In line with its constant efforts to conserve the ecosystem it operates in, Amazon Cares the CSR initiative of India’s largest online marketplace, Amazon India, rolled out a campaign across its Community and Resource centers to celebrate World Environment Week 2018. Under the campaign, Amazon Cares conducted various initiatives from June 05th – June 10th to create awareness on environment conservation in the communities close to its Fulfillment centres.
In an endeavor to initiate impactful change, Amazon Cares in partnership with its implementation partner Foundation Of Rural Development (FORD) organized an awareness rally among students and Community on the impact of Global Warming, climate change and role of the Community in protection of environment. They educated over 300 students of the local community in the village of Anekal on the importance of conservation of energy resource, methods of proper waste management and discussed the hazards of pollution. This was followed by a sapling plantation in the school.
Commenting on the same, Srinivas, President, Gram Panchayat, Samethanahalli, said “We need to constantly create awareness and motivate action towards the protection of our environment. The World Environment Day gives us an opportunity to dedicate time and attention to do so. With the experience of Amazon India and the focus of our local community, I believe we can build a sustainable effort towards creating a better future for our children.”
Amazon India started the Amazon Cares – Community and Resource Centers initiative with the vision of ‘Creating opportunities and transforming lives’. The programs are designed to impact and enhance the lives of the local community in the areas of education, livelihood, environment, women empowerment, health and sanitation. The online marketplace uses its resources and infrastructure of innovation and technology to support India’s development. Besides, Bangalore, Amazon has conducted similar activities across India like awareness rallies, sapling plantation, lake restoration, village clean up, etc. across India ranging from Sonipat, Manesar, Tauru in Haryana to Ludhiana, Maharashtra, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Mashreq Bank, UAE’s leading financial institution, has announced the appointment of Santhosh Mahalingam as the Managing Director of Mashreq Global Services in India, Bangalore.
Santhosh brings with him more than 22 years of experience in the retail banking industry and his expertise spans over operations, projects, finance, process engineering, digitization and general management.
Prior to joining Mashreq in 2014, Santhosh held several senior positions with Qatar National Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and most recently, Standard Chartered Scope International as Head of Consumer Operations and Change Delivery where he was instrumental in setting out quality standards for various operational areas, as well as, establishing efficiency measures for evaluating performance.
Santhosh has been a consistent champion of digitization, taking the responsibility of heading the digitization of back office operations at Mashreq Bank.
Sandeep Chouhan, Group Head of Operations and Technology, said, “We are happy to announce the appointment of Santhosh as the Managing Director of Mashreq Global Services in India. India will be an integral part of the next wave of innovation for Mashreq. Therefore, Santhosh’s role as Managing Director for Global Services in India is extremely important for us, his rich wealth of experience and passionate leadership will certainly bring immense value to MGS.”
Santhosh Mahalingam, Managing Director Mashreq Global Services in India, said, “I am excited to be joining Mashreq Global Services. My passion for innovation and technology aligns with MGS’s commitment to leading with innovative solutions and services. For over 50 years, Mashreq has been powering the future of banking using the latest technologies in data, software, intelligence and robotics. I look forward to being part of their journey of constant innovation.”
Santosh holds an MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Calicut, India. He is also a qualified Executive Coach (PCC) and certified NLP Practioner.
A part of Al-Ghurair Group, Mashreq Bank is one of UAE’s leading financial institutions and the largest private sector bank with presence in London, New York, Honk Kong and Mumbai. In India, Mashreq, recently announced its entry into the non-bank financial institution (NBFI) space through an engagement with IL&FS Financial Services Ltd to offer external commercial borrowings (ECB) in Indian rupees.
Orion East Mall, Banaswadi Main Road celebrated its 2nd anniversary amidst much fanfare with famous South India actress Hari Priya along with 30 children from NGO APSA cutting a huge anniversary cake.The celebrations were on from 8th June itself. The mall wore a festive look all through the weekend. The Mall also had a 70feet Bouncy for its young customers who came over and it proved to be quite a welcome.
For the shoppers at the mall, there were a range of discounts available – while some stores offered a flat 50% discount on merchandise same, offered up to 50% on select products. This led to a shopping frenzy where customers were seen laden with some great shopping deals and new acquisitions for their wardrobe and homes.
Speaking on the 2nd Anniversary of Orion East Mall, Sunil Munshi, Senior General Manager, says, “Over the past two years we have seen Orion East Mall become an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of the people living around it. A place that has always looked at ensuring that there is something for everyone, you will find customers cutting across age groups here.
From the stores, to the activities and promotions, we have ensured that it is in keeping with the pulse of the people. The 2-year celebration is our way of thanking our customers for their sustained support”.Always attentive to their Corporate Social Responsibilities, Orion East Mall works towards the cause and care of the children from the NGO, APSA.
Speaking on the 2nd Anniversary of Orion East Mall, Celebrity actress, Hari Priya said, “It is a pleasure to be associated with the celebration activities for the 2nd anniversary of Orion East Mall. From the events organized for the public to the special cake cutting ceremony with the children of the APSA NGO, it is lovely to see the offerings at the mall are for everybody in the true sense of the term”.
“I have been visiting this mall since it opened two years ago and have always found something new on each visit,” says a young college student who was also a prize winner in the spot contests. “It is a place that I am comfortable with, both with my friends and my family. It has a lot of interesting options whether it is clothes, food, events or more” she concludes.
Technicolor France owned THOMSON announces the launch of its new UI - 'My Wall' in its 32 and 40 Smart TVs. THOMSON promises to give its consumer a never seen before experience in the world of smart TVS. These televisions will be available on Flipkart from the 14th of June, 12 pm onward.
After the stupendous success of its re-entry into the Indian market after 15 years, earlier this April the brand is all geared up to mark its presence by continuous offerings which are fresh and innovative.
THOMSON's new UI - 'My Wall' offers bundle of never before seen applications on TV, worldwide content, temperature display and much more.
The new UI 'My Wall' displays top Bollywood videos, top trending music on the home screen, it also has a dedicated icon for Cricket lovers. The 'My Wall' even allows users to order from apps like Big basket and Zomato while watching one's favorite videos or movies.
Considering the keen interest and quality content need of the Indian consumer today, THOMSON 'My Wall' also has app content from all over the world which is region specific during search and plays Radio Stations, Local Tv Channels as well as genre specific songs.
The company is also set to announce upcoming basic models by the 21st of June on Flipkart.
Talking about this new UI and it's adaptability for the Indian consumer which is fast growing and content driven, Mr. Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, SPPL, Exclusive Brand Licensee of THOMSON India said " My wall’ will give a completely new user experience to our customers and provides a very user friendly interface. This new Pro series comes as promise to our customers that we will continue making products with the best of technology."
Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. (AISATS), India’s premier airport services company, has completed ten years of providing airport services at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. In the last decade, AISATS has played a significant role in adopting and implementing several technological and digital innovations to its ground and cargo handling operations, thereby bolstering the status of Kempegowda International Airport as the Gateway to South India.
AISATS is the only airport service company at Kempegowda International Airport that provides comprehensive ground and cargo handling services, and serves seventeen international and five domestic airlines. Since the inception at Bengaluru, AISATS has handled 125,867 flights and 1,094,284 tonnes of cargo. Apart from providing services to scheduled passenger and cargo airlines, AISATS also specializes in handling charter flights.
In addition to operating the largest Air Freight Terminal at Kempegowda International Airport with a capacity to handle 210,000 tons of cargo per annum, AISATS has also established India’s first integrated on-airport perishable cargo handling centre, the AISATS COOLPORT, with a capacity to handle 40,000 tons of perishable cargo per annum. With in-house facilities of dedicated X-Ray machines, a Drug-Controller Lab Testing facility, Plant-Quarantine Inspection & Certifications, and a Customs Clearance facility, AISATS COOLPORT offers one-stop solution for perishable cargo handling and also helps in reducing cargo dwell time considerably. Since the inauguration of the AISATS COOLPORT in October 2016, till date, it has handled 28,000 metric tonnes of perishable cargo (export and import).
In the last decade, AISATS has adopted numerous steps to upgrade and integrate its services with technological advancements in order to keep pace with the fast-track cargo movements across domestic and international boundaries. These innovations have not only helped in bringing service efficiency to AISATS’ operations but have also helped the company to establish and maintain a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Some examples of these technological innovations and advancements are the use of Automatic Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), and a Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) High Rise Racking system, biodiesel operated forklifts to reduce carbon footprints and IATA e-freight compliance for paper-less cargo movement. AISATS has also indigenously developed Cool Trollies to minimise the temperature excursions while transporting temperature sensitive cargo between the warehouse and the aircraft. Moreover, AISATS has also launched the Cargo Tracking Mobile App to increase efficiency of the supply chain by relaying relevant information of cargo shipments to various key stakeholders. AISATS is currently in the testing phase of incorporating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology within its operations in order to track cargo movements automatically.
AISATS has earned various certifications over the past decade, such as ISAGO (IATA Safety Audit of Ground Operations), ISO-9001:2008 (International Standard Organisation), TAPA (Transport Asset Protection Association), GDP (Good Distribution Practices), and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), and Air Cargo Regulated Agent (RA) by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). These certifications recognize AISATS’ commitment and efforts towards applying world-class ground and cargo handling standards at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
Speaking on this occasion, Mike Chew, CEO, AISATS said, “AISATS has had a rewarding decade-long association with Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru and we would like to thank the airport authorities, customer airlines, cargo trade partners, regulatory authorities, government agencies, service providers, passengers and all our stakeholders for their continuous support. In the last 10 years, we have grown leaps and bounds in our operations, and feel proud to have brought numerous technological advancements, ground support equipment, and cargo infrastructure to ensure seamless airport services and a hassle-free airport experience for our customers. We would also like to thank all our employees who have been part of this remarkable growth story. We look forward to continually providing comprehensive ground and cargo handling services, and implementing the industry’s best practices at the airports we operate in.”
As a testament to its endeavour and commitment to deliver excellence in airport services, AISATS has won several accolades such as the Best Air Cargo Terminal Operator Award for six times by ICC (Indian Chamber of Commerce), Best Ground Handler Award twice at India Cargo Awards-South and West, Warehouse excellence awards at 9th Express Logistics & Supply Chain conclave, and Best Ground Handler and Best Air Cargo Service Provider at the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s (MoCA) flagship event Wings India 2018.
AISATS understands its responsibility for the community where it operates and provides employment opportunities to local people of the surrounding villages of Kempegowda International Airport. AISATS has also supported the repair and renovation work of Government Junior College at Vijayapura village in Devanahalli Taluka. Apart from this, a skill development program was launched in the field of food processing with an aim to empower the unemployed women of Devanahalli village near Bengaluru Airport.
International Business Process Management services provider, Intelenet Global Services, and Rajasthan Government announced the launch of a unique citizen empowerment initiative whereby the electricity consumers of the state can monitor the status of their complaints and track on a real time basis the Fault Rectification Teams (FRT) & Vehicles set off for restoring electricity complaints for consumers of Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JVVNL). Presently, this service is available to citizens across 15 districts of the state.
The latest initiative involving Intelenet’s digital transformation expertise and JVVNL under the purview of the Rajasthan government, will enable citizens to track the FRTs set out to address their respective complaints for restoration of electricity supply breakdowns. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shrimati Vasundhra Raje lauded the GPS-based tracking feature of these essential restoration services.
Aditya Arora, Managing Director, Intelenet Global Services commented, “The capabilities of digital technologies in transforming our lives is restricted only by imagination. Our latest initiative with Rajasthan government sets a new benchmark in citizen empowerment not only in India but across the globe. We are pleased to be part of this futuristic initiative with the government of Rajasthan and we look forward to making it a success story.”
As part of his current visit to Dubai, Canada and the United States, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis is hosting a series of meetings in Quebec with the intent on promoting emerging technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence. Key among them are the meetings with IVADO and AI Next.
The CM met Vice Premier of Quebec Dominique Anglade, and both agreed to a collaboration between Maharashtra and Quebec to increase increments in AI and Aero, as also promoting AI accelerators like AI Next and IVADO.
The meeting with IVADO was fruitful in that IVADO signed a collaboration agreement with the Department of IT, Maharashtra for setting up an AI accelerator in the state. They also signed a Letter of Intent to become part of the World Organization on AI (Artificial Intelligence – Quebec expertise). Additionally, AI Next has signed an agreement with the Government of Maharashtra’s Department of information Technology to set up a joint AI accelerator to promote 50 start-up AI units in Maharashtra. It has also been agreed that IVADO and Applied AI Research Institute focused on social good in Mumbai, which was launched in February, will work together to set up AI clusters in Maharashtra in conjunction with IIT Mumbai.
Speaking at a panel discussion on the topic, Chief Minister said, "There is a great deal of uncertainty around AI. However, as representatives of the people, if we begin to embrace it, it will give a great deal of confidence to the citizens and enable us to demystify the technology. With effective use of AI, we hope to bring basic services to the doorsteps of the people, be able to save lives through improved healthcare as also create about 230 million jobs in the country by year 2025 under WEF Industry 4.0."
Under the visionary aegis of the Chief Minister, the state of Maharashtra has invested in AI in several areas already. Maharashtra was the first state in India to come out with a comprehensive cloud policy that has enabled the entire government to take steps to shift its operations to cloud and take advantage of the capabilities of cloud computing. Providing boost to this direction, the government has come out with the first fintech policy in India that includes incentives to start ups, Mumbai fintech sandbox, fintech registry etc. Additionally, the IT department of the state government has also embarked on use of blockchain in some key areas such as land registry, health care, transport etc.
The vision of Hon’ble Chief Minister is to smartly deploy AI to bring about improvement in a few fields of governance and welfare:
Agriculture: to provide farmers with information on (a) what to sow to maximise their profit (not just yield) (b) when to sow it (c) when to fertilise, irrigate and harvest it; provide the agriculture department insights into what water storage mechanisms to build on farms and in villages, based on climatic zone, soil type, soil health, weather patterns / history, land topography; use satellite or drone or mobile phone images (or combinations thereof) to predict pests, growth rates, yields, harvest dates, and arrival dates and prices in vegetables
Health: Assist hospitals in diagnosis of common cancers (e.g. mouth or throat cancers) from images and blood samples using Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of a large population; assist ASHA workers to provide pre-diagnosis in remote villages for simple diseases, and generate recommendations for escalations to doctors for more complex diseases
Home: Detection of number plates from moving cars through CCTV images; detection of criminals using face detection algorithms
Revenue and Finance: Detection of fraud and evasion of taxes by using analytics techniques coupled with AI
Power: Forecasting power prices based on weather patterns and weather forecasts
IT: Detection of cyberattacks using Advanced Persistent Threat monitoring systems
Social Justice – Disabilities: Speech synthesis for the speech impaired, and speech recognition and transcription for the deaf
Industries or Textiles: Assisting in scoring / making recommendations on applications to various government benefits schemes, e.g., for loans, grants for technology upgradation, etc.
