Month: October 2024

• Over 1500 students showcase their skills and innovations in Robotics and Sustainable Development projects.
• The Delhi NCR edition focused on hands-on STEM projects, featuring competitions like the EcoInnova Science Exhibition, Brainiac Battle Quiz and advanced Robotics challenges like Racer Robo, Fastest Line Follower and Obstacle Avoider fostering both technical and life skills.

The Delhi NCR city edition of Mekathlon 2024, a premier STEM Fest organized in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Council, Commonwealth Student Association, and Global Understanding for Sustainable Development (GUSD), was a resounding success. Over 1500 students from 8 years to 18 years showcased their skills and innovations in Robotics and Sustainable Development projects. The Delhi NCR city edition winners from both the Robotics and Science categories have secured their spots in the grand finale which is scheduled next month in November.

This STEM Fest provided young innovators with a platform to apply STEM principles to practical problems, showcasing their technical expertise and creativity. Participants demonstrated a strong spirit of collaboration and problem-solving, reinforcing the power of STEM education in shaping future innovators.

The host school representative, Mrs. Deya Banerjee, Principal of Dwarka Sector 41 campus at Orchids The International School, expressed her thoughts, “Mekathlon 2024's Delhi NCR city edition showcased the exceptional creativity, innovation, and dedication of our students, proving how STEM education can effectively tackle real-world challenges. The outstanding projects demonstrated not only a deep understanding of STEM concepts but also their potential to address global issues. STEM fests like Mekathlon inspire curiosity in science and technology while fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, providing students with the platform to turn ideas into workable solutions.”

Jimmy Ahuja, Head of STEM at K12 Techno Services, shared his thoughts stating “The innovative projects presented at Mekathlon 2024's Delhi NCR city edition highlighted the powerful blend of STEM education and creative thinking. Events like Mekathlon give students the opportunity to explore STEM concepts while addressing practical problems, empowering them to become the change-makers of tomorrow. As educators, it's truly inspiring to see young minds harness science and technology to make a positive impact. I commend all participants for their dedication and ingenuity, showcasing the limitless potential that STEM education can unlock.”

Pranay Madas, Zonal Head at Orchids The International School, added, “Our goal for the STEM Fest was to provide students with a platform to develop their technical skills, sharpen their critical thinking, and collaborate effectively. The projects featured in the Robotics and Science competitions showed the incredible talent and forward-thinking of today’s young innovators, reflecting their passion for creativity and technology.”

Mekathlon 2024 conceptualized by K12 Techno Services, fosters a culture of innovation to address complex challenges using cutting-edge technology, preparing students for the future. The Delhi NCR city edition was an inspiring journey filled with collaboration, learning, and innovation for all participating students.

Angel One Ltd, a leading Fintech player, is delighted to announce the onboarding of Arief Mohamad as Chief Business Officer – Direct Business. This strategic addition is set to strengthen the company’s leadership team, driving innovation and growth in the ever-evolving financial technology landscape. With extensive experience in scaling businesses and leading transformative initiatives, Arief is poised to play a pivotal role in expanding Angel One’s presence and enhancing client experience.

Arief brings over 16 years of distinguished experience in digital commerce, growing  businesses at scale, strong understanding of customers and client engagement. As Chief Business Officer, he will lead Angel One's direct business vertical, focusing on scaling the company's digital presence and driving client-centric innovations.

Mr. Dinesh Thakkar, Chairman & Managing Director, Angel One Ltd., said, “As we continue to redefine the financial services landscape through technology, having a capable leader as Arief joining us is truly exciting. His proven track record in scaling digital businesses aligns perfectly with our vision of becoming a platform that comprehensively addresses all financial needs in India. Arief's expertise in creating customer-first experiences will be instrumental, as we embark on the journey of making financial services more accessible to a billion Indians.”

Mr. Arief Mohamad, Chief Business Officer – Direct Business, Angel One Ltd., said, “The fintech revolution in India is at an inflection point and Angel One stands at the forefront of this transformation. I am thrilled to join a company that shares my passion for leveraging technology to democratize financial services. Together with the exceptional team at Angel One, I look forward to building innovative solutions to empower more individuals, thus driving sustainable growth for the organization.”

In his previous role as Vice President and Head of Fashion at Flipkart, Arief was leading one of the largest Fashion businesses in the country. He also has led critical charters for Flipkart previously including Mobiles business and drove the Customer, Growth and Loyalty charters for Flipkart.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management – Lucknow, Arief holds a PGDM in Marketing, bringing a blend of academic excellence and practical expertise to his new role at Angel One.

·         ACC and the Adani Foundation have established the Annapurna Milk Collection Centre in Annibaijal village, Amethi district, in partnership with Mother Dairy.

·         This initiative, aimed at empowering rural women and farmers, has improved milk collection processes, ensured fair payments, and enhanced milk quality.

·         The project benefits 100 farmers across 10 villages, with daily milk collection increasing 4 times from 100 to 400 litres, offering higher returns based on quality.

ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is committed to facilitating sustainable livelihoods for rural dairy farmers. Along with the Adani Foundation, the Company has established the Annapurna Milk Collection Centre in Annibaijal village, near ACC Tikaria, in collaboration with Mother Dairy. This project supports over 100 dairy farmers across 10 villages, and has quadrupled their milk collection.

The initiative, launched in May 2023, has significantly increased daily milk collection from 100 to 400 litres, benefiting the dairy farming community. It also ensures fair practices, timely payments, and quality-based pricing for milk. The Annapurna Milk Collection Center, managed by the Annapurna Mahila Samiti, ensures transparency in the milk collection process, leveraging modern tools like milk analysers for quality control. Farmers are now paid between Rs. 55-70 per litre based on the fat and solids-not-fat (SNF) content, encouraging high-quality milk production and fair returns.

With 16 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the village, the initiative, supported by local, Ms. Santosh Singh, empowers women at various levels of the dairy value chain. The Mother Dairy chilling plant at Gauriganj block further strengthens this supply chain, ensuring that milk is efficiently collected and transported.

ACC and the Adani Foundation’s dedication to fostering rural development is highlighted through this initiative, enhancing agricultural productivity, and empowering women in the dairy sector.

Gennet Lab Ltd., one of Estonia’s advance IT healthcare companies, established in 1991, had announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Gennet Lab Estonia and Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL), India in collaboration with the Estonian Embassy. By leveraging STL’s expertise in digital infrastructure and Gennet’s innovative healthcare solutions, this system is set to empower hospitals with real-time data access, optimized workflows, and improved patient outcomes. This joint declaration will further strengthen the international cooperation in the fields of technology and innovation, particularly focusing on E-Health Care, E-Courts, AI, AR/VR, Data Science, and Cyber Security.

Commenting on this, Egon Veermäe, CEO of Gennet Lab, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “This event is a crucial step towards advancing our global initiatives in technology-driven sectors, with a special focus on revolutionizing healthcare and security infrastructures.”

“We are excited to partner with Gennet and drive digital transformation in healthcare management,” said Praveen Cherian, CEO of STL. He further added “This collaboration reflects our commitment to enhancing healthcare efficiency through technology and innovation. We aim to develop a fully functional Health management system that is decentralized and offers rigorous monitoring & evaluation for improving the health delivery system”

Her Excellency Ms. Marje Luup, representing Estonia, shared her thoughts on the occasion: “We are actively working with both Central and State Governments of India to support their digitalization efforts across multiple sectors, including healthcare, cyber security, and critical infrastructure protection. As a nation, Estonia's economic growth is strongly linked to our leadership in digital transformation.”

Dharmendra Singh, Director of Gennet Lab India, also added, “Since 2022, we have been collaborating with the Government of India. Our first step in this partnership is to align with India’s digital mission and support initiatives in the healthcare sector, including Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS) and personalized medicine.”

Vivek Nigam Sales Head STL who is taking care collaboration of STL and Gennet Lab India commented “This partnership with Gennet Lab focuses on localizing HMIS and boosting cyber security in healthcare. With STL’s digital infrastructure expertise, we aim to streamline hospital operations and deliver improved patient care through secure, data-driven solutions.”

This MOU marks the significance of the growing synergy between India and Estonia, as both countries are working towards harnessing technology for socio-economic development.

The initiative prioritizes national-level skilling to bridge the education-employment gap for underserved youth

upGrad, one of Asia’s largest integrated learning skilling and workforce development majors has announced the Intern-Zip Program, a groundbreaking initiative to train around 1 lakh learners in the current fiscal and accelerate talent mobility while bolstering Indian Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme – announced in the Union Budget 2024-25.

The skilling major has created a specialized course with 9 comprehensive modules /virtual classrooms targeted towards individuals aged 20-24, and coming from non-tax-paying family backgrounds.

The course comes at no cost for the first 100,000 learners. For corporates and subsequent learners, the cost for the specially designed fully online course will be INR 20,000. The Scholarship pool is planned for INR 200cr. upGrad has made additional investments towards operations including research, content, and faculty to ensure the product is tuned with the right pedagogy for delivering right outcomes. The initiative will also enable top corporates access skilled/ready-to-deploy talent at a set fee.

“Skilling is no longer a product, but a necessity that must be scaled beyond traditional income slabs to empower individuals from all walks, and Hon. PM’s ambition is bold and absolutely well timed. With India’s growing population and with talent migration that’s happening from Agri to Formal jobs, it’s critical for us to build an infrastructure that could equip larger groups,” said Ronnie

Screwvala, Co-founder & Chairperson, upGrad. “With this initiative, we’re empowering a whole new community of aspiring individuals to get trained adequately and get placed across leading organisations / GCCs / partner companies, leaving a stronger economic mark,” he added.

Focused on three key areas, modules will cover Technical Savviness, Soft Skill Mastery & Professional Development; skilling individuals in tools such as Microsoft Office (Word, PPT, Excel) and ChatGPT, including softer aspects like effective communication, problem-solving, time management, professional grooming, and optimising networking techniques in person /on social media.

The program is now live and Individuals can sign up through: https://www.upgrad.com/internzip/

• Godrej Industries Group’s owned media platform – Godrej L’Affaire feature a digital film that emphasizes complete handwashing ritual
• Partner with Teach for India for hand hygiene program educating children in more than 500 classrooms
• Engage more than 50 content creators to spread the message digitally

According to a survey conducted by National Sample Survey (NSS) in India, only 35.82% of the population regularly follows hand hygiene before meals, while 60% households wash hands only with water. Several reports also highlight there has been a decline in consistent handwashing habits as daily routines returned to normal post-COVID 19. There is a strong need now to propagate amongst people the right-hand hygiene practices and sustaining them. The theme of this year's Global Handwashing Day (Oct 15), “Why are clean hands still important?” highlights the ongoing importance of hand hygiene in preventing infections.

In line with this theme, Godrej Magic Handwash, a ready-to-mix handwash from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), launched an awareness campaign on Global Handwashing Day to promote proper handwashing practices and encourage sustaining the habit. The campaign highlights an essential truth: hand hygiene cannot be achieved in a superficial way. While handwashing is important, the campaign focuses on handwashing as an important pre-emptive measure for disease control and leading a healthy lifestyle.

To amplify its message, Godrej Magic has partnered with Godrej L’Affaire, the owned media platform from Godrej Industries Group, to release a digital film that takes a playful yet impactful approach to highlight the importance of thorough handwashing. What happens when we take shortcuts in life? Incomplete efforts often lead to incomplete outcomes, and hygiene is no exception. Imagine trying to get through your day with only half of the things you rely on—half a lunch, half a desk, or even half a chair. Isn't that what happens when we wash only one hand? Through humour and clever scenarios, this film delivers a simple but essential message: proper hygiene is ‘all or nothing.’

Godrej Magic has partnered with Teach for India, a non-profit organization dedicated to educational equity, to promote proper hand hygiene practices among children. As part of this initiative, students in the Teach for India network will be trained to maintain effective hand hygiene habits. This outreach effort will educate children in over 500 classrooms.

Commenting on the campaign, Neeraj Senguttuvan, Head of Marketing (Personal Care), Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), said, “Global Handwashing Day is a perfect reminder that good hygiene remains as important as ever, even though life has returned to normal post-Covid. With Godrej Magic Handwash, we are not just offering a product, we are promoting a shift in mindset. It’s about ensuring cleanliness is complete, every single time. As India’s first powder-to-liquid handwash, Godrej Magic is driving innovation, making proper hygiene simple, affordable for as low as INR 10 and an integral part of our daily routine.”

Sujit Patil, Chief Communications Officer, Godrej Industries Group, added, “Godrej L’Affaire, Godrej Industries Group’s owned media platform was conceptualised to trigger meaningful conversations around nuances of lifestyle. Hygiene and well-being are important aspects of personal lifestyle. Based on an insight that the seriousness of handwashing has dwindled post return to normalcy from COVID-19, we thought it is appropriate to bring the principles of effective hand washing to the fore.  Through this campaign to commemorate the Global Handwashing Day, we aim to remind people that good hand hygiene is non-negotiable and an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and can help live a full life.”

To boost the initiative's digital reach, the brand has engaged over 50 content creators, including doctors, parenting experts, and stand-up comedians. Additionally, Godrej Magic will further promote the campaign through a variety of media partnerships.

In a post-pandemic world, where it’s easy to let basic habits slide, proper handwashing is one of the simplest yet most important steps we can sustain to protect ourselves. Washing both hands isn't just about cleanliness—it's about living fully, safely, and responsibly. Godrej Magic Handwash invite everyone to reflect on their hand hygiene habits. Handwashing isn’t just a task—it’s a daily act of self-care.

Link to the Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2HdPmnZIn8

New communications application includes multi-channel capabilities, real-time monitoring and data loss prevention to help enterprises in India enhance their stakeholder communications

Airtel Business, the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel ̶  one of India's leading telecommunications service providers  ̶  and Vonage,a global leader in cloud communications that helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation and a part of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), have partnered to launch Airtel IQ Business Connect  ̶  a device-agnostic, unified business communications application that will help enterprises in India to simplify their customer engagement.

Airtel IQ Business Connect is a customised multi-channel unified communications application that will enable businesses to enrich their customer experiences by maintaining consistent, long-lasting customer engagement while also overcoming challenges of data loss that can arise during employee transitions or attrition. With the new application, new employees will be equipped to seamlessly maintain continuity in customer communications across a range of devices including mobile phones, tablets and laptops, through a single interface, ensuring strong customer loyalty and stickiness. Enterprises can effortlessly adopt the application without the need for any additional hardware investments.

Abhishek Biswal, Chief Business Officer – Digital Products & Services, Airtel Business, said, “We are delighted to partner with Vonage and launch ‘Airtel IQ Business Connect’ – a next-gen technology application. Businesses today are looking for a compliance-adhering, unified communications application to ensure smooth customer communications. Airtel IQ Business Connect will fill this gap by offering enterprises a device-agnostic, real-time monitoring application that can host multiple channels to drive improved business communication and productivity”.

Reggie Scales, Head of Applications at Vonage,commented, “We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with Airtel Business to power new unified communications capabilities for enterprises in India, a key strategic growth market for Vonage. In today's dynamic business environment, effective communication and collaboration are essential. With the power of Vonage’s Unified Communications as a Service capabilities, coupled with Airtel’s secure and reliable network, businesses in India will be able to enjoy a multi-channel approach to communications that combines voice and messaging, enabling consumers to connect and collaborate with brands from anywhere and across any channel.”

Airtel IQ Business Connect, powered by Vonage, is a part of Airtel Business’s cloud communications offering – Airtel IQ. The application will enable enterprises in India to empower all their employees, including their hybrid workforce, as well as personnel such as relationship managers, field force and others, to seamlessly communicate with their stakeholders 24X7, thereby enabling enhanced customer engagement.

Airtel IQ is an omni-channel cloud communications platform that unifies cloud communications and customer experience management to enable brands to engage with their customers across voice and WhatsApp channels. Airtel is the first telecom company in the world that serves as a Business Service Provider (BSP) for WhatsApp. More details can be found here: www.airtel.in/business/b2b/airtel-iq.

Airtel Business is a leading provider of integrated communications solutions in India. With a wide gamut of end-to-end solutions spanning cellular IoT, connectivity, cloud, data centre, cyber security and cloud-based communications, the company’s offerings are engineered to deliver high-speed connectivity, unparalleled wide coverage and scalable bandwidth to customers across enterprises, governments, carriers and small and medium businesses (SMBs). For more details, visit www.airtel.in/business.

This collaboration strengthens Vonage’s presence and commitment to driving innovation in India. With a Research and Development (R&D) Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the heart of India’s high-tech industry, Vonage has a large R&D team in the region focused on building new features across Vonage’s portfolio of business communications solutions.

To find out more about Vonage, visit www.vonage.com. To learn more about Bharti Airtel, visit www.airtel.in.

●        The project aims to uplift 800 small and marginal tribal farmers from 8 villages in Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh.

●        Aims to double the baseline income of farmers through high-value crop cultivation.

●        A women-run pulses unit, managed by local SHGs, will foster economic independence and leadership.

●        Allied activities initiatives such as solar irrigation unit plus and watershed development to promote micro-irrigation techniques.

YES SECURITIES, a leading financial services firm,has laid the groundwork for a pulses unitthrough its implementing partner – YES FOUNDATION in Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, as part of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. This project will benefit 800 small and marginal tribal farmers from 8 villages, focusing on rural development, sustainable farming, and empowering women self-help groups (SHGs) to enhance livelihoods and foster long-term agricultural sustainability. It also aims to double the annual baseline income for participating farmers through high-value crop cultivation.

In addition to the pulses unit, YES SECURITIES has expanded its Solar Irrigation Unit Plus to improve access to sustainable farming practices and irrigation solutions. The CSR initiative seeks to promote high-value agriculture, introducing farmers to climate-resilient crops such as creeper and non-creeper vegetables, as well as cereal and pulses cultivation.

The project focuses on improving farm productivity and sustainability through several key interventions. These include raising awareness, providing orientation, and training farmers on climate-resilient practices, along with capacity building. High-value crops such as creeper and non-creeper vegetables are introduced, accompanied by technical knowledge on Package of Practices. Productivity enhancement is targeted through the cultivation of cereals, minor millets, and pulses, while irrigation resources are developed through well repair, deepening, and strengthening, alongside the promotion of micro-irrigation techniques.

Mr. Anshul Arzare, MD & CEO, YES SECURITIES said “We are committed to driving meaningful change in rural communities by empowering women and promoting sustainable farming practices,” Further he added, “Through initiatives like the Solar Irrigation Unit Plus and the women-led pulses unit, we aim to address key challenges such as income instability and climate resilience, ensuring long-term prosperity for farmers in Barwani.”

This initiative is the empowerment of rural women through the establishment of the pulses unit, which will be operated by local women SHGs. This step not only fosters financial independence but also encourages active participation in high-value agriculture, offering new economic opportunities for women in the region.

Through its ongoing CSR efforts, YES SECURITIES continues to play a crucial role in fostering inclusive and sustainable development, ensuring that communities in rural Madhya Pradesh can thrive economically and socially. 

Central coordinator Sri Balayya, Andhra Pradesh president Sri B. Paramyothy, and Telangana president Sri Manda Prabhakar participated in this meeting.

·         Ambuja Cements’ model Anganwadi at Gee Saidpur aims to enhance early childhood education with vibrant BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) infrastructure and promote community health.

·         Model Anganwadi at Gee Saidpur in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand is the fourth such facility established by Ambuja Cements in the region, following similar initiatives in Daudbasi, Chhapur, and Lavva villages.

Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Group, is committed to providing high-quality education for all. Through CSR efforts, the Company has inaugurated a model Anganwadi in Gee Saidpur of Haridwar district near Ambuja Cements Roorkee. This initiative has been designed to support early childhood education and community health by offering a vibrant, safe learning environment for children.

The newly inaugurated model Anganwadi in Gee Saidpur boasts of vibrant BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) murals that promote learning through visuals, while informative boards on education and health provide valuable information for children and the community. Comfortable benches and desks at the facility ensure a conducive learning environment, while comprehensive measurement equipment including weighing scales, infant meters, and mid-upper-arm circumference measuring tapes are available for accurate assessment of children’s growth.

The Anganwadi also features a dedicated nutrition knowledge centre where the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and Community Health Officers conduct regular health screenings for community members, promoting well-being and preventive healthcare. Engaging monthly activities like birthday celebrations, Annaprashan, and Godh Bharai are conducted as per ICDS guidelines, fostering social interaction and cultural understanding. The Anganwadi also provides support for water and sanitation facilities, ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for the children.

Ambuja Cements has a long-standing commitment to community development, having previously established model such Anganwadis in Daudbasi, Chhapur, and Lavva villages in the region. This fourth Anganwadi further reinforces Ambuja Cements’ dedication to creating a brighter future for children, significantly impacting lives of rural families by enhancing community infrastructure and focusing on both education and health.