Government of Meghalaya Extends 100% Subsidy In Premium For Crop Insurance To Farmers Of The State

The Government of Meghalaya is extending premium support to the extent of 100% towards the farmers of the State for both Kharif and Rabi seasons during 2023-24 under the Crop Insurance Scheme "Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)". The Scheme has been made applicable to all farmers of the State growing the notified crops in the notified areas upto 1 acre per crop per farmer. 

The vision of the State Government under the leadership of the Chief Minister is to take up a farmer-centric approach in devising a strategy to protect them from the risks of crop failure. In order to support the farmers of the State in stabilizing their incomes against the risks of crop failure, the Government of Meghalaya has decided to provide free premium support amounting to Rs. 4.4 crores, covering both Kharif and Rabi seasons during 2023-24, whereby the premium for the farmers shall be paid by the State Government to an extent of 100% of the premium amount. With over 80% of the population of the State dependent on agriculture, the assistance via premium provides the much-needed cushion to farmers in the case of crop failure. 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was implemented in the State of Meghalaya since its commencement with effect from Kharif 2016. The main objective of the Scheme is to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage due to unforeseen natural calamities and events. A farmer has to pay a 2% premium for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and a premium of 5% for horticultural crops under this Scheme. Farmers have to pay the premium out of sum insured and the remaining premium is paid by the Government on sharing basis between Government of India and the State Government at 50:50 sharing basis. However, the sharing of the subsidy was made to 90:10 basis w.e.f Kharif 2020, in the revamped PMFBY. The Scheme is available to all farmers growing the notified crops in the notified areas including the sharecropper and tenant farmers. The Scheme was made voluntary with effect from Kharif 2020 season.  

Efforts to popularize the Scheme and ensure increased farmer enrolment is underway by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in collaboration with the Implementing Agency, the Agriculture Insurance Company which is responsible to conduct awareness programmes from time to time as mandated by the Scheme. The estimated amount of premium support by the Government of Meghalaya of Rs. 4.4 crores is based on the enrolment target of 27,000 number of farmers for Kharif season 2023 and 10,000 number of farmers for the Rabi season 2023-24. The premium support guarantee by the Government of Meghalaya is expected to reverse the extremely low enrolled number of beneficiaries under the Scheme so far in the State and will relieve a significant section of farming households in the State of the risks of crop damage/crop failure. 

FADA Releases May’23 Vehicle Retail Data for the State of Karnataka

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) released Vehicle Retail Data for May’23 for the State of Karnataka.  

May’23 Retails 

Commenting on how May’23 performed, FADA Karnataka State Chairperson, Mr Dharma Teja G said, 

“Karnataka continues on the growth trajectory for the CY 2023, except for a short bump in April 2023. We see good to robust growth across all segments with a growth of 14%, 180%, 22%, 6% and 5% for 2W, 3W, CV, PV and Tractor segments respectively. With a good monsoon, we hope this will continue for the rest of the year.”  

Fiserv Inaugurates First STEM Laboratory At The Patel Munichinnappa High School In Bengaluru

Fiserv, a global leader in financial services technology solutions and payments, launched its Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Laboratory Programme to provide experiential learning for students across ten public schools in Bengaluru. The project is supported by the Office of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Bengaluru, North and South and executed by Experifun through Fiserv’s Corporate Social Responsibility partner United Way Mumbai.

With an investment of INR 71 lakhs, Fiserv aims to bring benefits of STEM education to over 5000 underserved students across primary and secondary grades. This initiative focuses on designing and developing affordable curriculum-based STEM Laboratories that bring concept visualization, exploration, experimentation and an entirely innovative way of teaching and learning. The laboratory will be complimented by an e-learning Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Mobile application, ‘Tutor Support’ for the first year and a Programme Management cum Impact Assessment tool for quality control.

After delivering this project across public schools in Chennai and the National Capital Region, Fiserv has successfully enhanced its delivery to now cover Bengaluru. A pan India view of the project brings STEM education to nearly 18000 students spread across these cities, over the lifecycle of these laboratories.

““Empowering our communities where we live, and work is integral to fostering inclusive development. Through our initiatives towards promoting STEM education across the country, we hope to make experiential learning accessible to young minds from underserved schools. It is our contribution to the foundation of the national talent pool, and we shall continue to give back to our society in the best possible ways” said Srini Krish, President, Global Services at Fiserv.

Fiserv Gives Back, the company’s Global Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, aspires to create a positive experience for the communities we live and work in across four major focus areas – Promoting Education, Environmental Stewardship, Inclusion and Health and Wellness. 

Schools covered under the initiative include:

Yediyur High School, Jayanagar, Bengaluru

Government Model Primary School, Kormangala, Bengaluru

Patel Munichinnappa High Hchool, Adugodi, Bengaluru

Government Higher Primary School Ejipura, Bengaluru

Government Urdu Primary school, Tank garden, Bengaluru

Government Model Primary School, Hunasamaranahalli, Bengaluru

Government Higher Primary School, Yelahanka, Bengaluru

Government High School, NH-7 road, Bengaluru

Government Primary school, BEML layout, Bengaluru

Government primary school, Agrahara, Bengaluru

About Fiserv:

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale solution. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and the FORTUNE® 500 and is among the FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies®. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for information and the latest company news.

Indian School of Hospitality And Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Announce Transformative Strategic Partnership

The Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), a renowned institution recognised for its distinctive approach to hospitality and culinary education is delighted to announce a strategic collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WHR), a global leader in the hotel industry. The transformative collaboration is built on a collective vision of growth and innovation, uniting two formidable institutions, committed to nurturing talent and driving change within the hospitality and culinary domain.

The four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institutions will witness progressive initiatives including an annual scholarship opportunity by WHR for two meritorious students from Christel House Bangalore, an institution that supports economically disadvantaged students.

The selected students will be able to enrol in ISH's undergraduate four-year degree programs in BBA (Hospitality Management) and B.A. in Culinary Arts. These scholarships are designed to promote uniform educational opportunities and cultivate inclusivity among the students of ISH. They will also incorporate tuition and residence fee for each year of the program, allowing students to entirely devote their time in honing their skills in the hospitality segment.

Detailing his vision for the partnership, Kunal Vasudeva, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of ISH, stated, "we firmly believe in the transformative potential of quality education, regardless of one's socio-economic background. Our collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts further strengthens this belief, as it allows us to extend an unparalleled opportunity to these promising students from Christel House Bangalore, empowering them to pursue world-class business education in hospitality and culinary arts under the ‘Flourish’ initiative. This partnership will not only enable us to develop highly skilled professionals for the industry but also nurture conscientious leaders who will redefine the future of the hospitality landscape."

‘Flourish’ is a unique scholarship and financial aid initiative by ISH that has enabled hundreds of hospitality aspirants from diverse backgrounds to embark on a rewarding career journey in the sector. Designed to identify, nurture, and deliver assistance to promising talent, Flourish illustrates the institute's commitment to promoting inclusive access to high-quality education for all.

WHR will also facilitate tailored internship and placement opportunities at their properties and offices across Europe and the Middle East, offering ISH students hands-on experience and preparing them for the industry upon graduation. The partnership will pave the way for a jointly designed Management Development Program to offer mentorship and advanced training to WHR property-level managers, equipping them for future leadership roles.

Further underlining the significance of the partnership, Nikhil Sharma, Market Managing Director Eurasia at WHR, stated, "At Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, we view our investment in the bright, young students of Christel House Bangalore as a commitment to the future of hospitality. Additionally, we recognise the significance of continuous upskilling for our existing employees, training them for the forthcoming challenges. This strategic partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality, a distinguished institution in hospitality and culinary education will enable us to shape a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for the hospitality industry."

This collaboration marks a new chapter for both ISH and WHR, demonstrating their shared commitment to fostering an inclusive hospitality industry. Mike Reilly, Chief People & Operations Officer for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa at WHR, stated “We have always believed that you can do well by doing good. As a hospitality company, service is in our DNA and we are proud to have teams and franchisees around the world that actively engage in their communities, generously giving in ways to enhance the lives of others. I am delighted to see this in practice through our partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality especially as it also recognises our long-standing commitment to supporting Christel House Bangalore.” 

SFC India Selects Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Works For Indigenization And Digital Transformation Of Wastewater Plants

•          The deployment helped in the seamless migration of data from pre-existing 2D design format to 3D design

•          Digitalization has reduced engineering time by around 50% and enabled faster time to market

•          Through Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Works, SFC India aims to improve process efficiency and minimize operational costs

•          3DEXPERIENCE Works offers a robust digital environment that facilitates enterprise-wide collaboration essential for delivering customized solutions

Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) today announced that SFC India, a global environmental technology company providing advanced indigenous technologies in the field of municipal sewage and solid waste treatment, has deployed Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Works portfolio of cloud solutions to advance its digital transformation journey across its design and development processes.

A long-time user of 2D design models, the company seamlessly transitioned to complex 3D designs, leveraging 3DEXPERIENCE Works on the cloud. Digitalization has enabled SFC India to focus on developing innovative indigenous technology solutions for wastewater treatment by simulating operational scenarios in real time. This collaboration is driven by the need to overcome product development and design and production related challenges such as data duplication of drawings and documents, lack of revision control, lack of a single platform for collaboration, and difficulty in tracking and retrieving old data for design revisions.

The use of 3DEXPERIENCE Works has reduced engineering time by half, allowing effective design validation with greater scope for incorporating changes. The portfolio offers unmatched modelling capabilities and revision control for cost optimization on the cloud, and makes it easy to retrieve engineering documents during audit and internal processes. The 3DEXPERIENCE Works portfolio enables secure data sharing and collaboration from anywhere, anytime on any device, allowing for extension of product development capabilities to solve problems faster. Furthermore, 3DEXPERIENCE Works facilitates improved product lifecycle management to keep track of design changes on a real-time basis and allows for better collaboration between members and the purchase department.

“3DEXPERIENCE Works can add value to the digitalization journey of any company. It offers a robust digital environment that facilitates effective design validation, simulation, data management and enterprise-wide collaboration essential for delivering customized solutions,” said Deepak NG, Managing Director India, Dassault Systèmes. “Our solutions offer SFC India an intuitive platform to design and develop indigenous sustainable technology solutions for wastewater treatment plants tailored to match the needs of the customers.” 

“3DEXPERIENCE Works has played an incremental role in accelerating our data migration journey from 2D to 3D design. Simulating operational scenarios in real time has helped us improve the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plants and significantly reduced operational costs. By leveraging the power of the cloud, enterprise-wide collaboration has become seamless. This has simplified our product lifecycle management process and significantly reduced market time,” said Lalit Motwani, Manager, Marketing & Proposals, SFC India. 

ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE® Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers can redefine the creation, production and life-cycle-management processes of their offer and thus have a meaningful impact to make the world more sustainable. The beauty of the Experience Economy is that it is a human-centered economy for the benefit of all –consumers, patients and citizens.  Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com

© Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries.

Coca-Cola India Leads The Way By Launching Kinley Bottles Made From 100% Recycled PET

* The first company in India to launch 100% recycled PET bottles. This marks a significant milestone in achieving the company’s global commitment to help create a “World Without Waste” and moving towards a circular economy.

Coca-Cola India launched new bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic material (rPET) in Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time in India that any bottle made with 100% rPET is being used for food/beverage.

Aligned with its global commitment of creating a ‘World Without Waste’, the company has set a goal of using at least 50% recycled content in its packaging by 2030; working towards using more recycled content in its packaging. The company has been working towards this goal for years and has made consistent progress in reducing the use of virgin plastic across its value chain globally. Currently, 90% of the company’s packaging is recyclable while 15% of PET used is recycled (rPET) across the globe.

rPET bottles are made from food grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When PET bottles are recycled, the plastic is recycled as per the technologies that are approved by US FDA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food grade recycled material, and reformed into new PET bottles, reducing the need for virgin plastic for producing PET Bottles. The use of rPET bottles not only conserves natural resources but also reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the larger ecosystem.

The new rPET packaging is available for the company’s packaged drinking water brand, Kinley, in 1-liter bottles. The new bottle features a unique label displaying, ‘100% made from recycled food grade plastic, marking a major milestone for Coca-Cola in India in realizing its circular economy endeavours. This was possible only after the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved the use of recycled PET in food packaging, subject to adherence to their guidelines, after a thorough review of food safety.

Enrique Ackermann, Vice President, Technical and Innovation, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia said, “Aligned with our vision of creating a World Without Waste, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute towards creating a circular economy. We are proud to be the first beverage company in India to offer our consumers a sustainable choice of packaging, by launching Kinley bottles made from 100% recycled PET. Our new bottles made with food-grade rPET have value beyond their initial use, as they are fully recyclable and can be repurposed into new bottles. This is also an endeavour on our part to complement the Government of India’s ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ initiative.

Dr S B P P Rammohan, Managing Director, Sri Sarvaraya Sugars Limited, Franchise Bottling Partner of Coca-Cola in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana said, “This move towards using recycled PET in packaging, aligns with our government’s vision of sustainable plastic use, and we are proud to be associated with the Coca-Cola System in India as the first movers in this sustainability initiative.”

Utsav Dixit, Head of Sustainability at ALPLA India, PET Preform Supply Partner of Coca-Cola said, “In addition to enabling Coca-Cola’s vision of creating a World Without Waste, the launch is aligned with ALPLA’s Global Sustainability targets. In 2018, ALPLA, as partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, signed a Global Commitment. Our mission by 2025 is to produce 100% recyclable packaging with 25% recycled content on average, and this launch is a big step in that direction in India. We are proud to be associated with Coca-Cola and will continue to do everything it takes to enable a World Without Waste.”

In December 2022, Coca-Cola Bangladesh launched 100% rPET bottles, making it the first market in the Southwest Asia (SWA) region to introduce Kinley water bottles in 2-liter packages. The Coca-Cola Company now offers 100% rPET bottles in more than about 40 markets.

About Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of high-quality and refreshing beverage options to consumers. The company in line with its vision of ‘Beverages For Life’ offers a wide portfolio of products which includes hydration, sports, sparkling, coffee, tea, nutrition, juice and dairy based products. In India it’s beverage range includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Charged by Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Maaza, Minute Maid range of juices. The Company also offers hydration beverages including Limca Sports, Smartwater, Kinley, Dasani and Bonaqua packaged drinking water and Kinley Club Soda. Premium products constitute Schweppes and Smartwater. In addition, it offers Costa Coffee range of tea and coffee. The Company is constantly transforming its portfolio, from reducing sugar in its drinks to bringing innovative new products to market.

The Company along with its owned bottling operations and franchise bottling partners has a strong network of close to 4 million retail outlets through which it refreshes millions of consumers across the country. It seeks to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable agriculture initiatives and carbon emission reductions across its value chain.

Globally together with its bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, helping to bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.cocacolacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Renault India, Delivers First lBS6 step 2 Complaint KIGER AMT To Vani Ananth Rao In Bangalore

Renault India, the leading European brand in India, is pleased to announce the first delivery of Renault KIGER AMT compliant with the BS6 step 2 in Bangalore. Mrs. Vani Ananth Rao has become the proud owner of the first enhanced Renault KIGER AMT. The delivery took place at the Trident Auto dealership, marking a significant milestone for Renault India in the state of Karnataka. Renault KIGER AMT range, with enhanced class leading safety features starts at INR 8.47 lacs ex-showroom Delhi.  

The entire range of Renault KIGER come with innovative and advanced safety features as part of the Human First Program which is designed to minimize the risk of accidents and improve overall safety for occupants and pedestrians alike. As part of this program, Renault has upgraded and introduced new and enhanced safety features across all its product range in India, that are designed to minimize the risk of accidents and improve overall safety. Under the Human First Program, Renault India’s product line-up boasts of innovative and class leading safety features such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP) for enhanced control on curvy roads, catering to both amateur and experienced drivers, Hill Start Assist (HSA) which prevents car roll-back when starting uphill after braking, Traction Control System (TCS) that identifies wheel speed irregularities, automatically reducing spins to maintain grip on slippery surfaces and prevent accidents and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) which provides real-time alerts for under-inflated or punctured tyres in the vehicle. 

Renault KIGER, an outcome of a collaboration between the design teams in France and India, has been instrumental in driving India among Renault’s top five global markets. Powered by world-class 1.0L Turbo petrol & 1.0L Energy Petrol engine, Renault KIGER offers enhanced driving experience and comfort with XTronic CVT & 5 Speed Easy-R AMT transmission. Renault KIGER is one of the most affordable offerings in the compact SUV segment with cost-effective maintenance. Kiger not only offers more performance and a sporty drive, but also boasts best in-segment fuel efficiency of 20.62 KM/L.  

Renault KIGER has also been awarded with the 4-Star Safety Rating for Adult occupant safety by Global NCAP, the foremost global car assessment programme. For driver & front passenger safety, the Renault KIGER comes equipped with four airbags – front and side along with seatbelts with pre-tensioner and load-limiter (for driver occupant).  

As Renault India commences deliveries of BS6 step 2 compliant KIGER AMT range, the company remains committed towards offering products that delivers the highest global standards of safety to the Indian customers. Renault has achieved a significant milestone of having over 9,00,000 satisfied customers across India. 

Customers looking to own the sporty, smart, and stunning Renault KIGER, can book the car through the authorized Renault dealerships present across Karnataka, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience. 

ABOUT RENAULT  

Renault India Pvt. Ltd. is a fully owned subsidiary of Renault S.A.S. France. Renault India cars are manufactured in the manufacturing facility located in Oragadam, Chennai, with a capacity of 480,000 units per annum. Renault India also has a widespread presence of 450+ sales and 530 service touchpoints, which include 250+ Workshop on Wheels locations across the country, with benchmark sales and service quality.