Archive: September 2, 2020

Tech Avant-Garde, Knowledge Key Foundation, Microsoft to conduct first-ever Knowledge L’avenir Conclave to facilitate Digital Transformation & Holistic Learning and make schools-teachers future-ready

2 September 2020: Tech Avant-Garde, in association with Microsoft, Knowledge Key Foundation, Lycee Corp, Efeeonline and Roshini Social Schooling will be conducting first-of-its-kind Knowledge L’avenir Conclave webinars starting 5 September 2020. L’avenir Conclave webinars are part of Tech Avant-Garde’s “Digital Transformation and Holistic learning” program, which has transformed schools from four walls of the classroom to Connected Learning Community. This grand education showcase will last for 12 weeks and over 3,000 teachers will exhibit their Digital Teaching Skills and over 150,000 teachers will attend. Over 72,000 schools across India with a student-teacher population of 76 million (7.6 crore) will get inspired to make the Digital Transformation.

Some of the participating early-adopter schools include Aligarh – Blossoms School; Bengaluru – TCIS-Sarjapur, TCIS-Whitefield, BGS World School, Green Field School, Venkat International School; Hosur – Litera Valley Zee School, MMS-RICE; Hyderabad – Oxford Grammer, Sri Aurobindo International; Kanpur – Huddard School, Dr. Virender Swaroop Education Centre; Pune- Orbis Mundwa; and Thane – Arya Gurukul amongst others. Mr. Nanik Rupani, Chairman, Emeritus, Priyadarshini Academy will be a Guest of Honour at the Conclave.

Ali Sait, the CEO, Tech Avant-Garde, said, “In today’s world where knowledge is the greatest asset, the benefits of the information-rich, technology-enhanced, the Connected Learning environment must be extended to empower students, teachers, parents, schools and entire communities to learn without limits. ‘Digital Transformation and Holistic Learning’ program has helped schools build the Connected Learning Community through our training of school management, teachers, parents and the students.” He added, “Knowledge L’avenir Conclave webinar will give teachers an opportunity to exhibit their digital teaching skills in presence of the teaching fraternity, and the community at large. This will make them confident and will encourage them to improve themselves. These webinars will redefine education and give purpose to teachers to reinvent because there is no greater payback than recognition. The take away would be an insight into the future of education, 21st Century Pedagogy and Digital Transformation.”

Under the above program, teachers have been trained in Gen Extra Muros – Knowledge Beyond Walls pedagogy. The teachers who are trained under this program are “Future Ready”. They are eligible to take part in Knowledge L’avenir Conclave to display their digital teaching skills. Each Knowledge L’avenir Conclave webinar will be a one-day event; in which teachers from one school will present topics of their choice, using technology-based teaching tools. In every webinar, an average of 20 teachers from 1,000 schools will get an invitation to attend and witness this digital teaching extravaganza. The attendees will get insight on digital teaching and would get inspired to enhance their teaching skills. Knowledge L’avenir Conclave participation is only by invitation – each invited school is allowed to enrol teachers to make a presentation in the webinar to exhibit their digital teaching skills.

Ali Sait’s dream of a Connected Learning Community is a simple yet powerful idea with even more relevance today than when he first introduced the concept in the year 2002. His vision is that the world is an enriched learning environment in which technology used well enhances and expands opportunities for learning while providing the practical technology experience needed in today’s society and workplaces. In the Connected Learning Community: Students, educators and parents have any time, anyplace access to learning; Learning is relevant, individualized and personalized; Schools have information systems that support accountability and efficient management; Schools, campuses, homes, libraries, businesses and global resources are connected in a dynamic, collaborative learning environment. Yet for 21st-century learning, technology alone is not sufficient. Schools, students, and teachers must have the vision and opportunity to experiment, innovate and create with technology as a learning tool. Ali wants to facilitate a New Era of Education in a growing number of schools and communities around the world. Technology has helped launch a new era of education that simultaneously fosters academic excellence and the practical experience needed to succeed in life and work in the growing knowledge economy. Nevertheless, communities have only begun to tap the potential of technology for learning.

Most of these students and teachers would require items such as Laptops, Tablets, Handheld devices, electronic writing pads, learning software, internet, desks, chairs, etc. Tech Avant-Garde is planning to showcase these products in Knowledge L’avenir Conclave webinars along with the names of the fulfilment agencies.

‘Ryan International Group of Institutions’ collaborates with ‘The College Board’

Mumbai, September 2020: Ryan International Group of Institutions, one of India’s foremost K12 Education brands have collaborated with the globally renowned institution The College Board. This coveted association will enable thousands of students of diverse Education boards of Ryan Group of schools across India with easy accessibility to the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 examinations held by the US-based non-profit and education led organization – The College Board.

The alliance is aimed to benefit the students from the perspective of exam preparedness and convenient registration, and will further support the students with a simplified process of college application through the registered app as well. PSAT 8/9 examinations are taken by Grade 8 & 9 students and PSAT 10 by Grade 10 students to get an insight and assessment on the subjects that they need to work on for score improvement. These examinations help the students to prepare and understand their scope of performance for the eventual PSAT and ultimately the SAT exams that are instrumental in the college application and acceptance process.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Snehal Pinto, Director, Ryan International Group of Institutions shared, “In our effort to provide an easily accessible platform for our students across the country for higher education opportunities, this collaboration with the College Board is expected to benefit the community of diverse learners aspiring for enrolment in reputed institutions in India as well as abroad mainly the United States. This association will facilitate a great starting point and thriving prospects for college education with the help of professionals from across the globe. We look forward to establishing a long term association with the College Board in order to continue providing opportunities for our Ryanites to prepare themselves for their next step of academic life.”

Ryan International Group of Institutions, through their partnership with The College Board, aims to pave a path for their students to make them college-ready and provide not just convenient registration but also easy accessibility to college and career guidance programs and services for the Advanced Placement Program and the SAT provided by The College Board.

&TV’s Kahat Hanuman Jai Shri Ram sees the entry of mighty Dashanan

hanuman

The upcoming episodes of &TV’s Kahat Hanuman Jai Shri Ram are all set to move to another remarkable narrative with the entry of Ravana, to be portrayed by popular actor, Manish Wadhwa. The ten-headed Ravana, also known as Dashanan, will be seen comparing himself with Lord Vishnu and calling himself the supreme power. As he is seen completing his yagna and entering Lanka, the faces of Gods change in temples to resemble him. With a vast procession, the grand rajyabhishek of Ravana takes place where he is bathed in milk, honey and flower petals. Previously, Ravana’s mother Kaikasi (Alka Kaushal) had seen a shadow of a vanar and Lanka burning, and she sent Rakshas Subhau (Pradeep Kabra) and Mareech (Romanch Mehta) to find out about Maruti.

hanuman

Speaking about his role as the mythical evil king Ravana, Manish Wadhwa says, “Ravana is always shown as a character who behaves in a certain way – speaks and laughs loudly and terrorises people around him. However, this time the viewers will be seeing a much composed Ravana, bringing alive all attributes of him including gyani brahmin, musician, artist, and demon, among others.” Adding further, says Manish, “The biggest challenge for me was to bring a substantial essence to this significant character which has been portrayed successfully by many seasoned actors. What is essential for me is to differentiate yet bring alive his strong characteristics once again on-screen. I am extremely excited and look forward to making a mark with this brand-new role.”

Giving viewers a glimpse of the unheard tale of the invincible evil Ravana, watch the fascinating mythological journey of how Bal Hanuman eventually emerge as the greatest devotee of Lord Ram to bring a successful end to Ravana’s reign of terror.

Get set to watch the grand entry of Ravana in the upcoming episodes of Kahat Hanuman Jai Shri Ram every Monday-Friday at 9:30 pm only on &TV!

Luxurious yet classy – The Sapphire collection by Archana Aggarwal – Timeless Jewellery

Sapphire, the birthstone of September, is most desired in its pure, rich blue colour but is available in various colours including pink, yellow and green. Many sources list that Sapphires are believed to symbolize wisdom, virtue and good fortune. In an engagement ring, Sapphire means faithfulness and loyalty.

Typically, Sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The most valued shade of blue is the medium-deep cornflower blue.

The Sapphire collection includes neckpieces, bracelets, earrings to name a few. The irresistible collection includes pieces for daily wear as well as statement pieces for special occasions.

archana

“Every piece I make is a style statement. The label is a celebration of today’s woman who is feminine yet strong” adds Archana Aggarwal.

Price: On request

Showroom: Ambawatta One, H 5/3-4, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110030

Europe’s most influential technology festival, London Tech Week 2020 begins

London Tech Week 2020 launches today showcasing the best of global tech and how it will play a crucial role in helping us navigate the challenges facing our changing world.

Europe’s most influential tech event, which runs from Sept 1st-11th, will look at the impact of the technology ecosystem on the key issues of our age including health, education, security, the future of work and the socio-economic inclusion of women, BAME and under-represented groups.

London Tech Week drives key connections and conversations which will shape the future of the sector in the UK and across the world and features keynote speakers from Government, Tech and Science.

The event this year features some of the biggest names in tech including Eric Schmidt, former CEO & Chairman, Google // Co-Founder, Schmidt Futures, and Jack Dorsey, CEO and Co-Founder of Square and CEO of Twitter.

We will also hear from Matt Hancock MP the Secretary of State for Health, Caroline Dinenage MP Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Dr Indra Joshi Director of AI at NHSX, and Howard Boville, Senior Vice President, IBM Hybrid Cloud and former Chief Technology Officer for Bank of America.

We’re also delighted to be hosting musician, composer and tech enthusiast Nile Rodgers who will be leading our discussions on diversity and inclusion.

Despite the current climate, the UK tech sector remains in the robust form and continues to play a key part in driving the economy, according to new data.

Against a backdrop of job losses in many sectors, the digital tech sector is starting to show signs of recovery and companies have gained confidence in the last few weeks, as demonstrated by a sharp uptick in jobs advertised online.

The Digital Economy Council and Tech Nation will publish a preview next week (Sept 8) of its Bright Tech Future report, out this autumn, which will reveal the extent to which tech companies have returned to hiring in recent weeks. The report will show tech now employs 2.93M people and that five cities outside London now have more than a fifth of their workforce employed in the digital tech economy.

Gerry Grimstone, Minister for Investment said:

“Tech is playing an ever-increasing role in all sectors, demonstrated in the UK’s great tech story, where opportunities for investors and UK businesses looking to export in sectors like healthcare, finance and education continue to grow.

“And we want this to continue. As we strike trade deals around the world, we will work with trading partners to set global standards and create cutting-edge provisions in key policy areas like AI, data and digital to make it easier for businesses to trade.

“The next two weeks are a real celebration of all that London and the whole of the UK has to offer and I look forward to seeing how the many events, discussions and meetings become commercial opportunities at home and abroad for tech firms in the UK.”

Carolyn Dawson, Managing Director of Informa Tech, said: “The UK continues to innovate as a cutting-edge tech hub and as one of the world’s most open and welcoming markets despite the challenging climate we find ourselves living in.

“The power of tech is more important than ever as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. London Tech Week is an opportunity to bring the tech community together to find solutions and to ensure the survival of many of our businesses.

“As a sector we have the talent and ambition matched with the ability to forge and shape solutions for many in the world.

“We look forward to inviting a truly global audience to this exciting and highly accessible virtual event.”

At this year’s London Tech Week, the focus on curated virtual content will enable wider international audiences to join the conversation and connect with the global tech community by simply logging on to the London Tech Week platform (general registration here & media registration here).

Key themes and speakers

Global Impact will explore development and trends within Med Tech with a particular focus on how technology is playing a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19.

The Founders Forum HealthTech Summit delivers a stellar lineup including – The Rt Hon Matt Hancock the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden, Dr Indra Joshi Director of AI at NHSX, Dominic King, UK Lead & Medical Director at Google Health and Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX.

The event brings together the most inspiring and celebrated minds from healthcare systems and digital health industries to ignite meaningful discussion and debate on the most pressing topics in global health.

How technology is making a difference in the battle against climate change will also feature during some of the highly engaging Global Impact sessions.

People and Skills encompass diversity & inclusion, with a particular focus on women with the much-anticipated accelerate her sessions, and the future of work.

Key speakers on the future of work include Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, Kike Oniwinde Founder & CEO of BYP Network, Caroline Dinenage MP Minister of State for Digital and Culture and Vanessa Gilardi, Head of HR for Wealth Management International, Royal Bank of Canada.

On diversity, key speakers include: Nile Rodgers, Co-Founder & Chairman of We Are Family Foundation, Jameela Jamil, Presenter and Activist and Scarlett Curtis, Writer and Activist.

Technologies & Industry – the AI Summit is the foremost conference and exhibition dedicated to AI and will showcase how the technology is transcending every area of business and society today. From global conglomerates to SMEs, from CIOs to heads of functions, AI is fueling operational and commercial evolution at a light-speed pace.

Key speakers include: Guus Dekkers CTO of Tesco and Warren East CEO of Rolls-Royce, and Howard Boville, Senior Vice President, IBM Hybrid Cloud and former Chief Technology Officer for Bank of America.

The Founders of the Future Forum – Bringing entrepreneurs and investors together, the Forum connects, informs and inspires future founders and highlights the UK’s most promising emerging tech talent.

Key speakers include: Eric Schmidt Former CEO & Chairman of Google // Co-Founder of Schmidt Futures and Nile Rodgers Co-Founder & Chairman of We Are Family Foundation.

Leaders, Investment & Innovation – the Global Leaders Innovation Summit will connect innovators and entrepreneurs to accelerate growth and drive positive change to explore how the tech ecosystem is working together to enable new futures where tech is for everyone and impactful innovation thrives.

Key speakers include: Alex Mahon CEO of Channel 4, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden, Min-Liang Tan Co-Founder & CEO of Razer and Oli Barrett MBE Serial Co-Founder & Host at Connector Unit.

Janet Coyle, Managing Director for Business, London & Partners, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the fundamental role that technology plays in society today and the role it must continue to play as we face the new normal. London and the UK are home to an array of tech businesses that are driving innovation and change and London Tech Week is an excellent opportunity to convene the global tech community to address some of our most pressing challenges and drive forward conversations. We look forward to welcoming a global audience to join us and shape the future of the tech sector.”

Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates & Global Tech Advocates and Chairman, London Tech Week Advisory Committee, said: “When the country went into lockdown, tech played an instrumental role in keeping businesses open and families connected. On the road to recovery, Britain will again call upon its unrivalled population of tech entrepreneurs to supercharge growth – those that are pioneering innovations in health, in financial inclusion, in cybersecurity and more.

“Technology has an even greater role to play in helping people to feel safe, in supporting the next stage of our NHS, in protecting livelihoods and in defining our international competitiveness.

“London Tech Week puts the country’s digital ecosystem on the show to the world and demonstrates that through virtually bringing the tech community together we can help to tackle the issues the sector is yet to get right and spearhead all that should be celebrated and indeed accelerated.”

Organised by Informa Tech, a founding partner of London Tech Week, the event will also feature an impressive line-up of other speakers and events showcasing the latest transformational innovations within technology.

Visitors to Europe’s most influential virtual festival of technology will be able to see major tech brands such as IBM, Intel, and Google and a host of key entrepreneurs, policymakers, start-ups and international talent.

Sreeram Visvanathan, Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a turning point for many organisations. The experience of lockdown has emphasised the criticality of areas including remote working, business agility, digital customer engagement, and supply chain continuity. Seizing this imminent opportunity to drive change requires making the right IT architecture choices now, accelerating disruption and embarking on a journey towards an open and secure cloud architecture to drive greater digital transformation. London Tech Week will provide an essential forum for starting these collaborations and conversations in such unprecedented times.”

Adrian Criddle, UK General Manager and Vice President, Intel, said: “Being a part of London Tech week is so valuable right now. Intel is a catalyst for technology innovation and creates products that revolutionise the way we live. The last several months have taught us more than ever how important technology is to keep us connected. Being part of this event, successfully delivered through a virtual format, is testament to that.”

Made in India VideoMeet announces new powerful features

New Delhi: VideoMeet, an indigenous videoconferencing application, has recently brought in exciting new features for its Web, Android and iOS users. Some of the new features rolled out allow the ease of switching from Low Definition, Standard Definition to High Definition Video Calling as per the data availability, corporate branding, and personalised room names of virtual rooms being some of the other upgrades. It aims to make the corporate meetings experience more structured and convenient for the fragmented user base, remotely operating from different locations.

VideoMeet was already supporting 2000 participants but with the new upgrades, it has gone more than 10k participants. Dr. Ajay Data, Founder and CEO, Data Ingenious Global Ltd., the parent company for VideoMeet said, “We have rolled out these features looking at the dynamic nature of businesses, several offices are gradually opening but the acceptance and convenience of videoconferencing continues. To fulfil our userbase’s demands our team introduced these upgrades. VideoMeet’s unique framework also encapsulates the sensitive meeting room feature for hosting smaller and secure meetings.”

Even a Political rally, Townhall for University with Lacs of people can also be supported using VideoMeet. Some of the other additional upgrades introduced in VideoMeet are multiple host facility, and authority of the host to unmute the participant upon his acceptance of the request. The platform promises full data security and complete privacy to every user with its end-to-end encryption. Applications such as screen recording, screen share, music share, flip cameras, and chat during video calls are also there. The application currently clocks around 2 lakh meeting minutes every day. Jaipur based start-up Data Ingenious Global Ltd. with its application has done away with the hustle of app download in the PC, users can simply attend the meetings via clicking of the link. Only Smartphone and Tablet users must have the application downloaded for use.

VideoMeet was developed as an invitation to the Ministry of Electronics and IT’s Made in India Video Conferencing Challenge. The application was one of the top ten contenders and has received great appreciation from the officials. The competition by the Government of India was aimed to seek out an alternative to foreign applications. The organisation plans to expand Pan India with priority touchpoints in four states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for uninterrupted video calling service to their users.

Adani Airports to acquire controlling interest in Mumbai Airports

The Mumbai International Airport is absolutely world-class and I compliment the GVK Group for having built such an outstanding airport.

The addition of the Mumbai International Airport and the Navi Mumbai International Airport to our existing portfolio of 6 airports provides us a transformational platform that will help shape and create strategic adjacencies for our other B2B businesses. This acquisition helps us redesign the way we will serve our customer base and bridge our B2C and B2B business models.

From a medium to long-term perspective, Mumbai is well on its way to becoming one of the top 5 global metropolitan centres of the 21st century. It is expected to be the nation’s leading airport as well as a core domestic and international hub as passenger traffic across our country grows 5-fold and India builds 200 additional airports to handle over 1 billion domestic and international passengers across the Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, majority of which will connect to Mumbai. Over this period, India’s top 30 cities are expected to each require two airports and Adani Airports sees itself well-positioned to help build the infrastructure platform required.

It was Le Corbusier who had said that a city made for speed is made for success. It is airports that enable this speed and we see airports as the nucleus around which we can catalyze real-estate and entertainment facilities, e-commerce and logistics capabilities, time-sensitive industrial ecosystems, aviation-linked business and put in place other innovative business concepts – many of which will be enabled as a result of the mainstreaming of digitization across every aspect of business and our daily lives. In fact, we live in a world where airports have increasingly come to define the character of a city and become a critical factor for the choice of a business location, tourism, urban economic growth and global economic integration. Our view is that the economic value that the cities of the future create will be maximized around airports.

As our nation progresses towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, the Adani Group’s ability to serve this growth through a rapid build-out of airport infrastructure can be a significant enabler. We, therefore, see airports as a powerful engine to drive local economic development as well as act as a critical lever to help converge the tier 1 cities with the tier 2 and tier 3 cities in a hub and spoke model. This hub and spoke model is fundamental to enable a greater equalization of our increasing urban-rural divide as well as take advantage of the cost arbitrage that exists between the different locations to make us more competitive as a nation. This is critical for the creation of net new jobs. Given our deep infrastructure expertise, we are well-positioned to help make this happen.

TIW: An Integral Digital Business Solution

TIW - Image

The Integrity Webs, based out of Delhi, is providing a one-stop solution for all the online business challenges and hurdles in the digital world since its foundation four years ago. The Integrity Webs comprehend your commercial requirements, spot the ongoing business trends, and formulate the marketing strategies that will mark the virtual world with your digital footprints. A team of talented professionals strives towards blending creativity and innovation with cutting-edge technology to lift off your business endeavours to unprecedented levels. Their dedication and enthusiasm have marked our company in fostering relationships with different business sizes starting from the nascent industry to the flourishing organizations. Over time, The Integrity Webs has earned a renowned reputation amidst the other thriving and prospering businesses in the realm of web development, public relations, and other digital marketing services for transcending the digital expectations of our clients.

Well known in the Digital, Advertising, and Software Development industry for keeping up the ongoing online business trends and formulating effective strategies, The Integrity Webs provides a diverse variety of services ranging from SEO, SEM/PPC, CRO, Content Marketing, Website Design/Development, Graphic designing and other Branding Services to App Development services like designing user-friendly business applications, iPhone and Android app development, Mobile apps layouts, Public Relations Services like Brand Awareness & Brand Positioning, Public Affairs, Media Relations, Media Buying & Planning, Press Conference, Alliances & Affiliations, Influencer Marketing, Content & Communication, and Reputation Management,. Without a slightest of doubt, it will make your business stand out and ahead of the time. From the nascent industry to flourishing organizations, it helps every business segment to harness the power of online marketing strategies to take your business to an unprecedented level. Fostering relationships with different business sizes is what gives The Integrity Webs an edge over other organizations.

The core value that drives this organization, ’Customer is god’ seems to affirm its goal of creating valuable and long-lasting brand connections in the digital advertising world. A few popular brands working with The Integrity Webs are Paras Gupta: The Indian Lion, Universe Health Club, H&S Ridge Health Center, Saints and Monks, Selective Edutech Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Ridge Health Center, Premiere Imaging & Open MRI, Young Indian Revolution (Y.I.R) and many more.

The Integrity Webs has found its niche in the diverse world of online business. It is an eminent Advertising, Public Relations, Branding, and Software Development agency having its presence across India and U.S.A. We comprehend your commercial requirements, spot the ongoing business trends, and formulate the marketing strategies that will mark the virtual world with your digital footprints.

Have You Pledged to #HelpYourHelp become self-reliant?

Mumbai, September 2, 2020: Edelweiss Group, one of India’s leading diversified financial services conglomerates, recently announced a public service and awareness initiative, #HelpYourHelp, a platform that helps build awareness and facilitates change for the domestic help community, who have been impacted by Covid-19. Battling loss of income and job insecurity, the pandemic has painfully highlighted their lack of financial preparedness. The Help Your Help platform attempts to educate and encourage individuals to empower this unorganized community over the long-haul, through a digital repository of 20+ Government welfare schemes, across various areas like Finance, Health, Women and Children. It also simplifies the process for acquiring important Documentation that allows this community to unlock the benefits of these welfare schemes. Kick-started a few weeks ago, this purely organic campaign has witnessed over 3,000 individuals coming forward to pledge their support.

As part of the campaign, Edelweiss Group launched a film that takes one through a montage of several instances wherein their domestic help – caregivers, cleaners, security guards, drivers, cooks – have stood by them, being their everyday heroes and life support. The film highlights the fact that while one helps them tide over their daily struggles, they desperately need long-term financial security. The video garnered a tremendously positive response and was extensively shared across platforms.

To heighten awareness around the campaign, Edelweiss Group encouraged their Twitter followers to show their appreciation for their help with the hashtags #ThankYourHelp and #HelpYourHelp. Personal experiences shared by enthusiastic followers aided in breaking through the clutter with both hashtags trending in 6 cities across India.

The campaign received stellar support from top Olympic athletes such as Dipa Karmakar (Gymnast and Padma Shri Awardee), Hima Das (Indian Sprinter and Arjuna Awardee), Rani Rampal (Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee), Sukant Kadam (Ace Para-Badminton Shuttler and Shiv Chhatrapati Awardee) and Manika Batra (Table Tennis Champion). Celebrities such as Mandira Bedi (Actress), Sonu Sood (Actor) and Cyrus Broacha (TV Actor and Comedian), have taken the #HelpYourHelp pledge and encouraged others to follow suit.

Commenting on the thought behind the campaign, Shabnam Panjwani, Group Head – Marketing & Communications, Edelweiss Group said, “Rising to the needs of the community we operate in and giving back in a meaningful way has been a constant endeavour at Edelweiss. Moving beyond the simpler ‘feel good’ & ‘look good’ area, we have attempted to take this initiative into the ‘act good’ space via www.HelpyourHelp.com, enabling all of us to finally walk the talk. It is our hope that if every individual steps up to help this community of helpers in their own lives, it will encourage them to chase their dreams and empower them to truly #BeUnlimited.”

The platform can be accessed on www.helpyourhelp and also facilitates on-ground support in association with Haqdarshak, a social enterprise working with communities, providing access to welfare schemes that help in their well-being and long-term stability.

The symptoms of colorectal cancer and piles such as constipation and blood in the stools overlap and the cancer is mistaken as piles

Dr Pravin Gore, Colorectal Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Mumbai.

Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. In simple language, it is the cancer of the large intestine. The polyps (mushroom-shaped swellings in the inner wall of the colon/rectum) that can turn into cancer can be found and removed if detected in its early stages. It is the need of the hour to be watchful of the symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention.

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon or rectal cancer starts as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps. Some types of polyps can change into cancer over time (usually many years), but not all polyps become cancer. Several factors such as the lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol, a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables, being overweight, family history, being older (over 50), inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can raise the risk of colorectal cancer

The symptoms of colorectal cancer and piles are overlapping with each other. If you notice symptoms like constipation, blood in the bowel movements, rectal bleeding, stomach or frequent gas pain, black or dark-coloured stool or weakness, then instead of dismissing as piles, (get the diagnosis confirmed by visiting a Proctologist Colorectal Surgeon) and if need be hen get a colonoscopy done as it can help detect the underlying cause based on the symptoms. If something abnormal is spotted then a small tissue sample is collected and sent to a laboratory for testing under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. Once, the diagnosis of colorectal cancer is confirmed, the treatment depends on the stage, location and overall health of the patient. However, treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy. Remember early detection is the key to cure it.

Today, not only older adults but even youngsters are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. “Due to erratic schedules, faulty eating habits and hectic lifestyles, youngsters who are always on the go, tend to ignore symptoms such as constipation or bloody stools that become fatal later. It is imperative to seek the help of the doctor who specializes in this field for a correct diagnosis and a proper line of treatment.

To lower your risk of colorectal cancer, eat a diet rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Opt for fruits and vegetables. Avoid alcohol intake and smoking. Not only this, but you must also stay physically active by exercising on a daily basis. Remember to speak to your doctor before starting any exercise regime. Maintain a healthy weight to lead a quality life. Do not indulge in junk, salty, spicy and oily food, especially those which have preservatives in them. And if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, then for sure get yourself screened.