Toyota Kirloskar Motor Honoured With ‘Commendation For Significant Achievement’, Under Its CSR, AtTthe 18th CII-ITC Sustainability Awards

Recently, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) was recognised for its best CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) practices under the category ‘Commendation for Significant Achievement’ presented at the 18th CII-ITC Sustainability Awards. This is a testament to the company’s relentless social efforts and the robust framework for CSR governance and its successful implementation. 

For this award, the TKM CSR activities were evaluated by the CII-ITC assessors under the defined parameters that included Learning & Innovation adopted across all its CSR projects. The company’s social initiatives demonstrated strong alignment with these parameters. Furthermore, as a part of its CSR implementation process, TKM conducts periodic internal assessment overseen by a board-level CSR committee, to actively monitor and comprehensively measure the impacts, ensuring objectivity, credibility, and commitment to compliance. Over the years, the company has implemented diverse assessment tools and systems to evaluate its performance and bolster community enhancement and environmental stewardship through sustained initiatives.

Notably, TKM's CSR strategy embodies a dual focus on "Empowering Communities" and "Enriching Environment". Driven by innovation and guided by the principle of Kaizen (continuous improvement), TKM's CSR projects are organized into six key pillars: Skill Development, Road Safety, Education, Environment, Health & Hygiene, and Disaster Management. Additionally, its sustainable CSR model emphasizes community ownership, unified interventions, behaviour change, and stakeholder engagement.

Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Governance, TKM, said, “At TKM, we are honoured to receive the 18th CII-ITC Sustainability Award. We firmly believe in the strong connect and the inclusivity that lies between business growth and societal progress. With a keen eye on enduring interventions, we are focused on catalysing positive behavioural changes especially through our child to community approach.  Our continuous efforts are to actively engage with communities, understand their unique needs, aspirations, and challenges and tailor well thought programs to address the specific issues faced by them with sustainability at the core.

TKM has been successful in attaining sustainability in CSR by incorporating long-term strategic planning, engaging stakeholders to collaborate & support, timely project executions, implementing effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the project progressions, thereby aid the absolute community necessities.

This award reaffirms Toyota’s commitment to driving positive change and making a meaningful difference in the lives of people and the community. So far, we have achieved an outreach of over 2.3 million beneficiaries through our various social interventions. As we continue to evolve and adapt, we remain committed to optimal resource allocation and gauging effectiveness of all our CSR projects to enable stronger and meaningful interventions for the societal development.”

Rooted in Toyota's global vision, TKM's CSR programs are dedicated to fostering a resilient and sustainable society.

Simpl Expands Its Integration With Zomato; Goes Live On Zomato Gold, Intercity Legends And Zomato Everyday With Its 1-Tap Checkout

*       Expansion is to address the growing number of consumers seeking checkout convenience

*       Growth to be driven by increasing number of customers coming online and seeking convenience in checkouts

*       Simpl has recorded over 100 million checkouts during 2017-2023 on Zomato

India’s foremost Checkout Network, Simpl today announced an expansion of its partnership with food ordering and delivery platform Zomato, to integrate its 1-Tap Checkout with Zomato Gold, Intercity Legends and Zomato Everyday. This is intended to enhance convenience for millions of customers across the country while improving conversions, and increasing average order value apart from driving user retention among other areas on the platform.

This expansion is also in line with Zomato’s larger vision of bringing better food for customers, conveniently. Through these integrations, millions of new and existing customers are expected to use Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout on Zomato to fulfil an array of needs, thereby expanding the serviceable user base for both companies.  This assumes significance as Simpl has crossed 100 million checkouts on Zomato in six years since 2017, indicating strong consumer preference for convenience at the checkout stage.

It will also be driven by a growing number of customers from tier-3 and beyond cities going online, along with increasing frequency of orders from customers in metro and tier-1,2 cities. Complemented by an increasing number of customers seeking convenience online with Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout, both companies are expecting to significantly bolster their customer base over the next couple of years.

Commenting on the expansion of the partnership, Nitya Sharma, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Simpl said, “Convenience is becoming a real differentiator in e-commerce today after selection and affordability, particularly with respect to food ordering and delivery, where customers transact more frequently than for any other category. This necessitates the need for a hassle free checkout solution which offers near zero transaction failures and a 1-Tap experience. These fundamentals have driven more than 100 million transactions on Zomato till date and we are excited to cater to a larger customer base with the Zomato Gold, Intercity Legends and Zomato Everyday, helping further deepen our presence in this space”.   

The checkout success rate via Simpl’s 1-Tap on Zomato stands at a staggering 99%, in a testament to customers’ willingness to increasingly use 1-Tap Checkout for added convenience. Simpl’s Checkout contribution on the platform has also grown significantly over the last five years, with spends per user via 1-Tap checkout growing by nearly 27x since 2018. The 2024 New Year's Eve saw the highest-ever single transaction of Rs 18,807 through Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout on Zomato.

Rakesh Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer, Food Delivery, Zomato said, “Our endeavour is to deliver exceptional and convenient customer experience at all times. Simpl has been our long standing partner and the integration across offerings has allowed us to extend 1-Tap access to our customers, making their interaction with the platform seamless and hassle free".

Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout, which is available across 26,000 merchants,  offers the convenience of a checkout in a single tap with near zero transaction failures and is preferred by millions of consumers. Currently, several large enterprises and emerging Direct-to-Customer (D2C) merchants in the food and hyperlocal delivery space offer Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout to millions of their customers across the country.

About Simpl

Simpl is India’s foremost Merchant First Checkout Network, making payments invisible and money intelligent. Simpl is on a mission to empower merchants to build trusted relationships with customers, one transaction at a time. With more than 26,000 available merchants and millions of approved users pan-India, Simpl envisions creating a frictionless and inclusive digital payments experience for India that empowers and fosters trust between merchants and their customers.

Vistara Upgrades The Experience On Delhi-Bali Route With Its State-Of-The-Art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Encouraged by strong demand on the route and anticipated uptick in the upcoming summer season, Vistara - India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, today announced that it will be deploying its distinguished Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the Delhi – Bali route, effective 31 March 2024. Vistara launched daily, non-stop flights on this route in December 2023, operated thus far by its A321LR aircraft, and has been the only airline offering direct flights between the two cities.

Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering a spacious, three-class cabin configuration, is equipped with a cutting-edge in-flight entertainment system with live TV as well as in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity onboard. It also features lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration that gives direct aisle access to each customer.

Mr. Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara said, “We are delighted to announce the deployment of our state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for flights between Delhi and Bali. This strategic decision to increase capacity underscores Vistara's commitment to optimizing operations in response to the remarkable performance of the Delhi – Bali route and the constant surge in demand for direct connectivity between India and Indonesia. With top-notch amenities, enhanced comfort complemented with sumptuous inflight meals and exceptional service, we are confident that our customers will appreciate the choice of experiencing Vistara’s Dreamliner when flying on this route.”

Vistara accepts all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings. Bookings for the flights are open on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The only Indian carrier to feature amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines, Vistara has been named ‘16th Best Airline’ globally while also being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff in India and South Asia’ for the fifth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row and ‘Best Business Class Airline in India and South Asia’ for the second time in a row at the coveted World Airline Awards 2023 by Skytrax. Vistara has also been recognised with World’s 4th Youngest Aircraft Fleet and Asia’s 2nd Youngest Aircraft Fleet awards in 2024 by ch-aviation.

About Vistara (TATA SIA Airlines Limited): TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name Vistara, is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA). Vistara brings together Tata's and SIA's legendary hospitality and renowned service excellence to offer India's finest full-service flying experience. Vistara commenced its commercial operations on 9 January 2015 to set new standards in the aviation industry in India, and it today connects destinations across India and abroad. The airline currently has a fleet of 69 aircraft, including 53 Airbus A320neo, 10 Airbus A321, and 6 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and has flown more than 50 million customers since starting operations.

For more information about Vistara, visit www.airvistara.com

The National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) Has An Upcoming Festival NCPA@thePark In Bengaluru- At Freedom Park

You will be treated to an exciting blend of performances across music, dance & spoken word at Freedom Park in the heart of the city. With free entry on a first-come-first-served basis, what are you waiting for? Register now!         

The evening of 30th March begins with a performance by the country’s first and only professional orchestra—the Symphony Orchestra of India. You’ll hear works by Mozart, Johann Strauss and more, as well as some popular tunes you’re sure to recognise. Spoken word and music by UnErase Poetry will follow. Simar Singh, Priyanshi Bansal and Vanika Sangtani, accompanied by musician Abhin Joshi, will present stories about love, hope and life.    

31st March features Ratikant Mohapatra’s Srjan performing ‘Deesha - Navigating the journey of forging new horizons’, a neo-classical Odissi performance. Ending the weekend is a set by Darren Das & The Sixth Sense, who will have you grooving to the best of pop, retro, rock n roll and classic rock. 

Israel Aerospace Industries Launches AeroSpace Services India (ASI), Furthering Its Presence In India

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a world-class aerospace and defense company, has opened AeroSpace Services India (ASI), its Indian subsidiary in New Delhi. The opening of ASI is a strong demonstration of IAI's strong collaboration with the Indian government’s 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'- MAKE IN INDIA vision. This also shows the commitment to the strong partnership between IAI and DRDO in developing and supporting advanced systems for the Indian armed forces.

ASI trades in Indian Rupees and is the sole authorized OEM’s Technical Representative for the entire Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system. MRSAM is an advanced and innovative air and missile defense system that provides ultimate protection against a variety of aerial platforms. It is used by the Indian army, air force and navy. The system includes an advanced phased array radar, command and control, mobile launchers, and interceptors with advanced RF seeker. MRSAM is jointly developed by IAI and DRDO for the Indian forces.

IAI's President and CEO, Boaz Levy: “IAI proudly presents ASI as our first major milestone towards India’s ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT vision on self-reliance. INDIA & ISRAEL’s partnership has witnessed state-of-the-art achievement. This growth and development will create history when our two nations will foster IAI’s technology and India’s talent and expertise in the Defence sector. Together we will make Bharat ATMANIRBHAR”

“Over the past 30 years, IAI has worked closely with our Indian partners collaborating on some of the latest technologies. Our new ASI office will allow us to further that commitment,” said Danny Lauber, CEO Aerospace Services India (ASI). “We have a fabulous team of local professionals, and we are working together with our partners in the public and private sectors on the ground.”

ASI boasts a workforce of approximately 50 employees, with 97% being Indian nationals. Headquartered in Delhi, ASI's strategically located branches extend its services across the entirety of the Indian subcontinent, reaffirming its commitment to nationwide coverage and customer satisfaction.

With its new facilities on the ground, ASI can significantly reduce turnaround times for repairs and service operations, ensuring swift and efficient support to our esteemed customers. Additionally, by operating locally, ASI is committed to reducing the cost of services and repairs, thereby providing tangible benefits to its valued customers.

Photo Caption:  Mr. Oded Yaakobovitc Chairman of the Board Aerospace Services India (ASI), Mr. Boaz Levy President and CEO Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI) and  Mr. Danny Lauber, CEO Aerospace Services India (ASI).

BITS Pilani WILP To Host International Conference On “Work Integrated Learning” In Hyderabad

The Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) division of Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani will be hosting International Conference on Work Integrated Learning (ICONWIL-2024) at its Hyderabad campus on April 15 and 16, 2024. With extensive focus on developing constructive directions for the future in the critical and specific domain of “work integrated learning,” the conference aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from across the globe. The aim is to provide a thought-provoking common platform, where they can exchange their research findings and innovative ideas, share best practices, experiences, and insights on diverse aspects, and discuss solutions for various practical challenges that are encountered by professionals in the field of teaching and learning.

Prof. (Dr.) T G Sitharam, the Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), Government of India, has gracefully accepted BITS Pilani’s invitation to be the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony of the conference.

Engaging keynote speeches, panel discussions, and paper and case study presentations

The conference will have keynote speeches and panel discussions (on contemporary topics in work integrated learning space) by internationally acclaimed thought leaders from both academia and industry. Some of the prominent speakers who shall grace the conference are Prof. Manu Kapur, Professor, ETH Zurich, Prof. Daniel Jonathan Bernstein, Professor-Emeritus, University of Kansas, USA, Prof. Nelson Lacey, Professor-Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Dr. Lakshminarayanan Samavedham, Associate Professor, University of Singapore, Dr. Edamana Prasad, Professor, IIT-Madras and Mr. P B Kotur, Global Head of Engineering Academy, L&T Technology Services Ltd. The conference will also have paper and case study presentations from researchers and practitioners on five engaging tracks i.e. perspectives on future directions for work integrated learning, pedagogical practices, assessment models, innovation and learning technologies, and industry-academia collaboration. 

Showcase of tech-powered innovative learning solutions and a hands-on workshop

A student competition, “EduForge,” focusing on tech-powered solutions for “work integrated learning” will also be held as part of the conference. The competition will challenge participants to conceptualize, design, develop, and present innovative technological solutions that can help enhance the learning experience of students. The participants will have opportunities to showcase their innovation in five different tracks i.e. AI-enabled work integrated learning, innovative solutions for experiential learning, tech-enabled student engagement and peer learning, tech-enabled assessment, and tech-enabled student support system. A hands-on workshop on leveraging Generative AI in teaching and learning (with specific focus on practical use cases in work integrated learning) will also be facilitated by Mr. Keshava Rangarajan, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Spanda AI, USA.

About Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

The Routledge International Handbook of Work Integrated Learning (2023) defines WIL as an educational approach involving three parties — the student, educational institution, and an external stakeholder (organisation) — consisting of authentic work-focused experiences as an intentional component of the curriculum. Students learn through active engagement in purposeful work tasks, which enable the integration of theory with meaningful practice that is relevant to the students' discipline of study and/or professional development.

Reflecting on the increasing need to focus more on the field of work integrated learning and its efficacy, Prof. G. Sundar, Director, Off-Campus Programmes & Industry Engagement, BITS Pilani, said, “In today’s dynamic world, where working professionals around the world are required to continuously learn and adapt to the ever-evolving requirements of their organisations and industry sectors, the work integrated learning serves as an appropriate model of education to update and upgrade their skills and knowledge, while helping them continue their professional career. BITS Pilani, one of the leading institutions in the work integrated learning space, has helped students and working professionals to do this and beyond for over 44 years now. ICONWIL-2024 is one of our initiatives to share our experience in offering the WIL model of education at scale in a sustainable way with the global practitioners, learn the best practices from them, and create a vibrant network to continuously build upon the knowledge.”

To know more about ICONWIL-2024 or to register (either as a national or international participant at the conference), please visit: https://iconwil.bits-pilani-wilp.ac.in/home

Tobacco Control - Here's An Alternative Agenda For India On Harm Reduction

In a recent submission, Lakshmi Ramamurthy, Hon. Trustee, Centre for Public Policy Research shared her thoughts on how tobacco harm can be curbed at a policy level in the country. She pointed out that India, in its act of imposing a ban on e-cigarettes in 2019, failed to make the distinction between the different classes of products. While in the finance bill of 2021, the government acknowledged the distinction between traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and HTP for taxation purposes, this distinction has not been applied in the context of the ban on e-cigarettes.

Panama hosted the Conference of the Parties tenth session (COP10) in February. COP10, under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC), holds immense significance for the future of public health. The FCTC addressed three critical aspects of tobacco control — demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction.

The Conference this time focused on forward-looking measures, exploring cutting-edge technology beyond FCTC, laying the groundwork for COP11. The discussions addressed tobacco's environmental impact, spanning from production and use to filter disposal, while emphasising the enforcement of civil and criminal laws against the tobacco industry. The COP10 declaration also reiterated the Parties' commitment to prioritising public health rights.

As an alternative to harm reduction especially to combustible tobacco used in cigarettes with proven public health impact, various countries across the world have embraced electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), such as vapes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). Research by different countries have concluded that e-cigarettes are less hazardous than combustible cigarettes.

A study conducted by Public Health England indicates that the risk of passive smoking associated with e-cigarettes is very low, as there is no combustible tobacco. Despite existing research and facts on e-cigarettes, the Finance Ministry of India announced a ban on e-cigarettes in 2019, following which manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertising related to e-cigarettes are prohibited. 

This prohibition instituted a comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes, encompassing all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), heated tobacco products (HTP), e-Hookahs, and similar devices. Although often grouped together as a single product class, these items constitute a diverse array with potentially significant disparities in toxicant production and nicotine delivery mechanisms.

However, the Indian Government, in its Act failed to make the distinction between these distinct classes of products. While in the finance bill of 2021, the government acknowledged the distinction between traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and HTP for taxation purposes, this distinction has not been applied in the context of the ban on e-cigarettes.

The decision to ban e-cigarettes, HTP, and similar products without a thorough examination of the scientific evidence may warrant reconsideration. The establishment of an effective regulatory framework can only be achieved when clear distinctions are made and informed by the scientific evidence regarding these products.

Despite two decades of global tobacco policy control measures, tobacco-related harm continues to inflict premature deaths and remains a leading cause of life-threatening diseases. India, a key member of FCTC, grapples with the challenge of having the world's second-largest number of smokers, approximately 100 million (GATS 2017). ICMR in its Cancer Registry Programme found that tobacco-related cancers accounted for nearly half (48.7%) of the country’s cancer burden in 2021.

India, which has predominantly concentrated on supply and demand reduction, has made notable progress in implementing measures like taxation, content regulation, and awareness campaigns. However, the outcomes of tobacco control have been only moderately successful. India will now have to prioritise scientific and fact-based solutions. A focus on harm reduction strategies that offer safer alternatives can play a pivotal role in reducing tobacco-related diseases and deaths among its vast population.

In India, tobacco consumption poses a grave and costly public health challenge. Approximately 5.3% of India’s healthcare expenditure is allocated to treating tobacco-related diseases, resulting in an annual cost of ?13,500 crore, and in 2023, tobacco-related healthcare expenditure accounted for 1.04% of the GDP. 

The widespread use, particularly in the form of smoking beedi and chewing tobacco, has raised significant concerns for public health in India. Over one million adults in India lose their lives annually due to tobacco use, representing 9.5% of the total mortality rate, making tobacco a leading preventable cause of death in the country. Despite the health risk, the quit rates in India, especially among men, remain low at just 20%. Efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic in India have primarily focused on raising awareness about the health risks of tobacco.

However, despite a high level of awareness, there is limited progress in reducing tobacco use or increasing cessation rates. Addressing these challenges necessitates strategies such as improving access to cessation support, addressing psychological barriers, and countering the influence of the tobacco industry to achieve a meaningful reduction in tobacco use.  

India’s current framework for tobacco control has yet to fully introduce harm reduction strategies, which involve exploring safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, and Canada have embraced the concept of safer alternatives within their global tobacco control policies.

Harm reduction policies aim to assist smokers in quitting and, for those who do not, encourages them to make less harmful choices to improve public health. In the year 2022, Annual Population Survey of UK reported lowest smoking rates since 2011 with only 12.9% of adult population smoking cigarettes. The latest headlines for Tobacco Duty statistics say that total tobacco receipts for the financial year, 2022-23 were 3% lower than the previous year. Interestingly, 5.2% of the survey respondents stated that they were current users of an e-cigarette, an increase from 4.9% in 2021. 

For India, the key focus should be on scientific harm reduction strategies and further explore cutting edge technology with policymakers across the world. Rather than implementing a blanket ban, a risk-based approach, regulating products based on toxicants, should be considered. By integrating better and safer alternatives and prioritising the reduction of smoking prevalence, India can take steps toward achieving its goal of diminishing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths.