A ‘Learn Earn And Progress Programme (LEAP)’ Of A Lifetime With Tata Motors

Young men and women from different parts of the country have taken a LEAP of faith with Tata Motors’ initiative ‘LEAP (Learn Earn and Progress Programme)’ for the past decade. Run under the Public-Private-Partnership Model (Industrial Training Institutes, Tata Motors dealers & TASSs and Tata Motors), the programme aims to provide sustainable livelihoods, especially to unskilled youths from disadvantaged sections of society. Notably, the programme's success is evident as it has expanded from two institutes in 2013 to an impressive 60 institutes by 2022, and 1500 youth get trained under the programme every year.

A 12-month programme, the LEAP curriculum dedicates 70% of the curriculum to hands-on experience at service centres, creating a comprehensive learning environment. With a focus on inclusivity, LEAP has on its rolls underprivileged youth both from rural as well as urban and semi-urban localities, who have dropped out of school and there is focussed effort to register more women under the prorgramme.

Tata Motors serves as a knowledge partner and provides the content for the training, while Industrial Training Institutes provide the required infrastructure for conducting the training. Dealer & TASSs help these students with on-job training and stipend for the same. The programme has been clocking 85% placement on an average in the past decade. In addition to this, increasing number of women are getting enrolled in the programme and diversity has grown to 13% in the past decade.

Vinod Kulkarni, Tata Motors' Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said, "LEAP transcends a skills programme and qualifies to be a transformative programme wherein future of the attendees are moulded into compelling success stories. The programme has a twin purpose of creating workforce for the future as well as empowering individuals and their families to improve their standards of living and above all, rekindle their dreams. LEAP highlights Tata Motors’ unwavering determination to bring about affirmative changes within communities we work in."

In its continuous evolution, LEAP remains agile, embracing new technologies and entrepreneurial modules to adapt to dynamic market demands. LEAP embodies a dynamic force driving positive change, exemplifying Tata Motors' enduring pledge to empower, innovate, and build a brighter tomorrow for all.

Stovekraft Continues To Expands Its Product Line With The Pigeon Ultra-Fast Electric Chopper

Stovekraft Limited, a leading name in innovative cookware and kitchenware appliances, has announced the addition of the Pigeon Ultra-Fast Electric Chopper to its diverse product line. This launch underscores Stovekraft's commitment to providing advanced solutions that align with the evolving preferences of modern households.

Commenting on the launch and explaining the functionality of the product, Mr. Rajendra Gandhi, MD, Stovekraft Ltd, said, “We are committed to enhancing kitchen experiences through cutting-edge and dependable appliances. In today's modern and fast-paced lifestyle, where kitchen efficiency and versatility are of the utmost importance, the Pigeon Ultra-Fast Electric Chopper exemplifies this dedication, providing a harmonious mix of performance, durability, and safety. It efficiently chops, minces, and dices various ingredients, delivering professional-grade results, thanks to a powerful 300-watt motor with 100% pure copper winding."

Dr M Nanda, the CMO of Stovekraft Ltd, added “The launch of our ground-breaking Ultra-Fast Electric Chopper speaks of our team's dedication and innovative spirit! This product made for mass usage redefines efficiency and speed – this isn’t any ordinary chopper, it's a product that will set new standards in the industry. From fruits and vegetables to herbs and nuts, this chopper's precision and speed will transform the way we approach food preparation. In seconds, what used to take minutes will now be accomplished effortlessly, allowing our customers to save time without compromising on quality”

The robust Pigeon Ultra-Fast Electric Chopper comes with a powerful motor for swift and efficient chopping and is complemented by versatile stainless steel twin blades. Its durable design includes a 600 ml BPA-free container with an unbreakable plastic body. The user-friendly one-touch button ensures easy operation, while safety is enhanced by anti-slip rubber feet. While the multi-splash lid minimizes mess, users should take care to attach the top part properly for effective functioning. Chops everything is seconds not in minutes. 

Nestlé India Celebrates five years Of Project Hilldaari

~Over 28,000 metric ton waste diverted from landfills through the project~

Project Hilldaari is a Nestlé India initiative in partnership with PLAN Foundation and Stree Mukti Sangathana and technical partner Recity India Pvt Ltd. Over the last five years, project Hilldaari has successfully developed inclusive and resilient models for waste management in select tourist cities of India. The project is currently operational in Ponda, Mussoorie, Mahabaleshwar, Munnar, Dalhousie, Darjeeling and Palampur

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India said, "Five years ago we embarked upon an important journey with Project Hilldaari by bringing about positive change through collective action and adopting sustainable waste management models. Through a multi-stakeholder approach, we are successfully implementing this project across 7 tourist destinations and the project has grown from strength to strength. I would like to congratulate all our partners, for making our vision a reality.”

Upon reaching the milestone of five years for Project Hilldaari, Ms. Jyoti Mhapsekar, President, Stree Mukti Sanghatana said, “The last five years of Project Hilldaari have been extremely fulfilling for the team, where we conducted some meaningful work such as professionalization of the waste workers community. We take pride in the way we have been able to raise awareness across stakeholders. We would continue to collaborate and positively impact the ecosystem in these cities.”

Meha Lahiri Co-founder, COO and CFO, Recity Network India expressed her elation on the milestone and said, “Recity Network India has been working towards giving rise to a circular economy of plastics and Hilldaari has been one of the shining examples of projects aiding this cause. We are extremely happy with the progress we have made with Project Hilldaari and would continue to put continued efforts to take this cause further.”

Project Hilldaari in its existing locations across India has diverted more than 28,000 MT of waste from landfill through source segregation. 80% of source segregation has been achieved across more than 20,000 residential and commercial waste collection points.

Hilldaari believes that every member of the society can contribute towards making a positive change. These partnerships invoke a sense of solidarity and collective spirit among citizens. The initiative is progressively working towards professionalizing waste workers towards segregation of waste at source through a multi-collaborative approach with municipal councils, citizens, contractors, waste workers and influencers. Through Project Hilldaari over 560 waste workers have trained to become a part of behaviour change interventions. The project has also provided them with occupational ID, benefits such as health insurance, protective gear necessary for their work and other such benefits.

ABP News Shines Bright, Bags Most Golds At afaqs' Future of News Awards 2023!

ABP News, a leading national Hindi news channel of India, reaffirmed its prominence in the media industry by securing an impressive tally of nine (9) awards, which included six (6) Golds - more than any other single channel at the afaqs Future of News Awards 2023 held on December 14. Recognizing excellence in both Hindi and English languages, the event spotlighted ABP News' profound impact and contributions across diverse spectrum of categories, notably excelling in the realm of Hindi media.

The accolades secured by ABP News at the afaqs Future of News Awards 2023 encompass:

The recognition received through these awards vividly illustrates ABP News' steadfast commitment to consistently deliver news content that profoundly resonates with its audience. Through its tireless efforts, ABP News upholds a standard of journalism that informs and influence, ensuring each piece of information shapes opinions and perspectives as a trusted narrative. This dedication, validated by the awards, solidifies ABP News’ position as a leading voice in the media landscape dedicated to impacting and resonating with its diverse audience.

About ABP Network

An innovative media and content creation company, ABP Network is a credible voice in the broadcast & digital sphere, with a multi-language portfolio of news channels reaching 535 million individuals in India. ABP Studios, which comes under the purview of ABP Creations – the content innovation arm of the network – creates, produces, and licenses original, path-breaking content outside of news. ABP Network is a group entity of ABP, which was incorporated almost 100 years ago and continues to reign as a leading media company.

Godrej Consumer Products Launches Godrej Fab – An Affordable Liquid Detergent Priced At Just INR 99

o    Exclusively launched in Southern India in the first phase, Godrej Fab is high-performance liquid detergent which will be present across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala

o    Godrej Fab cost almost half the cost compared to other liquid detergents in the category

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), a leading emerging markets company, is reshaping the Indian laundry care category with the introduction of Godrej Fab. The product is a high-performance liquid detergent here to redefine the laundry experience. Exclusively launched in Southern India, Godrej Fab is available at an attractive price point of INR 99 for a one-litre bottle, thus offering a good quality product at almost half the cost compared to other liquid detergents in the market. Additionally, a convenient 100ml sachet is available at just INR 10, providing double the quantity than competing liquid detergents. Be it for consumers opting for Bucket wash or machine washing, Godrej Fab eases the chore of doing laundry, transforming it into a gratifying experience.

Commenting on the launch, Ashwin Moorthy, Chief Marketing Officer - India, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), said, “Godrej is a pioneer in the liquid detergent category with Ezee - dominating the market in North and East with its winter specialist credentials. From household insecticides; hair colour to soaps, Godrej Consumer Products has always democratised categories. With Godrej Fab, too, we are leveraging our expertise in the liquid detergent category and making it accessible to everyone, thereby democratising access to quality laundry care.”

He further added, “The liquid detergent category is one of the fastest growing categories. This growth is due to increased household penetration of washing machines across South. Consumer awareness and adoption of liquid detergents is also growing with features such as easily soluble format, quality wash experience and more fragrance compared to powder detergents. Godrej Fab will further support the growth of the category by catering to consumers who seek an enhanced laundry experience at a competitive price point.”

The liquid detergent category is one of the fastest growing categories in India’s FMCG sector.  The growth of liquid detergents is spearheaded by the Southern region that commands close to half of overall nationwide sales.

Amongst Southern states, Karnataka is a significant player commanding a substantial share of the liquid detergent market. This indicates category familiarization and immense potential for growth. GCPL’s entry into the rapidly expanding liquid detergent market is poised to reshape consumer preferences in laundry category and establish a new benchmark for excellence in the Karnataka.

Godrej Fab offers a superior laundry experience at consumer's convenience by effortlessly dissolving in water, leaving no residue after minimal rinsing, preserving vibrant colors, and ensuring fresh, fragrant clothes post-wash. It is suited for bucket wash, semi-automatic and fully automatic top load washing machines.

As GCPL embarks on this journey to redefine how Indians approach laundry, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, quality, and accessibility. Godrej Fab's launch in South region is a testament to GCPL's dedication to ensuring that every household can enjoy the benefits of premium liquid detergent without compromise.

ABOUT GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the over 125-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity, and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations.

Today, our Group enjoys the patronage of 1.2 billion consumers globally, across different businesses. We rank among the largest Household Insecticide and Hair Care players in emerging markets. In Household Insecticides, we are the leader in India, the second largest player in Indonesia and are expanding our footprint in Africa. We are the leader in serving the Hair Care needs of women of African descent, the number one player in Hair Colour in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and among the leading players in Latin America. We rank number two in Soaps in India and are the number one player in Air Fresheners and Wet Tissues in Indonesia.

But for us, it is very important that besides our strong financial performance and innovative, much-loved products, we remain a good company. Approximately 23 per cent of the promoter holding in our Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health, and education. We are also bringing together our passion and purpose to make a difference through our 'Good & Green' approach to create a more inclusive and greener India.

At the heart of all of this, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace, with an agile and high-performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognising and valuing diversity across our teams.

LG Celebrates 50 Years Of Korea-India Diplomatic Relations At "Rang De Korea" Event

In a momentous celebration of cultural diversity and unity, LG Electronics proudly participated in the "Rang De Korea" event, held at Ansal Plaza Mall in New Delhi, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Korea-India diplomatic relations. The event was organized in collaboration with the Korea Cultural Centre (KCC) and witnessed a historic gathering of companies and dignitaries from both nations.

The gala event took place on December 10, 2023, at Ansal Plaza Mall, Hudco Place, Andrews Ganj, New Delhi. The occasion saw the participation of prominent companies such as Kia Motors, Dalgrak, Amorepacific (Innisfree, Etude, Sulwhasoo, Laneige), Orion, Atomi, Hyundai Motors, LG Electronics, Koindotrading (Korikart), SAZAXA(????), and CJ, totaling 10 key contributors to the vibrant cultural exchange.

At the event, Ambassador Chang Jae-bok and Shri Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs, graced the occasion as distinguished guests. Their presence underscored the profound significance of the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Commenting on the same, Jae Hyung Jun-Head Corporate Marketing said, “At LG, our unwavering commitment to the Indian market drives us to deliver superior products. Extending our LIFE’S GOOD brand philosophy we participated in vibrant “RANG DE KOREA” festival. The festival was a unique platform to showcase our latest offerings, bringing customers first-hand experiences. On this historic occasion, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering connections, promoting cultural exchange, and contributing to the enduring friendship between Korea and India.”

The event showcased the rich cultural heritage of both Korea and India through various performances, featuring the Korean traditional art performer "J I Art Troupe" and the mesmerizing LED art performer "Gwangtal." Additionally, the All India K-POP contest 2023 winner from the vocal category, 1st runner up from the dance category and K-POP girl group X also graced the stage with their talent.

With a footfall of over 4,000 attendees, "Rang De Korea" served as a platform for fostering greater understanding and appreciation of the deep-rooted connections between Korea and India.

LG Electronics, a key participant in this celebration, reaffirms its commitment to promoting cultural exchange and strengthening the bonds between Korea and India. The company extends its gratitude to all the participants, guests, and attendees who contributed to making the event a resounding success. Earlier this year company organised KPOP contest in association with KCC, more than 11,000 people participated in this contest.

About LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company 

The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company is a global leader in home appliances, smart home solutions, air solutions as well as visionary products featuring LG ThinQ AI. The company is creating various solutions with its industry leading core technologies and is committed to making life better and healthier for consumers by developing thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances, living appliances, HVAC and air purification solutions. Together, these products deliver enhanced convenience, superb performance, efficient operation and compelling health benefits. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Associates With IIT Kanpur To Establish India’s First Fully Integrated School Of Sustainability

* The Hon’ble Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the initiative.

* Kotak School of Sustainability will focus on multiple facets of sustainability enabling India’s goal of pursuing sustainable development

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and the Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited ("KMBL"/ "Kotak") today announced the launch of Kotak School of Sustainability - India’s first fully integrated school of sustainability at IIT Kanpur. The launch event was graced by Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India as the chief guest; Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and Shri. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, as guests of honour; Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur; Mr. Prakash Apte, Chairman Kotak Mahindra Bank, Shanti Ekambaram, Whole-time Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, C S Rajan, Independent Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Himanshu Nivsarkar, Senior EVP and Head CSR, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Mr. Kapil Kaul, Chief Executive Officer, IIT Kanpur Development Foundation.

Global warming poses a serious threat to our existence, manifesting in untimely natural calamities, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Research indicates irreversible 'Tipping Points' with rapid, harmful climatic changes. Realising this is an imminent existential crisis and that anthropogenic activities need to be environmentally sustainable; world leaders have been discussing in COP (Conference of Parties) meetings to come up with policies and actions that can lead to a sustainable future. The United Nations (UN's) seventeen sustainable development goals address this challenge, crucial in densely populated countries like India. Urgent climate actions are needed to mitigate, adapt, and build resilience.

Despite the challenge, collaboration among policymakers, academia, businesses, and society offers opportunities for the mitigation, adaptation and resilience to climate change. In addressing the climate-driven sustainability challenge, educational institutions play a vital role. The UN emphasizes education's role in promoting climate action, empowering people to understand and address climate impacts. Sustainability education and research require academic institutions to blend environmental science and clean technology-based approaches with social, economic and ecological aspects of sustainability. Institutions, through Education, Empowerment, and Engagement (3E), can lead climate action, empowering communities and conserving the natural ecosystem.

To address this challenge, IIT Kanpur and KMBL have come together to establish India’s first integrated School of Sustainability. KMBL is funding IITK through its CSR program to establish Kotak School of Sustainability with a vision to promote pedigree education, research, and outreach. Kotak and IITK believe that this School is poised to offer thought leadership solutions towards sustainability actions and prepare future generations to lead the cause of sustainable development. The School will bring together departments and centres of excellence at IITK with an aim to provide an enabling environment for collaborative research across multiple facets of sustainability. Kotak School of Sustainability will have dedicated centres of excellence covering different aspects of sustainability such as clean energy, environment, ecology, circular economy, climate finance, sustainable societies and policy.

The Kotak School of Sustainability will be led by tenured professors and leading industry experts from across the globe. The School is placed to run both undergraduate and postgraduate academic and skill-building programs in different themes of sustainability. The School will be housed in a green building in IITK’s main campus that will be platinum-rated with net zero practices on energy, water, and waste.

Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, said “The National Research Foundation was set up to boost research and innovation through funding from industry and government. I thank Kotak Mahindra Bank for taking the right step and accepting the responsibility by contributing towards setting up the School of Sustainability. The Kotak School of Sustainability will give global leadership in the field in line with the history of IIT Kanpur and its alumni who are leaders in organizations across the world. The school will not only be about technology and economics, but will cover the A to Z of sustainability. This will be instrumental in helping India meet the ambitious target of net zero by 2070, as announced by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji.”

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, said, “Kotak School of Sustainability highlights IIT Kanpur’s commitment to offer a holistic approach to address sustainability challenges due to climate change. School’s mission are in sync with India's National Missions related to sustainability. The school will help in developing a strong foundation for sustainable development to achieve a climate resilient economy and society and will support country’s climate action plans and national target to reach net zero by 2070. "

Shri. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, said “Opening of a School of sustainability serves an important need of the Indian economy. The goal of Sustainability requires inter-disciplinary approach which this school offers while the solutions must be contextual. The school would be able to draw faculty, researchers, students, policymakers, and diverse stakeholders to attempt solutions to complex and seemingly intractable problems. I am looking forward to this institution significantly contributing towards the progress of the society and economy, benign to Mother Earth. “

Mr. Prakash Apte, Chairman, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, “We are delighted to announce the establishment of the Kotak School of Sustainability in association with IIT Kanpur. This association in line with our CSR vision to enhance the quality of life for communities through positive impacts on economic, social, and environmental parameters, aligns with India’s social development objectives and UN’s SDGs. We believe the creation of this School provides both Kotak and IIT Kanpur with a timely opportunity to create a legacy and work towards sustainability, the most important survival challenge we face today.”

Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “Sustainability has emerged as one of the foremost global challenges of our times which requires various stakeholders to work together and the role of educational institutes like ours is extremely crucial in this mission. Adding to many of IIT Kanpur’s path-breaking initiatives and with the generous CSR funding support from Kotak Mahindra Bank, Institute is establishing 'Kotak School of Sustainability' with the overall vision of providing thought leadership, developing concrete solutions toward sustainability actions, and preparing future generations to lead the cause of sustainable development.”

Ms. Shanti Ekambaram, Whole time Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, “As India continues on its growth path with aspirations to reach high middle-income status, our ability to exist and develop without depleting all of the natural resources will be a challenge that needs to be addressed. The Kotak School of Sustainability marks our commitment to contribute to growing India’s skilled workforce towards achieving the goal of long term sustainable development including its net-zero target by 2070. The Bank’s CSR Project being implemented in association with IIT Kanpur will focus on enhancing home-grown capabilities to address sustainable development.”

Prof. Ashish Garg, Professor-in-Charge of the School, said, "The Kotak School of Sustainability aims to excel in sustainability education, research and innovation, technology development, entrepreneurship, and outreach. The key to the development of holistic end-to-end technology solutions for sustainable development will be school’s emphasis on synergistic integration of different aspects of sustainability for greater educational, scientific, technological, environmental and social impact.”

Kotak Karma is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity of the Kotak Mahindra Group of companies.

*Source:   https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/21db61c1-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/21db61c1-en

About Kotak Mahindra Bank

Established in 1985, Kotak Mahindra Group is one of India's leading financial services conglomerates. In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. (KMFL), the Group's flagship company, received banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), becoming the first non-banking finance company in India to convert into a bank - Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited

The Bank has four Strategic Business Units – Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury, which cater to retail and corporate customers across urban and rural India. The premise of Kotak Mahindra Group’s business model is concentrated India, diversified financial services. The bold vision that underscores the Group’s growth is an inclusive one, with a host of products and services designed to address the needs of the unbanked and insufficiently banked. The Bank has been publishing its approach to and performance on Sustainability via its Annual Integrated Report. As on 30 September 2023, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has a national footprint of 1,850 branches and 3,170 ATMs, and branches in GIFT City and DIFC (Dubai).

For more information, please visit the company’s website at https://www.kotak.com/

About IIT Kanpur:

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of its education in science and engineering and seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1055 acres with large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centers and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in