Indian Young Adults at High Risk of Reproductive Illnesses: MediAngels

September 1, 2015, 5:10 am

≫ Next: India, Pakistan and UK Students Collaborate to Design Sustainable Ventures on Women Safety at the International Social Innovation Challenge

Business Wire IndiaMediAngels.com - the World’s First Online Hospital, today published findings of a study on reproductive health amongst Indian adolescents and found an alarming 4.9 per cent rise in sexually transmitted infections, just in the last four years. This is particularly worrisome, as our country has the highest world-over youth population (over 356 million individuals in the age group of 10-24 years), who run a grave risk of contracting STDs. In fact, the study estimated that one out of every three individuals (31 per cent), suffering from AIDS in India - is an adolescent.

The study was conducted amongst 21467 individuals, half of them from the top ten cities as and the other half belonging to small towns of the country. The main objective was to determine indicators and drivers of sexuality and STDs amongst urban young adults; the first and most crucial step in resolving the age-old taboo around them.

The study clarified that individuals are increasingly exposed to sexual experiences at an early age. In the ages 10-24, over 6.5 per cent boys and over 1.3 per cent girls reported to have had intercourse at least once. It was also found that the average age of such sexual contact was low at 13.72 years for girls and 14.09 years for boys. The average age for first intercourse was 15.25 years for boys and 16.66 years for girls.

“People are becoming sexually active at a younger age. In the earlier days, the age at which people got married was 14-15 or at the most 18-19 years. At that time, there was nothing to stimulate their sexual desires; no television or internet. However now, the average marrying age is higher – maybe around 30 years. Therefore, people indulge in sex at an earlier age, to experiment. Also, at the age of 13-15 years release of sexual hormones such as Testosterone develops attraction amongst individuals for the opposite sex,” says Dr. Paras Shah, a well-known Sexologist & a Panel Specialist on MediAngels.com.

Experts at MediAngels.com opine that it is time India opens up and reaches out for expert opinion on reproductive well-being. “Reproductive health is unnecessarily made a matter of embarrassment or shame, for a person to disclose a condition or willingly seek medical help,” says Dr. Debraj Shome, Founder, MediAngels.com & a reputed Facial Plastic Surgeon. “Since those seeking opinion are so few, even doctors don’t find a profession in sexology very enticing. Isn’t it strange that in a country that is 1.2 billion strong, and has over 7 lakh qualified doctors – there are less than 1000 sexology experts?” he questions.

The case is worse with youngsters. They hardly approach qualified doctors for help in cases of reproductive wellness, easily assuming that the internet offers good enough information. Over 74.9 per cent respondents admitted that they derived their knowledge from friends, while only about 4.15 per cent of them spoke to their doctors about it. This clearly indicates how sex is often perceived as an activity of excitement and thrill, but sexual health is never a distinct priority.

According to a global WHO finding, over 2.5 million adolescents undergo unsafe abortion procedures, and face the hazard of complication. Even if they escape immediate crises, they face severe, lasting hormonal and gynecological complications. Adolescents also have a 50 per cent higher risk of stillbirths, in comparison to those between the ages 20 and 29 years. Dr. Uma Vaidyanathan, a top Gynecologist & Obstetrician and a Panel Specialist on MediAngels.com, says, “Underage pregnancies are very prevalent these days. Every single day I get to see such patients in my practice. It is extremely unsafe & dangerous. Lot of easy exposure to internet, pornographic websites has led to teenagers indulging in unsafe sex. Also, lack of sexual awareness is contributing to it.

Questioning why, it is that individuals do not approach doctors for sexual health threw light on some interesting points. 51 per cent respondents strongly felt that their doctors and other medical staff would be judgmental or hostile about such an enquiry. 22 per cent presumed that medical procedures weren’t safe, while another 15 per cent had concerns over privacy and confidentiality.

Dr. Sandip Deshpande, a world renowned Sexologist & a Panelist on MediAngels.com & sexologyconsultant.com says, “In the domain of sexual education & health, it is not just sex education; the real key is relationship & sex education. It is important to emphasize on the preventive aspects of sexual awareness that includes relationship & sexual education. As a sexual counselor, I come across teenage pregnancy cases, as my gynecologist friends refer them to me. Teenage pregnancy has a lot of psychological implications on both parents & children. These psychological implications are the most critical part to deal with. I really feel that more of sexual awareness should be created so that such cases can be avoided.”

Meeting the need of the hour and to enable access to unbiased, non-judgmental and trustworthy expert medical opinion on sexual health and wellness, MediAngels.com has launched a dedicated website called www.SexologyConsultant.com. “This data is very interesting. It demonstrates that the average Indian is becoming more experimental with sexuality. So, on one hand, more people are having sex early and on the other, we in India are reticent to talk about it, discuss it, educate our youth about it and seek professional guidance on it. Sex remains a taboo topic amongst Indians. That is where we have to be discerning. We have to find mechanisms to educate our youth about safe sexual practices. The internet and online sexology consultants with the best sexologists can achieve just that - The best knowledge from the best doctors, in the privacy of your home!” says Dr. Shome.

“Also, if we don't take care, the combination of increased and early sexual experimentation and decreased awareness and knowledge, could have us sitting on a volcano of underage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS. We must admit that our youngsters are trying to gain sexual knowledge from internet pornography – which is highly inappropriate and very easily misleads them. That doesn’t mean we do not provide any education at all. The government needs to recognize that we need more sexual education and not less, to keep our country safe from the perils of the sexual explosion we are seeing,” he adds.

About MediAngels.com

MediAngels.com is the world’s first online hospital. With a network of over 350 medical experts handpicked from across the world, MediAngels.com delivers quality healthcare and second opinion at the click of a button. The platform offers patients access to qualified, trustworthy super-specialists for any ailment, anytime of the day in the comfort of home, securely. MediAngels.com constantly enriches patient’s experience as a healthcare consumer by adopting new and innovative technologies.Www.MediAngels.com is an online consultation and medical second opinion provider, funded by top venture capital firms and the Government of India. MediAngels also runs a website dedicated to online sexology consultations with the best sexologists in the world, www.sexologyconsultant.com

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India, Pakistan and UK Students Collaborate to Design Sustainable Ventures on Women Safety at the International Social Innovation Challenge

September 2, 2015, 5:17 am

≫ Next: Education Dept., Govt. of Bihar and Wadhwani Foundations Announce Successful Completion of First Year Pilot on Community Colleges

≪ Previous: Indian Young Adults at High Risk of Reproductive Illnesses: MediAngels

Business Wire IndiaThe Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at O.P. Jindal Global University recently hosted, the International Social Innovation Challenge (ISIC-15), designed around the theme of ‘Empowering Women through Safer Communities.’ This first of kind “collab-etition” format consisted of students from three different universities – O.P Jindal Global University (Jindal Global Law School), The University of Southampton and the Lahore University of Management Sciences. The students navigated their cultural, ideological and disciplinary differences to come up with innovative ideas for sustainable social enterprises. After an intense competitive pitch on the last day, one of the teams emerged victorious. The winning team and their venture, ‘Sashakta’ will receive free support from a leading crowdfunding platform in the UK and undergo incubation from all three partner Universities for the fruition of their social enterprise.

Prof. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University while addressing the students at the challenge emphasized on the need for greater collaboration across the globe, he said “It is a novel idea to get the youth of three countries Indian, Pakistan and UK to work toward designing sustainable ventures on women’s safety at the International Social Innovation Challenge. Forums such as ISIC-15 allow students to discover in an experiential way, that as future global leaders they will have to find local solutions to global problems and understand local perspectives and challenges to address global issues. We at JGU have worked since inception to collaborate with over 100 institutes in 34 countries with the belief that it is this global exposure which will instill in our students global values to become global leaders of tomorrow who can think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to pressing global issues.”

The event cultivated a powerful narrative of global collaboration and challenging assumptions. Jeremy Wade, Associate Director, Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at O.P. Jindal Global University, said: “it was inspiring to witness students from such different backgrounds come together so effectively to tackle a global social problem. As a 21st century global community, we are facing a range of complex and unprecedented problems. This experience leaves me feeling more optimistic about the potential for the next generation of leaders to tackle these problems with creative solutions.”

The format of the challenge was a carefully thought out three-fold approach – to understand, to design, and to deliver a sustainable solution to the global social challenge of empowering women through safer communities.

Upon arrival the students from the three universities were divided into five international teams which then underwent 10 days of skill focused workshops to facilitate the creation of sustainable social enterprises. Workshops were conducted by the University of Southampton staff - Dr. Pathik Pathak, Josie Francis and Roxanne Persaud - who led students through the process of design thinking, prototyping and digital dimensions on social innovation. From the Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (JSiE), Jeremy Wade and Rohini Sen led workshops on the business model canvas and community engagement. Rahul Nainwal, Founder of UnLtd Delhi (a partner organization), delivered workshops on the theory of change and the ideation process. Another primary partner for this event, British Council India, organized a roundtable discussion with experts in areas of women empowerment followed by female-driven cab rides across Delhi to meet the management team at the social enterprise, Sakha Consulting Wings Pvt. Ltd.

Each team was designed to work collaboratively with students from each of the three countries, as opposed to the formation of competing country teams. This led to the creation of bonds and collaborations that truly transcend borders. “What I discovered is that the hostility between Indians and Pakistanis is based on perceptions based on stereotypes and generalizations. This experience allowed us to break these stereotypes. We all got along amazingly.” says Zoya Asad, student from Lahore University of Management Sciences. Zoya’s sentiments were echoed by Alex Dawson, a recent graduate of the University of Southampton who said: “The highlight of the programme for me was watching the Indian and Pakistani students working together.”

The organizers of ISIC-15 see this model of global collaboration, skill- based training, and local community engagement as key to equipping students with tools required to tackle 21st century challenges.

The last night of ISIC-15 was eventful in the truest sense. The final award ceremony was followed by a dinner where the participants bid each other goodbye with promises of sustainable ventures and friendships. Rachit Shrivastav, a final year student at Jindal Global Law School and also a member of the winning team said “I had never considered the idea of starting my own startup before ISIC-15, now I am convinced that is what I want to do after graduating.” Rachit’s words perhaps best sum up the vision of ISIC-15 and motivate us to discover our inner social innovators and entrepreneurs, outside the cliché of higher education in India.

Photo Caption: Participants of ISIC 2015

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Education Dept., Govt. of Bihar and Wadhwani Foundations Announce Successful Completion of First Year Pilot on Community Colleges

September 2, 2015, 11:49 pm

≫ Next: Education on Wheels - Syed Sallauddin Pasha Launches an Innovative Programme for Students on the Eve of Teachers Day

≪ Previous: India, Pakistan and UK Students Collaborate to Design Sustainable Ventures on Women Safety at the International Social Innovation Challenge

Business Wire India

Reputed hiring companies from diverse sectors like Automobiles, Health Care, Fashion House/Boutique, Retail, Food Processing and Telecommunication

Aryabhatta Knowledge University (the umbrella University for All community colleges of Bihar as designated by Education Dept., Govt. of Bihar) and Wadhwani Foundations recently announced the successful one year culmination of a pilot on community colleges under the UGC and Govt. of Bihar [GoB] led skill development program in the State. Wadhwani Foundations’ Skills Development Network (SDN) has partnered with Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) as program management and technical support partner and this initiative recently culminated in successful placements of around 70 % of the students trained and passed under this program.

This recently concluded placement drive at community colleges witnessed participation of companies from diverse sectors. 140 students got placement across the state in various industries/ organizations like Big Bazar, Pantaloons, Godrej, V Mart, Sangath (NGO working on adolescent health in partnership with United Nation’s Family Planning Association), nursing homes and clinics, automobile workshops, mobile workshops, food processing units, Mannat Boutique, Planet Fashion and so on. The salary ranged from Rs 6000/- to Rs 12000/- with some additional perks.

Congratulating the successfully placed students Dr. A. K. Agarwal, Vice Chancellor – Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna said, “The Community Colleges of Bihar in a short span of time have been doing wonderfully well and have performed above our expectations. The credit goes to our expert partner in this field, Wadhwani Foundations whose members have been working hard along with the University to make this program a success. There is always scope for improvement and we will continue to do better with the support of Wadhwani Foundations. The Community Colleges are also helping in producing good citizens equipped with life skills, which is necessary to improve the society as a whole. My good wishes are with the program.”

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has announced programs to mainstream skilling in high schools (HS) and additionally setup community colleges (CC) to train millions of post-secondary students to become knowledge workers for a global economy. These industry-inked, job-training programs are supported by the Government approved National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). MHRD has piloted such 200 Community Colleges across the country and Bihar was the first state to roll out the program successfully in 11 Colleges.

Commenting on the community college program in Bihar, Manish Mohan, Executive Vice President, Skills Development Network (SDN), Wadhwani Foundations said, “Wadhwani Foundations’ Skills Development Network is supporting Government’s skilling initiatives by doing program management and providing technical support with an aim to maximize job creation efforts. Despite having immense human resource potential, Bihar urgently needs skilled work force. Our partnership with Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), Patna is now more than a year old and we have worked together to provide skills training integrated with higher education for building a skilled work force in Bihar, which is both employable and entrepreneurial in nature. I am delighted that our partnership with AKU has been extended for another two years. This will go a long way towards strengthening the skills and business ecosystem of Bihar.”

The community colleges aim to mainstream skills into higher education by providing 6 -24 months duration programs, thereby enhancing vertical mobility for students graduating from class XII and aspiring to pursue a degree program. SDN helped in drafting a community college scheme with MHRD/UGC and hosted a committee of state education ministers to U.S Community Colleges. This led to a MHRD funded pilot of 200 Community Colleges in 2012-13. UGC has also funded 267 Community Colleges and 127Colleges for B.Voc. SDN is currently supporting 18 community colleges across Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The Community College of Patna Women’s College, which was formally inaugurated on 4^th October 2013, saw encouraging placements. Even before appearing in their examinations and getting a diploma, 11 students of Healthcare and 4 students of Retail domains found placements. Dr. Sister Marie Jessie A.C., Principal – Community College, Patna Women’s College, Patna says, "One significant achievement of the College was signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wadhwani Foundations with the purpose to strengthen the learning process, create a link between the college and stakeholders in the community and to search for new local partners for the college to help in the employment of students. I hope that in the next session new developments will take place and a larger number of students will build their capacity to get respectable job and position in the society."

This successful community college pilot in Bihar has reaffirmed their proposed status as alternative and innovative system of holistic skills integrated education aimed towards gainful employment in collaboration with the local industry. However, in order to further develop the community college ecosystem in India, we will need to strengthen access to skills, develop flexibility in curriculum and teaching methodology, increase collaboration with industrial, commercial and service sectors of local areas and respond to the social needs and issues of the local community through job placements within the local area/promotion of self employment and small business development.

About Wadhwani Foundations:

Founded in 2000 by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, the Foundations’ primary mission is economic acceleration in emerging economies. With large-scale education led initiatives driving skill development and job creation, the Foundations have launched five high impact education, training and research focused Initiatives in India, some of which are replicated in US, South East Asia and will soon be replicated in Africa and South America.

To leverage entrepreneurship as a catalyst for job creation, Wadhwani Foundations established the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) in 2003. NEN inspires, educates and supports emerging entrepreneurs. Since inception, NEN has resulted in 2,000 new start-ups with 12,000+ direct and 50,000+ indirect jobs, and is now tracking 1,500+ new companies each year. For skilling, vocational education and training led job fulfillment, Wadhwani Foundations have set up the Skills Development Network (SDN) which supports multiple high school, college and employer initiatives for entry level mid-skill jobs through a digital/video curricula and pedagogy.

Opportunity Network for Disabled (OND) is aimed at mainstreaming the educated disabled into sustainable high quality corporate jobs through a business value proposition. Research and Innovation Network (RIN) aims to upgrade India’s research eco-system by catalyzing ‘Centers of Innovations’ in partnership with existing research Institutes. Policy Research Centre provides data driven research inputs for informed policy actions towards creating an education led human-capital driven growth economy. Wadhwani Chair on US-India policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, D.C, aims to accelerate India-U.S economic activities primarily through channels of skilling and education.

Photo Caption: Community College students in Bihar

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Education on Wheels - Syed Sallauddin Pasha Launches an Innovative Programme for Students on the Eve of Teachers Day

September 4, 2015, 4:51 am

≫ Next: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Inaugurates Grameen Koota's New Corporate Office in Bangalore

≪ Previous: Education Dept., Govt. of Bihar and Wadhwani Foundations Announce Successful Completion of First Year Pilot on Community Colleges

Business Wire IndiaAfter contributing thirty years of extensive service to the community, Dr. Syed Sallauddin Pasha launches Education on Wheels, an exclusive programme for education institutions nurturing the young citizens of India. This programme is an attempt to help understand the Guru-Shishya Parampara which seems to be losing value in today’s world of education.

Syed Sallauddin Pasha Training Differently Abled Student

EDUCATION ON WHEELS by the specially-challenged artistes is aimed at recognizing, nurturing and enabling the hidden potential of each student. Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha’s efforts to showcase indomitable spirit of differently-abled artistes’ performances and their creative talent in bringing out attitudinal change in the students mind. This is world’s first and historic unique programme in Sensitizing, Empowering, Educating, Motivating and Entertaining. This Programme on wheelchairs plays a vital role in awakening the inner self and instilling a positive attitude in each student to achieve greater heights.

This special programme has the potential to ignite passion for creative excellence in the able-bodied child and youngster and to make full use of their potential and capabilities. Today's children are tomorrow's leaders. ‘Seeing is believing’ these ingeniously conceived and beautifully crafted wheelchair programme will instill respect for the Guru. The Advayataraka Upanishad says ‘The syllable gu means darkness, the syllable ru, he who dispels them, Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named.’

One must organise this program as it not only brings out the educational values but also awakens the inner powers of a human being and prepare them to become responsible adults.

To Organise Education on wheels program for your educational institutions please write to us support@abilityunlimited.com
or call us on +91-9811340308/ 9953747398

Photo Caption: Syed Sallauddin Pasha Training Differently Abled Student

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Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Inaugurates Grameen Koota's New Corporate Office in Bangalore

September 7, 2015, 5:22 am

≫ Next: Neptune Group Supplementing Patients with HIV+ Nutrition Programme

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Business Wire IndiaWorld-renowned social entrepreneur, founder of Grameen Bank and pioneer of micro-credit, Prof Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the new corporate office of NBFC-MFI Grameen Koota in Jayanagar, Bangalore on Saturday, September 5, 2015.Professor Yunus often referred to as father of micro credit, developed the concept which has enriched millions of poor households around the world with micro credit support. He is widely credited for his work to end poverty through micro-lending and cause-driven businesses in his home country of Bangladesh and throughout the world. The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Yunus and Grameen Bank, a bank Prof Yunus established in 1983 to provide micro-credit in Bangladesh and which is serving 8.5 million poor households today.

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus opened the Grameen Koota new corporate office in Jayanagar, Bangalore on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015.

Founded as an NGO project in 1999 by Vinatha M. Reddy, Grameen Koota caters to the need of micro-credit to the rural poor and low-income households in five states today. Grameen Koota was modeled after taking inspiration from Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank. It has grown largely after its transition into a non-banking financial corporation (NBFC) in 2007-08.

After inaugurating the new corporate office of Grameen Koota, Prof Yunus inscribed on the wall his message: "Keep Changing the world." Later, addressing the employees and management of Grameen Koota, he said: "We have to create a worldwhere we have no poverty, zero poverty as we put poverty in the museum. We will create that. We have to come up with all the ideas to create that. We have a mission to accomplish and togetherwe can make it happen."

In his message to all the microfinance professionals, he said, "Today you have a clear mission in front of you. Make sure you understand it. Within your outline work, you have a bigger mission and work towards achieving that. Make sure your work changes the world."

Earlier, Mrs. Vinatha M Reddy, Chairperson of Grameen Koota, said, “Grameen Koota remains a top quality Microfinance Institution and it is known in the microfinance sector as a socially conscious and client centric organization. Today on the occasion of our new corporate officeinauguration and in your august presence, we reaffirm Grameen Koota's commitment to remain a top quality MFI with high social-focus."

Mr. Suresh K Krishna, Co-Promoter & Director of Grameen Koota, echoed similar views when he thanked Prof Yunus for being Grameen Koota's inspiration and guide. "We always look up to you and Grameen Koota continues to be serving what it stands for."

Mr. Udaya Kumar, Managing Director and CEO of Grameen Koota, recalling that the auspicious occasion also coincided with Teachers' day in India, said: “Today is Teachers' Day and we have our teacher, philosopher, guide, architect and Father of microfinance with us. Team Grameen Koota bows to you with gratitude and re-assure you that we will continue our responsible lending principles and practices with social focus you always taught”

About Grameen Koota Financial Services Pvt Ltd

Bangalore-based NBFC –MFI, Grameen Koota Financial Services Pvt Ltd (Grameen Koota) with 286branches spread across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, reached one million customers with a portfolio of Rs.1,602 crore as of 30th June 2015.

Grameen Koota is one of the 5 financial institutions in the world and one of the 3 microfinance institutions (MFI) in India to have been honored by Smart Campaign for having met all the client protection principles. It is also one of the few MFIs be awarded with Truelift Certification of ‘Achiever’s level’ and Social Rating of Σα-(alpha- minus) for its commitment on social performance and pro-poor business. Grameen Koota is one among the few with a top grade of ‘mfR1’ by CRISIL for its Quality and high Credit rating of ‘A-‘ by ICRA among MFIs in India.

Grameen Koota has been working with Joint Liability Groups formed exclusively of women belonging to poor and low income households by providing them with financial literacy and diverse credit products catering all life-cycle needs such as income generation and access to water, sanitation, education, health care, home repairs, emergency, energy efficient cook stove etc. It gives its clients the option to repay weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on their cash flow and convenience. Grameen Koota’s social awareness campaign ‘Jagruti’ has become an important source of information across its customers over period of time.

More information: www.gfspl.in

Photo Caption: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus opened the Grameen Koota new corporate office in Jayanagar, Bangalore on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015.

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Neptune Group Supplementing Patients with HIV+ Nutrition Programme

September 9, 2015, 1:51 am

≫ Next: CA Technologies Releases Latest Sustainability Report

≪ Previous: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Inaugurates Grameen Koota's New Corporate Office in Bangalore

Business Wire IndiaA noble initiative is being undertaken by Neptune Group for the people who are HIV positive. Neptune Foundation has come up with a unique way to support young couples who are suffering from HIV by providing them free of cost nutritional supplements. Neptune Group has named this initiative as the Nutritional Supplement Support Programme which is scheduled for 12^th September.

Neptune Group Nutritional Supplement support Programme

Nutritional Supplement Support Programme will provide nutritional supplements to young couples who have an HIV infection. The programme will provide monthly ration along with a protein bottle per couple. These provisions will also be for pregnant women along with patients under ART Treatment from the BMC as on 12^th September, 2015.

The spokesperson for Neptune Developers said, “The attitude of our country towards patients suffering from HIV remains biased. There is more awareness needed on this subject. By organizing the campaign to support patients of HIV, Neptune Group not only aims at the provision of nutritional supplements but we wish to bring about a change in people’s attitude as well.”

Nutritional Supplement Support Programme, also being called HIV+ Nutrition Programme, is scheduled to run from 10 am to 1 pm this Saturday. It will run at BMC Hospital, MG Road, Mulund West.

Donations for the HIV+ Nutrition Programme are open and anybody can donate with a tax benefit of 50%. Donors can also provide monthly rations to patients of HIV by paying a denomination of INR 1,000 with a 50% tax benefit.

The spokesperson of Neptune Developers added, “The programme is receiving great response from people all across the country. People are donating big sums of money and we are overjoyed to witness such an overwhelming response. The list of donors has a big chunk of people who are either related to or know people who are HIV positive. Besides them, we also have many who donate only for philanthropic concerns. Neptune Foundation is really thankful to each one of them.”

Photo Caption: Neptune Group- HIV + Nutrition camp

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CA Technologies Releases Latest Sustainability Report

September 9, 2015, 2:38 am

≫ Next: Catalyst Report Shows Diversity & Inclusion Efforts in India Lack Impact

≪ Previous: Neptune Group Supplementing Patients with HIV+ Nutrition Programme

Business Wire IndiaCA Technologies (NASDAQ:CA) today released its latest sustainability report, outlining how the company is furthering its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. The report was drafted in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Core guidelines and incorporates the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

At CA Technologies, sustainability begins with a strong value system and a principled approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. By incorporating the Global Compact principles into its CSR strategies, policies and procedures, CA has established a culture of integrity and set the stage for long-term success.

“We live in an application economy. With more than 180 billion app downloads expected in 2015, these solutions are rapidly reshaping how we live and work. Face-to-face communication with a brand is giving way to interactions through our devices. This new world needs, and people increasingly expect, products that are built with sustainability in mind,” says Erica Christensen, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, CA Technologies. “CA continues to pursue new discoveries that advance sustainability for the company, our customers and the communities we serve.”

Report highlights include:

Green Building/Leases—In 2014, CA increased its green office space by 55,000 square feet, totaling 470,000 square feet since 2012.

Operational Efficiency—Operational improvements, including lighting reductions, smart-spacing facilities and implementing efficiencies in data centers, have enabled CA to reduce its GHG emissions by 7.7 percent in 2014.

External Recognition—CA was named to the World and North America Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, as well as to the 2014 Global Compact 100 Index, a global stock index that combines corporate performance on environmental, social and governance issues with a requirement for consistent baseline profitability.

EPA ENERGY STAR^®—CA’s Framingham, MA and Islandia, NY, facilities were awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR certification for their efforts to reduce energy consumption, improve energy security and reduce pollution by promoting products and maintaining buildings that meet the highest energy-efficiency standards.

Employees Giving Back—In FY2015, the company matched more than $1.3 million in employee donations to more than 1,500 nonprofits. In addition to CA Together in Action, the company’s worldwide employee volunteer month in October, and an annual Green Week of activities in April to celebrate Earth Day, employees are able to use up to three workdays each year to give back.

Inclusion and Diversity—CA’s THRIVE program helps create an inclusive and flexible workplace by attracting, nurturing and retaining a diverse workforce. In the company’s most recent Employee Opinion Survey, 87 percent of respondents said CA fosters an environment where people with diverse backgrounds can succeed.

STEM Education—CA supports science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs tailored to different grade levels and age groups, helping to build the STEM pipeline at every age of schooling. This includes partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Citizen Schools, DonorsChoose.org, IT-oLogy and PENCIL, which are encouraging Pre-K–12 students to discover an interest in technology education and careers. CA also supports post–high school programs through partnerships with the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, NPower and Year Up, and works with the Clinton Global Initiative, Change the Equation and 100Kin10 to engage with others focused on the advancement of STEM learning.

Stakeholder Engagement—CA continues to be involved with the UN Global Compact, Ceres and its advocacy coalition, BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy). Both the UN Global Compact and Ceres enable CA to increase its interactions with a network of companies, investors, environmental organizations, public interest groups and governments that seek to address sustainability challenges.

About CA Technologies

CA Technologies (NASDAQ:CA) creates software that fuels transformation for companies and enables them to seize the opportunities of the application economy. Software is at the heart of every business in every industry. From planning, to development, to management and security, CA is working with companies worldwide to change the way we live, transact and communicate—across mobile, private and public cloud, and distributed and mainframe environments. Learn more at www.ca.com.

Legal Notices

Copyright © 2015 CA, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.

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Catalyst Report Shows Diversity & Inclusion Efforts in India Lack Impact

September 9, 2015, 4:33 am

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Business Wire India

Facing a shortage of qualified talent, many leading organizations in India are increasingly tapping women as a source of growth and demonstrating their commitment to attracting, retaining, and advancing women through diversity programs and policies. Yet Catalyst's latest research report, India Inc.: From Intention to Impact, reveals that those well-intended corporate initiatives are not fully achieving the desired goal of creating more inclusive workplaces for women. Launching today at Catalyst’s D&I Logues event in Mumbai, where Catalyst’s IndiaLogues Task Force for change will be announced, the report is a call to action for Indian business leaders, offering concrete ways to accelerate progress.

Though companies are making effortsto spearhead change for women, Catalyst’s research with India-headquartered and subsidiary companies indicates that:

Men are three times more likely, on average, to be hired and promoted than women at every level
Executive-level women leave at a rate (28%) double that of their representation (14%). This rate of attrition is higher than that of any other level
While 88% of the organizations surveyed offer leadership training, and 80% of those organizations track overall participation among them, only three of the India-headquartered organizations participating in the study offer women-targeted leadership training programs, compared to 20 (74%) of India subsidiary companies. Moreover, just 20% of the organizations with such programs track advancement by gender—despite the fact that the most commonly stated purpose of these programs, especially for women, is advancement
Despite available, and often generous, employee leave offerings, nearly half the organizations do not offer any family care support options (48%) and lack a formal and standardized approach (41%) to determining fair and appropriate performance reviews for employees who return after taking leave

Catalyst’s report identifies important opportunities and success strategies for helping organizations in India transform good intentions into significant progress.

“Leadership accountability can serve as a game-changer in India Inc. for translating intention into impact,” saysDeborah Gillis, President & CEO, Catalyst. “It is evident that organizations are taking steps toward creating diverse and inclusive workplaces; however, it is also imperative to measure the impact of relevant policies and efforts.”

Catalyst has identified five important areas where organizations in India can build on current efforts to be more inclusive:

Foundational approaches to set the stage for the recruitment, development, and retention of women
Flexible work arrangements and cultures to address socio-cultural barriers
Employee leave and reintegration programs
Leadership development programs to grow all talent
Employee inclusion efforts to promote culture change

“At Catalyst, we see an opportunity in every challenge,” saysShachi Irde, Executive Director, Catalyst India WRC. “The culture of diversity should be woven into every level of an organization, from the executive level, all the way down to the entry level. The strategies in this report outline an unprecedented opportunity for organizations in India to make large-scale change for women and effective progress toward creating inclusive workplaces for all of India.”

Report
Appendix
Infographic: Gender Diversity in India

Learn about being a more inclusive leader by registering for one of our free online edX courses.

Interviews Available.

About Catalyst

Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit organization expanding opportunities for women and business. With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan, and more than 800 member organizations, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work. Catalyst annually honors exemplary organizational initiatives that promote women's advancement with the Catalyst Award.

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Preparing the Next Generation of Veterinarians to Protect Animals in Emergencies

September 13, 2015, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Breaking Africa's Elephants

≪ Previous: Catalyst Report Shows Diversity & Inclusion Efforts in India Lack Impact

Business Wire India45 students from DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (COVAS) recently attended a major Veterinary Emergency Response Unit (VERU) training exercise in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.

Year after year, India continues to be vulnerable to devastating disasters, enduring cyclones, droughts, floods, landslides and earthquakes.

Preparing young veterinarians to protect animals in emergencies

During disasters it is not only people that suffer, animals are often the forgotten victims: thousands lose their lives, and many more are injured and lost. The survival of animals and people are linked: swift action during disasters not only helps animals, it helps the people who depend on them.

During the four-day training workshop, the final year veterinary students learnt different feed, water, safety and security measures for animals during crisis situations. They were trained on animal handling techniques with live demonstrations and practical exercises.

The training session was jointly organized by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and World Animal Protection in association with COVAS. The VERU North Zone faculties, who were trained during the VERU Training of Trainers in May this year, delivered this training to the students.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Dr RK Agnihotri, Dean, DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Palampur said “ The geo-climatic conditions of the region makes it vulnerable to several disasters especially landslides and earthquakes. We are fortunate to have the VERU North Zone unit with us and are thankful to NDMA and World Animal Protection to have taken this initiative.

“This center of excellence will act as a training hub for veterinary students and other humanitarian stakeholders. I wish this course a grand success.”

Also attending the event, Dr KK Katoch, Vice Chancellor, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University said “Disaster Preparedness is the most important phase for effective dealing of any kind of disasters.

“93% of Himachal Pradesh depends on agriculture and livestock for livelihood and therefore it’s important to protect the livestock wealth from disasters. This VERU will help build resilience to protect animals.”

Gajender Sharma, Country Director of World Animal Protection India, said: “The VERU training of veterinary graduates gives specialty training in disaster handling, which helps to better protect both human and animal lives during emergencies.

“Each year, more trained veterinarians join the force to address the needs of animals in future disasters. In the long run as we see, these trained professionals will complement government's initiatives and help bridge the gaps in the disaster management cycle.”

World Animal Protection works around the world to protect animals, whenever and wherever disasters happen. World Animal Protection has saved over 3 million animals in disasters over the last 50 years. We work with people, communities and governments to prepare for disasters and protect their animals in times of crisis.

Photo Caption: Preparing young veterinarians to protect animals in emergencies

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Breaking Africa's Elephants

September 14, 2015, 9:30 pm

≫ Next: Over 100,000 Citizens of Delhi/NCR Come Together on LocalCircles for Blood Assistance of Dengue Victims

≪ Previous: Preparing the Next Generation of Veterinarians to Protect Animals in Emergencies

Business Wire IndiaThe appalling cruelty inflicted upon Asian elephants used for tourist rides is now spreading throughout southern Africa, reveals World Animal Protection in a report launching today (Tuesday, 15 September).

Elephants at dawn in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. World Animal Protection believes that wild animals should be left in the wild and not used for our entertainment

The report highlights the rise of elephant rides in southern Africa; a tourist attraction that is already well established in parts of Asia.

Elephant rides are a popular and lucrative tourist activity, but behind the scenes the animals are taken from their mothers, their spirit is broken, and they endure cruel and stressful ‘training’ to make them tolerate being ridden. If not addressed urgently hundreds more African elephants could face a lifetime of cruel confinement, beatings and other harsh treatment, all for tourist entertainment.

The current situation in Africa:

The first tourist elephant rides in Africa started almost 20 years ago
There are now at least 36 commercial elephant venues, holding 215 captive elephants, operating across Southern Africa
Most parks are in South Africa, where at least 126 captive elephants are held in at least 22 different venues
A further 47 are held in seven elephant parks across Zimbabwe, 13 in two venues in Zambia and 11 elephants in two venues in Botswana.

The numbers of wild elephants have increased since the beginning of the 20^th century. However, the poaching of elephants to meet the growing tourist demand, in addition to poaching for ivory, could put them under even more strain.

Gajender Sharma, Country Director at World Animal Protection India says: “African elephants are the biggest land animals in the world and many tourists want to see them. But the spread of elephant rides for tourists is putting them under more strain. More calves are being taken from the wild, away from their mothers to be sold and cruelly trained and abused for the tourism industry.

“We’re asking tour operators to sign our Elephant-Friendly Tourist Pledge, and to stop selling elephant rides and shows. We’re exposing the cruelty behind the scenes of elephant rides in Africa so that tourists who love animals, choose to not ride elephants and see them in the wild. By taking action now, we can put a stop to tourist elephant cruelty in Africa before it’s too late.”

World Animal Protection has been working hard to end the appalling suffering of elephants involved in the riding industry because it’s Wildlife. Not Entertainers.

Photo Caption:Elephants at dawn in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. World Animal Protection believes that wild animals should be left in the wild and not used for our entertainment

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Over 100,000 Citizens of Delhi/NCR Come Together on LocalCircles for Blood Assistance of Dengue Victims

September 15, 2015, 11:08 pm

≫ Next: Mindshare, Pepsico Lead The Race at The SMARTIES™ India Awards 2015

≪ Previous: Breaking Africa's Elephants

Business Wire India

Blood platelets needs being met every day for Dengue patients
Dengue caregivers can access and seek blood or platelet assistance on Local Circles
Dengue victims can find a Blood Donor in local area within a couple of hours

LocalCircles (https://www.localcircles.com), India’s leading Citizen Engagement platform today announced that over 100,000 blood donors of Delhi/NCR are now connected via its circle Find/Donate Blood in Delhi/NCR.

This largest local online Blood community in the world is being used for Blood platelets as demand has soared in the last couple of months due to the rise of Dengue cases in Delhi/NCR. The circle has consistently been assisting with needs every day. Caregivers can seek blood donors near the location of hospital or nursing home and find assistance within a couple of hours. The LocalCircles members or their families can also post the need in their colony/sector circles and find assistance from within the neighborhood. Many critical cases where platelet count has dipped below 10,000 have been responded to within minutes by the members of the community.

The community for blood donors started exactly two years ago in association with Rotary Blood Bank. It is being used extensively by community members and as Dengue is reaching an epidemic proportion we need people to know that help is at hand. The need for a Dengue victim cannot be easily met through the network of family and friends. But on LocalCircles, it is heartening to see people, unknown to each other, assisting each other and Dengue patients across Delhi/NCR and responding to such Blood needs within a few minutes to a few hours.

All citizens of Delhi/NCR who may need Blood assistance or anyone who believes in the cause of saving lives can join the circle through the direct link: http://tinyurl.com/Find-Blood-DelhiNCR via their computer or phone web browser. Alternatively, citizens can download the LocalCircles mobile app (Android and iOS) or visit http://www.localcircles.com from their smartphone/tablet and use the invitation code: BLOOD when signing up.

Once a member, seeking Blood Assistance can be done with a Regular or Emergency post based on the nature of the Blood need. Citizens can also post their requirement for blood in areas they live in or where the dengue patient is hospitalized. Sometimes it is difficult to find donors in hospitals or areas where the patient is hospitalized in and friends and family are not enough. Therefore the community can help in these times of distress.

About Find/Donate Blood in Delhi/NCR Circle

The Find/Donate Blood in Delhi/NCR circle is the largest online community of Delhi/NCR to find Blood Assistance. With over 100,000 committed Blood Donors, the circle enables any citizen of Delhi/NCR to find a Blood Donor within a few minutes to few hours. The circle has donated blood for over 1200 emergency needs since its inception and assisted in many life-saving cases. The circle is a shining example of the strength of community and technology when combined together for social good.

About LocalCircles

LocalCircles takes Social Media to the next level and makes it about Communities, Governance and Utility. It enables citizens to connect with communities for most aspects of urban daily life like Neighborhood, Constituency, City, Government, Causes, Interests and Needs, seek information/assistance when needed, come together for various initiatives and improve their urban daily life. LocalCircles is free for citizens and always will be!

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Mindshare, Pepsico Lead The Race at The SMARTIES™ India Awards 2015

September 17, 2015, 12:43 am

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Business Wire India

The Mobile Marketing Association Forum (MMAF) Delhi 2015, came to a close with the announcement of the SMARTIES™ India 2015 awards. Gold, Silver, and Bronze award winners were announced in 15 categories ranging from Brand Awareness to Cross Media Integration amidst a fun-filled evening hosted by stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant at The Leela Ambience Gurgaon Hotel and Residences in Gurgaon, India. In addition to the category awards, the SMARTIES™ India 2015 also introduced the Blue industry awards that included Agency of the Year in Mobile, Marketer of the Year in Mobile, Publisher/Media of the Year in Mobile, Enabling Technology Company of the Year in Mobile and Best in show titles.

Mindshare and PepsiCo were the big winners for the night. Mindshare led the race with 4 Golds winning the Agency of the Year in Mobile Award while PepsiCo was chosen as the Marketer of the Year in Mobile. The other winners for the night included Facebook as the Publisher/Media of the Year in Mobile, Paytm as the Enabling Technology Company of the Year in Mobile and the Best in Show award was shared by Red Fuse Communications for their campaign ‘Spreading a Million Smiles with a Mobile’ and Mindshare India for ‘Lays hid the Treasure Hunt inside Google Maps’.

The SMARTIES™ is the world’s only global mobile marketing awards program that honours innovation, creativity and success in the field of mobile marketing. This year an ‘all-Brand Jury’, led by Jury Chairperson D Shivakumar, Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd, and consisting of other celebrated marketers in India, evaluated the campaigns to shortlist those that showcased the ‘best of the best’ in the industry. Covering everything from brand awareness to innovation, video/rich media and social media, the awards celebrated the excellent work being done on mobile by both brands and agencies.

Mobile as a media channel offers truly exciting opportunities for consumer engagement. In order to better equip marketers to make mobile work for their brands it is important to understand how to use mobile as a vehicle to deliver a holistic brand experience. For this purpose, the MMA in collaboration with Millward Brown Smarties Knowledge Partner analysed all the entries for the SMARTIES Awards in India to present an insights presentation, to unearth best practices, key mobile trends and establish what sets apart a winning mobile campaign.

“I’d like to congratulate all the award winners. I think I speak not only for myself but also on behalf of the Jury when I say that we were really impressed with the entries this year. They were truly representative of the innovation that drives the mobile marketing industry and great work that's happening across India. We hope to inspire marketers to further push the envelope in their own campaigns and look forward to more innovations and participation in the future.” said Rohit Dadwal, Managing Director, Mobile Marketing Association Asia Pacific.

The Smarties™ India 2015 awards strove to find the best campaigns from across the country while.

The 2015 SMARTIES™ India Blue Industry Awards Winners:

Category	Entry Name
Best In Show	Lay's hid the treasure hunt inside Google Maps for Lay's (PepsiCo)
Best In Show	Spreading a million smiles with a mobile for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd.
Agency of the Year In Mobile	Mindshare
Marketer of the Year In Mobile	PepsiCo & Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd
Publisher/Media of the Year In Mobile	Facebook
Enabling Technology Company of the Year in Mobile	PayTM

The 2015 SMARTIES™ India Awards Winners:

Award Category	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Brand Awareness	Mindshare for Mountain Dew (Pepsico) - Inspiring Rural India with Real Heroes’ Real Stories	PHD India for Hindustan Unilever - Kan Khajura Tesan	Madhouse Mobile Marketing India Pvt Ltd for Vodafone - Vodafone Amplify: An Innovation that turned Onlookers to Curators
Lead Generation / Direct Response / Conversion	Red Fuse Communications for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. - Spreading a million smiles with a mobile	Opera Mediaworks for Getit Infomedia Limited - AskMeBazaar.com
Product/ Service Launch	PHD India for Lakmé ( Hindustan Unilever) Lakme Makeup Pro Performics - TLG India Pvt Ltd for Airtel Wynk - Airtel Wynk Launch		Opera Mediaworks for Getit Infomedia Limited - AskMeBazaar.com
Promotion	Red Fuse Communications for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. - Spreading a million smiles with a mobile	Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd for Hungama - Happy New Year: The Game	PHD India for HUL - Consumer 360 Red Fuse Communications for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. - Spreading a million smiles with a mobile
Relationship Building/ CRM	PHD India for Hindustan Unilever - Kan Khajura Tesan	PHD India for HUL - Consumer 360 Red Fuse Communications for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. - Spreading a million smiles with a mobile
Cross Media Integration / Cross Mobile Integration	Mindshare for McDowell's No.1 Whiskey - TV Makes friendship with mobile	Mindshare for Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) - Inspiring Rural India with Real Heroes' Real Stories	Mindshare World for Kellogg India Pvt Ltd - Kellogg's Mobile Breakfast
Messaging	Quasar Media for Ashiana Housing - Reaching the right audience at the right time through mobile	Red Fuse Communications for Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. - Spreading a million smiles with a mobile
Mobile App	Mindshare India for Lay's (PepsiCo) - Lays hid the treasure hunt inside Google Maps	Mindshare West for Castrol India Pvt. Ltd - India's first Co-Created App
Innovation	Mindshare for McDowell's No.1 Whiskey - TV Makes friendship with mobile	Mindshare India for Lay's (PepsiCo) - Lays hid the treasure hunt inside Google Maps	PHD India for Lakmé ( Hindustan Unilever) Lakme Makeup Pro
Location Based	Mindshare for McDowell's No.1 Whiskey - TV Makes friendship with mobile	Mindshare West for Kellogg India Pvt Ltd - Kellogg's Mobile Breakfast	Mindshare for 7UP (PepsiCo) -7UP used Technology (TemperAd Engine) to REVIVE sweaty India exactly when they were sweating!
Mobile Payments	One97 Communications Ltd. For Paytm
Best Brand Experience in Mobile Rich Media	Mindshare for Nike - How Nike risked everything on Mobile		Mindshare India for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited -Experiencing the "Mix-ability" of Instant Chocolate Horlicks on Your SmartPhone - Shake a Mix!
Most engaging mobile creative	Mindshare India for Lay's (PepsiCo) - Lays hid the treasure hunt inside Google Maps	Mindshare for Nike - How Nike risked everything on Mobile	Mindshare for Lufthansa - How Forbes eMagazine turned into Lufthansa magazine for 4 weeks

The SMARTIES India 2015 were held in partnership with Hotstar -The Smarties India Founding Partners, GOQII - India Gift Partners, Millward Brown – Knowledge Partners, Ngage by Nimbuzz! – India Partners.

About the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA)

The MMA is the world’s leading global non-profit trade mobile marketing association comprised of more than 800 member companies, from nearly fifty countries around the world. Our members hail from every faction of the mobile marketing ecosystem including brand marketers, agencies, mobile technology platforms, media companies, operators and others. The MMA’s mission is to accelerate the transformation and innovation of marketing through mobile, driving business growth with closer and stronger consumer engagement. Anchoring the MMA’s mission are four core pillars; to cultivate inspiration by driving the innovation for the Chief Marketing Officer; to build the mobile marketing capabilities for the marketing organizations through fostering know how and confidence; to champion the effectiveness and impact of mobile through research providing tangible ROI measurement; and advocacy. Additionally MMA industry-wide committees work collaboratively to develop and advocate global best practices and lead standards development.

Mobile Marketing is broadly defined as including advertising, apps, messaging, mCommerce and CRM on all mobile devices including smart phones and tablets. Members include, American Express, AdChina, Colgate - Palmolive, Dunkin’ Brands, Facebook, Google, Group M, Hewlett Packard, Hilton Worldwide, Kellogg Co., L’Oréal, MasterCard, McDonalds, Microsoft, Mondelez International, Inc., Pandora Media, Procter & Gamble, R/GA, The Coca-Cola Company, The Weather Company, Unilever, Visa, Vodafone, Walmart, xAd, Zenith Optimedia and many more.

The MMA’s global headquarters are located in New York with regional operations in Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), Latin American (LATAM) and Asia Pacific (APAC). For more information about the MMA please visit: www.mmaglobal.com

Photo Caption: Smarties Agency of the year in Mobile - Mindshare

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Make a Secure Future with Your Money

September 17, 2015, 11:09 pm

≫ Next: Syed Sallauddin Pasha to Produce and Direct 100 Films on Differently Abled

≪ Previous: Mindshare, Pepsico Lead The Race at The SMARTIES™ India Awards 2015

Business Wire IndiaThe estimated report of migrants working abroad is around 6-7 million. People migrate to different part of countries for better earnings and for better standard of living. Most of them are unskilled laborers from lower class for meeting their family expenditure. There are many emigrant who are highly paid professionals in banking, hospitality sector and construction works also.

Migrants has to safeguard themselves and their family by saving the income or investing in various modes since the risk of losing the employment is more, that may arise from some internal disturbances, that has happened in Syria, Lebanon etc. Many fall prey to various excessive temptations causing further bankruptcy to their present condition. Added to all the temptation is the availability of Credit Cards issued by various banks on apparently simple terms. Migrants who do not have the culture of saving money, spent their money on unnecessary luxuries bringing themselves in debt which should be avoided.

Managing money is an art. Today there are many options available for migrants to save and invest in long term of which foremost is investing in a home in the mother land. All migrants should take a housing loan and buy a house or land and pay back in installments monthly which will work as a monthly compulsory saver. In addition there are many options like Mutual Funds, Life Insurance, Bonds, Debentures, Gold ETF, Share Trading, Fixed Deposits, Debt Funds, Public Provident Funds and much more.

Plan your investments with excellent service providers who cater to the requirements in securing your hardship. UAE Exchange India, the leading financial provider serves its privileged customers with wide range of products like Loans, Insurance, Online Share Trading, Travel & Tours, Foreign Exchange and Money Transfer across 385 branches in India. Think for a secure future with UAE Exchange India.

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Syed Sallauddin Pasha to Produce and Direct 100 Films on Differently Abled

September 17, 2015, 11:50 pm

≫ Next: IX World Aqua Congress 2015 to be Held in New Delhi on 26-27 Nov

≪ Previous: Make a Secure Future with Your Money

Business Wire IndiaAfter the successful 100 therapeutic theatre stage productions on wheel chairs for and by the differently Abled, Guinness world record and Limca book of record holder, Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha takes the brave step to produce and direct 100 films for persons with special needs.

1. syed sallauddin Pasha Training Differently Abled on Wheelchairs

Syed Sallauddin Pasha says "It is high time to move from the stage to the silver screen, to showcase the outstanding abilities and talent of persons with special abilities through films, documentaries". Pasha’s film "Miracle on wheels", "Wheelchair Gods", "Colours of Abilities", "Wheelchair Sufis" are ready to release soon. These films will be unique and the first of its kind in the world.

The film is based completely on therapeutic theatre and real life stories. These Films convey the message of dignity, equality, inclusion and empowerment. "I want my films to reach the masses so that it contributes in changing the negative perception of the society towards people with disabilities, I strongly believe that specially Abled people don't need mercy..... they need an opportunity" says Syed Sallauddin Pasha in all sincerity.

There are 70 million disabled people in the country and they are the invisible minority because India is not disable friendly. Thousands of films are made every year in the country and very rarely you find films on persons with disabilities.

Films made on abilities & capabilities of Differently Abled people will send across a great message across the globe.

Guru Pasha is recipient of National Award from President of India and he has dedicated three decades of his life for the welfare of persons with disabilities. His innovative work on wheelchairs has captured Lakhs of people across the world.

Film made on the life and Achievements of Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha and his disciples "DEEP RAISING" directed by Merajur Rahman Baruah will be screened for the First time at India International Centre on 19th September 2015 at 10 am, entry is open to all.

For more information please visit: www.syedsallauddinpasha.com

Photo Caption: 1. syed sallauddin Pasha Training Differently Abled on Wheelchairs

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IX World Aqua Congress 2015 to be Held in New Delhi on 26-27 Nov

September 20, 2015, 11:22 pm

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Business Wire IndiaDates for the IX World Aqua Congress 2015 have been announced – this year, this much-touted international conference will be held in New Delhi, India on 26^th – 27^th Nov 2015. The main theme for IX World Aqua Congress 2015 is “Reviving Traditional Water & Environment Conservation Techniques”. For long, traditional wisdom has been seen as opposite of Modern Science. Aqua Foundation aims to change this notion through this conference and rather highlight upon how traditional wisdom is complimentary to modern science.

In the face of mounting water and environmental crisis in the world, various groups have begun a campaign to promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Aqua Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has taken multiple initiatives over the years, to deal with these issues holistically, rather than applying quick-fix solutions to individual aspects. This conference aims to bring various stake holders i.e. policy makers, researchers, academicians, industries, NGOs etc., on a common platform for meaningful discussions & deliberations and implementation & execution.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of advance preparation for the monsoon in year 2015 in order to significantly increase water storage capacity in check dams, ponds and tanks in the country to help in improving storage and rejuvenating structures by following our age – old traditional methods of conserving our resources. This formed the basis and the inspiration for the theme of this year’s conference.

Given the prominence that the Conference and the Awards enjoy within like-minded organisations, a number of key organisations have already come forward to support the initiative. These include – Ministry of Urban Development, Megaplast, and Parsan Overseas.

‘Aqua Foundation’s Excellence Awards' are also key highlight of the two days international conference. These awards are given to promote, encourage & recognise innovations and contributions in the field of water, environment & humanity. Some of the previous recipients of Aqua Foundation’s Excellence Awards include Dr. S Z Qasim, Prof. M S Swaminathan, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Shri. K K Rao, Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Shri Bhure Lal, Dr. D K Chadha etc., for individual excellence. The organizations recognized and awarded for their meaningful contributions towards environment & social responsibility include ONGC, Tata Housing, Ion Exchange, Jain Irrigation, Tata Swach, Rashtriya Chemical & Fertilizers, IOCL, BPCL, Northern Coal Fields etc.’

The Inaugural Speaker for the event will be Shri Anupam Mishra, noted Gandhian, environmentalist and well-known writer on indigenous methods of water conservation.

Speaking on the Conference, Dr. Sanjay Rana, renowned Geophysicist and Chairman of Aqua Foundation said, “For long, traditional wisdom has been seen as opposite of modern science. The organization is tirelessly working to change this notion and incorporate useful elements of traditional conservation practices as well as modern science and technology, to arrive at a comprehensive solution to present day's problems and future challenges.”

Sharing her thoughts Ms Praggya Sharmaa, Organizing Secretary, IX World Aqua Congress 2015 said, “People and organisations, both private and governmental, understand and recognise the need for concrete action. We have received tremendous response from organisations across the board to be involved in the process and catalyse concreate viable options for holistically dealing with present-day environmental challenges.”

About Aqua Foundation

Aqua Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization working on key aspects of Water, Environment & Humanity. The ever-balanced, ever-harmonized cycles & arrangements of nature have been greatly challenged and disturbed by humans in last century, which in turn pose a threat to their own survival. Aqua Foundation is working to reverse these damages and work towards a sustainable living, in oneness with fellow humans, other living beings, plants and nature. The ultimate goal of the organization is to ensure humanity’s long-term future.

The activities of Aqua Foundation include knowledge creation, information dissemination, research and education. The organization works through a diverse range of tools and techniques including, but not limited to, conferences, seminars, training programs, on-line learning, capacity building, community projects, schoolactivities etc., with prime focus on Humanity and Sustainability. Aqua Foundation is organizing international conference 'World Aqua Congress' since year 2007.

Previous conferences organized by Aqua Foundation initiated a useful dialogue on these aspects. VII World Aqua Congress (2013) was conducted with theme of 'Balancing Five Elements Strategically towards Sustainability' and the VIII World Aqua Congress (2014) on 'Balancing Development and Environment'.

Aqua Foundation's philosophy relies on an inclusive understanding of the interconnections between all the elements of an ecosystem: plants, animals, people, and climate. Organization also believes that efforts are not yielding desirable results due to the fact that the building blocks of the universe i.e. five elements (Panch Tatwa- Water, Earth, Energy/ Fire, Airand Space) are being dealt separately, completely in isolation and against the very fundamental nature of these elements i.e. interdependence and interconnectedness. This is where we have a lot to learn from traditional practices wherein our ancestors mastered the art of living in harmony with nature, while preserving a perfect balance between the five elements (Panch-Mahabhutas).

For Event Details: http://worldaquacongress.org/

For Awards Details: http://worldaquacongress.org/Aqua_Excellence_Awards_2015.html

For Event Registration: http://worldaquacongress.org/register_delegate.aspx

For Details on Aqua Foundation: http://www.aquafoundation.in/

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A New Framework to Reduce Children Casualties in Disasters Across South Asia

September 21, 2015, 5:35 am

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Business Wire IndiaThe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in South Asia and the Disaster Management Centre from the South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have joined hands to convene a high-level policy dialogue on Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction in South Asia from 17 to 18 September.

H.E. Shri Arjun Bahadur Thapa, SAARC Secretary General lights lamp at the SAARC & UNICEF High Level Policy Dialogue On Children & Disaster Risk Reduction inauguration, in Kathmandu

The event will be inaugurated by His Excellency Shri Arjun Bahadur Thapa, Honourable Secretary General of SAARC, with participation from senior policy makers and high-level representatives from the United Nations, European Union, and SAARC Member States.
SAARC member states are expected to come up with a new Framework to advance and strengthen child-centred regional and national policies on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

“Child-centred disaster risk reduction is a long-term investment. Raising awareness of children and youth on disaster risk will ensure better disaster-prepared generations across this region and contribute to save and improve many lives” said Philippe Cori, Deputy Regional Director for UNICEF in South Asia.

Over the past decade, South Asia has faced more than 350 disaster events annually, affecting 264 million people per year and costing the region an average annual loss of about 109 billion USD. More than 60 percent of those killed or affected are children and although disasters affect all, children are disproportionately vulnerable to its risks.

In 2015 alone more than 1 million children were severely affected by the April 25 earthquake in Nepal; 840,000 children were affected by the Cyclone Komen in Bangladesh; Half a million children were affected by avalanches, floods and conflict in Afghanistan; More than 4 million children were affected by floods in Jammu and Kashmir, India; and over 1 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition since the drought in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

The situation is further exacerbated by poverty, rapid urbanization, and socio-economic challenges in the region. Without proper interventions, millions of children in South Asia will remain at risk from diseases, malnutrition, psychological trauma, disrupted education and violence.

Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have inalienable rights in all circumstances - including disasters when they are at their most vulnerable. They also have the right to participate in decisions that ultimately affect them. Child-centred Disaster Risk Reduction aims at strengthening accountability mechanisms between rights-holder (children) and duty bearers (parents, communities, service providers and governments); it also calls for meaningful participation of children and youth through long-term engagement, child-friendly discussions and tailored programme interventions.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.
For more information about UNICEF and its work in South Asia visit: www.unicef.org/rosa

About SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC)

SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) was set up in October 2006 at the premises of National Institute of Disaster Management in New Delhi. The Centre has the mandate to serve eight Member Countries of South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - by providing policy advice and facilitating capacity building services including strategic learning, research, training, system development and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management in South Asia.

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Photo Caption: H.E. Shri Arjun Bahadur Thapa, SAARC Secretary General lights lamp at the SAARC & UNICEF High Level Policy Dialogue On Children & Disaster Risk Reduction inauguration, in Kathmandu

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Somany Social Responsibility Endorsement #NahiPhislenge, Sets A Record

September 21, 2015, 8:30 pm

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Business Wire IndiaIndia’s leading Ceramic Tile giant Somany, has recently endorsed an awareness campaign #NahiPhislenge, from 18th Sept – 30th Sept 2015. Trending on Twitter, the campaign throws light on society unseen and serious issues related to politics, moral values, corruption, rape etc. #Nahiphislenge, is a social rage amongst the Indian Society, so as to pledge that they will not slip and fall when it comes to performing their moral responsibilities.

Being a responsible corporate Somany has taken this initiative to invite and aware people towards the social issues and make a pledge so as to not to slip from their moral duties. #Nahiphislenge went live on 18^th September with their Radio Partner Red FM 93.5 FM. Within an hour of launch; the hashtag #NahiPhislenge was tweeted almost 2000 times, with the twitter trending on No. 1.

The leading tile manufacturing brand has always been a level up when it comes to the digital presence and innovative ideas for branding. “Somany Ceramics has recently launched their Slip shield or anti skid tiles and #NahiPhislenge was an apt platform to creating brand’s presence and product launch. Says Charu Malhotra , GM Marketing , Somany. “Besides coinciding with the functional positioning of #NahiPhislenge beautifully, the much larger aspect of the thought appealed us big time and we thought of taking it forward to masses asking people to pledge on various morals, ethics and integrity where they slip from in their daily lives” says Charu Malhotra. During this 12 days campaign, Somany team aims to build a positive approach in the society and make a strong impact by creating a change. Seeing the success of the social media campaign, Somany ceramics aims to create this as an annual property and keep on creating awareness around the realtime challenges in the society.

Right now the campaign is live in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and has received a tremendous response on facebook and twitter. To participate in this rage please visit
https://twitter.com/hashtag/NahiPhislenge?src=tren

About Somany -

Somany is a leading tile manufacturing company in India which provides complete solutionin terms of décor with the widest product selection categories –Ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, wall tiles, Floor tiles and Bath Fittings. Their business has already grown roots in India, Africa, South Africa, The Middle East, United Kingdom and Russia. To know more about Somany visit (www.somanyceramics.com).

Photo Caption: Somany's endorsement for Social Cause

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September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month

September 22, 2015, 12:04 am

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Business Wire IndiaTrivitron Healthcare, the largest and most trusted medical technology company of Indian origin has launched a new campaign #Protectyourbaby to bring awareness about Newborn Screening in India. Trivitron has launched a newborn screening programme with a platform that tests for inborn errors of metabolism to prevent from lifelong damage, disability ranging from mental retardation to physical disability.

Mr. Nitin Sawant, General Manager at Trivitron Healthcare said, “It is unfortunate that in India, out of 26 million babies born every year, only about 2 per cent receive neonatal screening. This year, Trivitron healthcare is focusing on women and child healthcare diagnosis. Newborn screening is a crucial for babies. As September is a Newborn screening awareness month, we have launched a campaign #protectyourbaby and we hope with this, there is more awareness and Newborn screening is made mandatory in India.”

The campaign largely focuses on the importance and the urge to make Newborn screening mandatory in India. While this essential service is provided mandatorily to all new born children in the developed world, India sees a dismally low rate in new born screening, thus exposing our future generation to serious health disorders affecting our society and economy.

#Protectyourbaby is launched on all social media channels of Trivitron and BTL activities such as mailers, promotions, awareness Standee, awareness cards are taking place to gather the required awareness about Newborn Screening.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TrivitronIndia
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/trivitron-healthcare
Twitter https://twitter.com/TrivitronIndia

Please join the campaign #protectyourbaby to bring awareness and make NBS mandatory in India.

About Trivitron Healthcare:

The genesis of Trivitron Healthcare Private Limited, dates back to 1997, when Dr. Velu, a first generation entrepreneur decided to build a company on the premise of delivering cost-effective medical technology solutions and services to the underserved. Today, Trivitron Healthcare, through successful inorganic synergies with local and global firms, has a revenue turnover of 750 crores, and is the largest medical technology company of Indian origin, with products exported to over 165 countries.

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'Sustainable Cities & Climate Change - The Way Ahead for Bangalore'

September 22, 2015, 4:16 am

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Business Wire India

The Consulate General of Germany in Bengaluru, Fraunhofer Society India, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have collaboratively organised a panel discussion & workshop on ‘Sustainable Cities and Climate Change’ on 23^rd Sep, 2015. The event primarily concentrates on Sustainable Cities with special focus on Municipal Solid Waste Management, Deteriorating Air Quality and Clean Water. The meeting will bring all the relevant stakeholders and experts from the respective areas on the same dais and facilitate a discussion on the need of the hour and proceed further to combat the impacts of climate change coupled with already existing stresses on the urban centres like Bengaluru. The roadmap suggested by the participants will be presented to Mr. Kaushik Mukherjee IAS, Hon Chief Secretary Gov. of Karnataka.

The event will begin with a general welcome address by Consul General of Germany, Mr. Jörn Rohde, Consul General of Germany Bengaluru followed by introductory remarks by Mr. Pronab Dasgupta, Distinguished Fellow & Director Southern Regional Center, TERI & Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director Fraunhofer India.

In order to set the context as per the global experience, there will be two key presentations by experts. The first presentation will be on Public health in megacities by Dr. Alexander Kraemer, Chair of Public Health, Bielefeld University and the second on International Best Practices ‘Smart Cities’ by Mr. Damain Wagner, Project coordinator – Smart City Triangulum, Fraunhofer IAO, Stuttgart.

The Plenary session post presentations will focus on ‘The Indian Perspective’ panel discussion moderated by Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director Fraunhofer India. The discourse will be held between Dr. Alexander Kraemer, Mr. Damain Wagner, Mr. RK. Misra Director Centre for Smart Cities at IISc & Mr. V. Ravichandar, Chairman Feedback Business Consulting Services.

There will be parallel Workshops on Air Quality, Clean Water and Solid Waste Management. The workshop will provide an opportunity to formulate strategies which will be cost conscious as well as environment and economic friendly. The panel discussion along with the presentations and deliberations will showcase strategies for cities like Bengaluru to become a leading example of a Smart City in real sense. Compiled recommendations, workable project ideas and actionable points, initiatives and solutions discussed in workshop will then be presented to Mr. Kaushik Mukherjee IAS, Hon Chief Secretary Gov. of Karnataka.

Some of the eminent representatives participating in the workshops are –

K. Jairaj IAS, Trustee and Secretary B.PAC former; Former Additional Chief Secretary Govt of Karnataka
Mr. Dhiraj Wali, Vice President Robert Bosch
Prof Dr. T.G. Seetharaman, Chairman CISTUP IISc
Prof Dr. Suresh Jain, Head of Dept Of Natural Resources TERI
Mr. Sumit Sharma, Fellow - Earth Science and Climate Change division, TERI-Delhi
Ms. P. Bineesha, GIZ Senior Technical Advisor IGEP
Mr. Prasanth Pillai, CEO of InfraEn (India)
Mr. G R Narsimha Rao, Associate Director, Industrial Energy group, TERI
Dr. P. Parthasarathy, Managing Director of E-Parisaraa
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, Energy and Wetlands Research Group [CES], Centre for Ecological Sciences IISc
Dr. Jacob Chandapilia, Director FCRI –Pallakaad

Speaking about the event, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bengaluru, Jörn Rohde said “We are proud to be part of the ongoing discussion on urban challenges Bengaluru faces with regard to sustainable cities and climate change. Germany is committed to climate mitigation. Climate change poses massive risks to global prosperity and security. But the message from science is positive: if we act now we can still keep global warming under 2°C. This is why the German Consulate General in Bengaluru engages in discussions on Climate Change with local politics, academia, NGOs and the interested public. Climate change is a question of international responsibility and solidarity. We need to use the tools of diplomacy to raise ambition in partner countries, to forge alliances and build the necessary political momentum.”

Ms Anandi Iyer, Director Fraunhofer India says “ With the Inspiration and Energy of our Hon’ble PM Mr Narendra Modi, the Smart cities initiative is gaining momentum and already the first set of 98 smart cities have been identified. Fraunhofer has immense competencies in this field, we have been executing Global Projects on Smart Cities since the last 5 years and given our broad capabilities across the industry spectrum, we would be delighted to partner with India in the unfolding Growth Story.”

“The three priority areas in the context of a metropolis like Bangalore would have to be efficient mix of the energy options to optimise use of energy, rationalising the distribution and usage of water, and totally cut out wasteful and dangerous disposal of waste. With a PPP model of working and an appropriately empowered local body /bodies, it should be entirely possible” says Mr Pronab Dasgupta, Distinguished Fellow & Director TERI

About TERI:

TERI is an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources. Since its inception in 1974, TERI has emerged as an institution of excellence for its path-breaking research, and is a global brand widely respected by political leaders, policy makers, corporate entities as well as the civil society at large.

About Frauhofer:

Fraunhofer is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization. Fraunhofer has been active in India since the past several years, bringing innovative technologies and research competence to India. Fraunhofer offers applied RnD services in various fields such as technology, textiles and new materials, aviation, food technology, aerospace and ICT. Fraunhofer is the chosen R&D and innovation partner of some of the giant players in the field of Energy, Automotive, Production Technology of Government and Private Organisations.

About Consulate General of Germany in Bengaluru

“The German Consulate’s mission in Karnataka and Kerala is to support Indo-German ties in Business, Research and Development and Academia alike. The Consulate is proud to partner with the more than 170 German companies located in Karnataka and Kerala. Many of which have set up their R&D centers in Bengaluru.

The strong German footprint in science in Bengaluru is continuously growing thanks to the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, Fraunhofer and the Science Department of the Consulate. Over 70 agreements on research cooperation and MoUs have been signed between various German Research Institutes and Universities with research organizations in Kerala and Karnataka.

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Porter Prize Recognizes the Strategic Acumen of Corporates in India

September 28, 2015, 12:46 am

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Business Wire IndiaHighlights

Porter Prize is named after Michael E. Porter who is Professor at Harvard Business School, living legend and father of modern strategy field
Nine enterprises bagged the prestigious Porter Prize 2015 in different categories
Sangita Reddy, Sajjan Jindal, Anil Jain, R Subramanian and Seshagiri Rao MVS received awards on behalf of their respective enterprises
Nearly 30 companies were shortlisted
The event was attended by CXO’s, top industry leaders, thinkers, and senior executives from corporates, government, and media
Bishop William Lawrence University Professor Porter shared his views on how smart, connected products are transforming competition and companies

Institute for Competitiveness, India organized Porter Prize 2015 on September 25, at The Leela, Gurgaon. It started with two panel discussions on Capitalism, Shared value & Social Progress and Strategy, Positioning, Tradeoffs & Fit. It was followed by a talk by Professor Michael E. Porter and an award ceremony wherein Kailash Vijayvargiya (National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janta Party), Michael Enright (Director at Enright, Scott & Associates), Wilfried Aulbur (Managing Partner & CEO, Roland Berger) and Dr. Amit Kapoor (Institute for Competitiveness, India) gave awards to the winners. The companies that made it to the winner list are

Porter Prize for Leveraging Unique Activities was awarded to JSW Steel, which was received by Seshagiri Rao MVS (CEO, JSW Steel). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance in the industry and to recognize your effective rendering of activities across the value chain that created competitive advantage. You clearly stated that good strategies depend on the connection among many things and on making interdependent choices.”
Porter Prize on Industry Architectural Shift was awarded to Mahindra Rural Housing and Finance, which was received by Anuj Mehra (CEO, Mahindra Rural Housing & Finance). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance in the industry and to recognize you for redefining the industry structure by challenging the very basis of competition, creating new business models, challenging the status quo and exploiting change.”
Porter Prize on Exploiting Tradeoffs was awarded to Abbott India, which was received by Rehan A. Khan (Managing Director, Abbott India). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance in the industry and to recognize the choices that made your strategy sustainable as they were not easy to match or neutralize due to which you were able to create barriers pertaining to emulation.”
Porter Prize for Creating Distinctive Value was awarded to DHL, which was received by R Subramanian (Senior Vice President & MD, DHL Express India). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance in the industry and ability to offer unique solutions to the customers. You effectively created new market spaces, segments and provided solutions that redefined the market.”
Porter Prize for Value Based Healthcare was awarded to Apollo Hospitals, which was received by Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals). The citation read for them was “For redefining healthcare, providing an overall framework for diagnostics, participating in building a resilient health care system, focusing on providing value to patients, not just lowering costs; free flow of information i.e, information on results and prices needed for value-based competition and innovation in healthcare such as enhancing the patients experience, redefining the business around medical conditions.”
Porter Prize on Creating Shared Value was shared by two organizations – Jain Irrigation and JSW Group. Anil Jain (Managing Director, Jain Irrigation) received the award on behalf of Jain Irrigation, and Sajjan Jindal received the awarded for JSW Group. The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance in the industry and to recognize your high impact as an organization that created economic success by redefining markets, products, way of doing business, creating collaborative efforts and in turn creating societal and economic progress.”
Porter Prize for Enabling Social Progress was awarded to Reliance Foundation, which was received by Rohit Bansal (Group Head of Communications at RIL). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding contribution to the society to meet the basic human needs, established blocks that allow communities to sustain quality of life and creating conditions for individuals to reach their potential.”
Porter Prize for Excellence in Corporate Integration & Governance was awarded to Tata Power, which was received by Chetan Tolia (Chief HR Officer, TATA Power). The citation read for them was “For your outstanding performance that is driven through excellence in corporate integration, exploiting synergies between different divisions, superior board room performance and governance mechanisms.”

To know more about the Porter Prize 2015 winners, visit http://www.porterprize.in/winners-2015/

Keynotes at the event were delivered by Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals) and Kailash Vijayvargiya (National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janta Party). Other Prominent speakers were Dr. Shelly Batra (CEO, Operation Asha), Sumantra Sen (CEO, JSW Foundation), Siddharth Arora (CEO& Co-founder, ePaisa Ltd), Deepak Arora (Group Head – CSR and CEO, Essar Foundation) et al.

In its fourth edition, Porter Prize India not only continued the legacy of identifying the best corporate across various segments, it also led to an inspirational force for corporates in becoming more strategic and competitive. The daylong enriching deliberations culminated with Professor Michael E. Porter addressing Indian corporates on his evolved perspectives on strategy and technology. He shared insights on the transitioning era and play of technology as per his renowned five forces model. He stated, “Smart connected products is starting to transform what products can do, how companies are competing and what competitive advantage matters. So the connectivity between technology and product today is important and has the ability to create new avenues of development in an economy” He also affirmed his keen desire to visit India as he genuinely looked to India to make mammoth strides in productivity and competitiveness.

The tête-à-tête led by Sajjan Jindal (Managing Director & CEO, JSW Steel) with Professor Porter disarmingly brought the massive latent potential Indian ecosystem possesses. Mr. Jindal pointed questions like what should India do to increase its agriculture contribution to 25% of India’s GDP using technology? Are the technology-enabled services going to hinder opportunities of the increasing educated base of Indians? Will in future the smart connected products and related technology affect the traditional Indian industries like diamond and leather? Answering these questions, Professor Porter replied that India has the advantage of possessing IT expertise so here is the chance for the country to catch quickly with the flow and seize the opportunity. The technology is not going to affect the ability of individuals instead it will enhance people’s capability.

Just prior to him, Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals) delivered a speech, which was encouraging for entrepreneurs, as she shared the genesis of Apollo chain of Hospitals. She said, “Two years ago companies across the world used to compete on the basis of price but today only those companies are successful and will succeed in future that are competing based on design build around the needs of the customer.”

Dr. Amit Kapoor (Honorary Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness) in the end congratulated all the winners and announced the date for the next Porter Prize event. He said, “We believe that the journey of Porter Prize instill the spirit of competitiveness and pave the path for strategic success for enterprises.”

About Porter Prize

Porter Prize is named after Michael E. Porter who is Professor at Harvard Business School, living legend and father of modern strategy field. The central idea of the Porter Prize is to propel companies to compete on the basis of value creation, innovation and strategy.

Institute for Competitiveness, India is an independent, international initiative centered in India, dedicated to enlarging and disseminating the body of research and knowledge on competition and strategy, pioneered over the last 25 years by Professor M.E. Porter of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School (ISC, HBS), USA. Institute for Competitiveness, India works in affiliation with ISC, HBS, USA to offer academic & executive courses, conduct indigenous research and provide advisory services to corporate and Government within the country. The institute studies competition and its implications for company strategy; the competitiveness of nations, regions & cities; suggests and provides solutions for social problems, Institute for Competitiveness, India brings out India City Competitiveness Report, India State Competitiveness Report, India Economic Quarterly, Journal of Competitiveness and funds academic research in the area of strategy & competitiveness. For more information, visit http://www.porterprize.in

Photo Caption: Winners of Porter Prize 2015

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