore Karnataka, Vedanta Limited, said, "We believe that community development is the major pillar of our business philosophy. Education is one of the important aspects of holistic community development, and through these computer literacy programmes, we strive to create new opportunities for youngsters from the peripheral villages of our operations that can help them gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. In line with the vision of our Chairman, Shri Anil Agarwal Ji, we are committed to lend our relentless support in building a sustainable nation for a better tomorrow."

Vedanta IOK has been undertaking various CSR initiatives under its project Vriddhi, to promote education in the local communities. Recently, the company distributed scholarships to around 368 students from the surrounding 24 villages of Chitradurga, to support the young aspirants in pursuing higher education.

Takeda Showcases Digital Health Solutions At G20 Meeting In India

·         Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited Showcased Digital Innovations- MyPKFit, SYNAPSE and Athena at the G20 Health Working Group Meeting

·         The Three-Day Meeting was Held in Goa, India, from April 17th to April 19th, 2023, and Side Event was Focused on: ‘Citizen-Centric Health Delivery Ecosystems for Universal Health Coverage Leveraging Digital Health and Innovations’

Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited, (formerly known as Baxalta Bioscience India Pvt. Ltd.), a global values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader showcased its cutting-edge digital innovations at the G20 Health Working Group meeting, held in Goa, India, from April 17th to April 19th.

The G20 Health Working Group is a forum that brings together health experts and policymakers from the world's 20 largest economies to discuss key health issues and develop policy recommendations. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Union Health Minister, Government of India, inaugurated the digital health exhibition.

In order to reiterate its patient-focused digital approach, Takeda highlighted its 3 unique solutions:

• MyPKFit: An FDA-approved application that offers real time monitoring of factor VIII levels on smartphones and aids people with hemophilia better manage their treatment. 

• Synapse: A tool designed to enhance awareness and knowledge sharing among healthcare professionals (HCPs), it fosters academic partnerships with scientific societies to help build quality HCP education and awareness.

• Athena: A digital health solution that enables remote patient data capture and improved patient engagement for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive (ALK+) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

The G20 meeting's focus was ‘Citizen-Centric Health Delivery Ecosystems for Universal Health Coverage leveraging Digital Health and Innovations,’ where discussions were held on creating a digital health ecosystem, innovations in healthcare, technology aiding continuing care, and digital public health goods. The meeting was attended by representatives of G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and relevant international organizations.

“We are truly honored to be part of the prestigious G20 event which is aimed at achieving a collaborative effort to deal with the world’s most pressing health challenges, said Serina Fischer, General Manager of Takeda Biopharmaceutical India Pvt Ltd. “At Takeda, we are committed to meeting the unmet needs of patients by discovering and delivering life-transforming treatments and innovative solutions. India is a key country for our company, and we look forward to connecting and exploring synergies to achieve Universal Healthcare for All for a healthier and brighter world through our participation in this platform. We firmly believe that healthcare is a fundamental right for every individual, and we applaud this platform for bringing together meaningful dialogues toward this goal. Under the presidency of India, we at Takeda are optimistic about the positive and long-lasting impact.” "Data and technology have the power to transform the way we approach healthcare. At Takeda, we are committed to leveraging advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions to accelerate and enhance patient care and improve health outcomes. By combining our deep scientific expertise with cutting-edge technology, we can create a brighter future for patients and the healthcare ecosystem." said Gabriele Ricci, Chief Data and Technology Officer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Emphasizing the significance of digital innovations in healthcare, Ruchi Sogarwal, Head of Corporate Affairs, Takeda Biopharmaceutical India Pvt Ltd, said, “The very ethos of our company is focused on meeting the unmet needs of the patients and we are proud to be a part of this G20 gathering. Digital innovations have transformed virtually every aspect of our lives, and healthcare is no exception. The potential benefits of these innovations are enormous, including improved patient outcomes, increased access to care, and more efficient healthcare delivery. In a world that is recuperating from a global pandemic, a collaborative effort to address every unmet health concern becomes a priority. Our participation in the G20 Health working group meeting provided a platform to showcase our capabilities and explore potential collaborations with G20 member countries.”

"At Takeda, we are committed to leveraging digital solutions to transform healthcare”, said Puneet Chopra, Head – Data, Digital and Technology, Takeda Biopharmaceutical India Pvt Ltd. “Our innovative solutions, MyPKFit, SYNAPSE, and Athena, are aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare access. We are excited to have showcased our digital capabilities at the G20 meeting and explore opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders to drive digital health innovation and adoption."

Details of the three solutions presented at the event can be found here:

·         MyPKFit - MYPKFIT, FDA approved application, offers personalised and interactive prophylaxis treatment option that enables both healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients in real-time monitoring of factor VIII levels on smartphones thereby adapting their activity decisions accordingly and help improve their quality of life. Alerts are sent to patients on prophylaxis when their estimated factor VIII levels are low, and reminds them when their infusions are due, thereby providing excellent prophylactic coverage.

·         Synapse - Synapse is a valuable platform designed to enhance awareness and knowledge sharing among healthcare professionals (HCPs), in line with Takeda's core philosophy of "better health, brighter future." With its scientific and value-driven approach, Synapse has successfully engaged over 4000 HCPs through scientific exchange and educational initiatives, leading to significant positive impact on many lives. The platform's primary objective is to improve awareness and enhance standards of care, thereby optimizing patient benefits. Synapse also fosters academic partnerships with scientific societies to help build quality HCP education and awareness. Furthermore, it aims to identify unmet medical needs, gather insights, and provide patient health improvement-oriented solutions to improve standards of care. In essence, Synapse is a comprehensive and innovative platform that seeks to empower HCPs with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a positive impact on patients' lives.

·         Athena - The Athena App MVP is a digital health solution that enables remote patient data capture and improved patient engagement for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive (ALK+) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). The MVP will consist of three elements: a device-agnostic app for patients, a Fitbit wearable device, and a web-based portal or PDF summary for HCPs. The functionalities of the Athena App MVP support tracking of passive and active metrics of Quality of Life (QOL) for NSCLC patients, HCPs, and researchers. The patient-centered app enables remote tracking of symptoms, quality of life, medications, activity, and educational content. Patients receive all tasks in a timeline and can add reminders, while also completing bespoke or validated questionnaires such as EQ5D5L. The Fitbit wearable device captures key metrics that can inform a patient's and HCP's view of Quality of Life. HCPs can access patient data generated from the app through a web-based portal or PDF summary, which incorporates telemedicine and messaging for direct communication.

The Athena App MVP leverages a smartphone app integrated with consumer wearables and empowers patients to easily track, understand, and communicate simple, robust measures of QOL. It also provides a way for HCPs to engage holistically with patient QOL, including personal goals, activity, sleep, mental health, and cognition. Furthermore, the validated data collected from the MVP can be used by Takeda to demonstrate real-world outcomes and develop novel solutions. Project Athena seeks to develop a QOL tracking solution that benefits patients, HCPs, and researchers.

Arya.ag Crosses INR 1000 Crore Milestone On Its Fintech Platform

* With unique Fintech service offerings for smallholders, the firm records over 4X growth in loan disbursals

Arya.ag, India's largest and only profitable agritech platform at scale, today announced its milestone of crossing INR 1000 crore worth of loan disbursals in a single year through its fintech platform – Aryadhan. With the objective of providing 'financial inclusion through ease of finance' to smallholders, Arya. ag's built-in digital capabilities support their immediate liquidity requirements, enabling a good harvest season.

Over the last 3 years, Arya.ag has been able to grow its loan disbursals from Rs. 281.63 Cr in FY 2021 to Rs. 1015.76 Cr FY 2023.

The core of Arya. ag's strategy lies in digitizing stored produce into an electronic balance that can be stored, offered as security for a loan, or sold at the click of a button. Borrowers can then avail of a loan on their produce without the need to sell it to generate cash flows with Arya. ag's first-of-its-kind single-click agri loan, Insta-Loan. Seamless facilitation of credit also helps de-link farmers from non-institutional sources where they are compelled to borrow at steep interest rates.

Arya.ag also provides loans to Farmer Producer Organisations, Arya Mitr, with a Line of Credit to make quick and hassle-free payments to their farmers and input suppliers for any transactions. Arya. ag's technology stack built on IoT, analytics, AI, and ML, enables minimal transaction costs and an expedited turnaround time (TAT) for loan disbursements, making it a valuable offering for smallholders and FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) who can fend off all distress and maximise the value of each grain.

Mr. Anand Chandra, Co-Founder, Arya.ag says, "Our objective to attain cohesiveness between agricultural value chains, cutting-edge finance and technology to create a highly scalable offering continues to be our driving force. Our growth and profitability have further motivated us to reimagine the ecosystem. This milestone is a recognition of our efforts to further the financial inclusion of farmers into the formal economy."

With its unique phygital model, Arya.ag has been more relevant in near farm locations where banks are largely averse to lending, citing risk considerations. Its unique value proposition continues to find increased relevance amongst Agri stakeholders. More than 98% of all loans on Arya.ag are disbursed digitally, and the portfolio remains impeccable with near-zero NPAs.  Arya.ag has also launched a first-of-its-kind public agri blockchain ledger and is now in the process of moving its loan operations onto the blockchain.

About Arya.ag

Arya.ag, India’s largest and only profitable agritech platform at scale, eliminates the trust deficit in the grain commerce value chain. Its disruptive integrated PAN India platform delivers value to all stakeholders by enabling access to high-quality produce, products, and services. Powered by an exponentially growing layer of visibility and control currently stretching across 425 districts in 21 states, 11,000 warehouses and USD 2.5 billion of grain, Arya.ag offers the assurance of quality supply to buyers and on-time fair payment for their produce and allied services to seller. It facilitates commerce at an ARR of USD 750 Mn and seamlessly embeds finance over USD 1.1 Bn of finance annually to maximize value for both sellers and buyers. More at www.arya.ag