Archive: July 1, 2022

Nominations Open: NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2022

01 July 2022: National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), India’s leading disability rights-based advocacy organization is proud to announce the 13th edition of NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2022 to recognize the champions of Accessibility and Universal Design for people with disabilities and their contributions towards the cause.

NCPEDP has long believed that the foundation of inclusion is accessibility. To this effect, the awards were launched in 2010 in collaboration with Mphasis to recognize the benchmark for best practices for accessibility for all, promoting local solutions with a focus on affordability, accessibility, and scale. Every year, this distinguished honour is given to individuals and organizations who are making every effort to empower people with disabilities by building accessibility solutions, or universal design in the areas of education, work, infrastructure, etc.

Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP says “Accessibility means that a person with a disability receives the same information, is able to use the same products and services, engages in the same interactions in an equally effective and integrated manner as an individual without a disability does, but the inherently inaccessible nature of our systems affects the accessibility, rendering it inaccessible for most persons with disabilities.  

The first-ever Global Report on Assistive Technology released by WHO and UNICEF notes that globally, over 2.5 billion people require assistive devices but over a billion of them lack the most basic facilities. India holds the potential to lead the assistive technology market by adopting inclusive designs in all products and services. We must incorporate the principles of universal design within our systems. There is a need to overhaul all existing products and services and redesign them in alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. The need for assistive technologies that enable and promote participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities is urgent. For years, these awards have been acknowledging a few initiatives that are able to follow this principle of universal design – in both theory and practice and are able to bring a meaningful and empowering change in the lives of people with disabilities.”

“Through our partnership with NCPEDP, we aim to recognize and support solutions that enable an ecosystem of accessibility for all, at an affordable and scalable pace. Universal Designs (UD) develops custom designs that work efficiently and empower a diverse group of people irrespective of their age, ability, or gender. It creates a space that is accessible to everyone and can be measured and applied to all design domains across industries. It is therefore extremely important for UD to be part of our laws and regulations to mandate design solutions that everyone can use equally. The Universal Design Awards ensure that dedicated volunteers get their due recognition which plays a critical role in sensitizing the community and inspiring others to join the cause,” said Srikanth Karra, CHRO, Mphasis.

NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards nominations are now open for 2022.

The Awards cover accessibility in the following fields:

1. Built Environment
2. Transport
3. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
4. Services
5. Aids and Appliances
6. Advocacy and Public Policy

2022 will see the 13th edition of the Awards and nominations are invited in the following 4 categories:

A: Persons with Disabilities – Awards in this category are given to People with Disabilities who have created an impact on Accessibility and Universal Design. The work that the person has done can be in policy framework, grass-root level implementation, design and development, access audits, or even rights movement/advocacy. Every year, 3 people across the country are recognized for the same.

B: Working Professionals – They may be the employee of an Educational Institute / NGO / Corporate Organization/Government Body that has taken up the cause or a consultant or freelancer who has devoted their time for furthering the cause. Their individual contribution to the cause is a major reason for the success achieved by the organization/firm/movement. They may also be an individual who is involved in the cause independent of any organizational support and has achieved significant success in the core objective of gaining accessibility for a Person with Disability. Every year, awards in this category are given out to 3 people across the country.

C: Companies / Organizations – Awards in this category are given to those companies or organizations that have taken up the cause of Accessibility and Universal Design in any of the areas mentioned above.  Companies / Organizations that have implemented recruiting or serving People with Disabilities and providing them equal opportunities to participate to the best of their abilities. These can be any type of Educational Institute / NGO / Corporate Organization / Government Body / Private Sector / Public Sector / Joint Sector / SME / Proprietorship / Partnership firms. Every year, awards in this category are given out to 4 companies/organizations across the country.

D: The NCPEDP-Mphasis Javed Abidi Public Policy Award for Universal Design is a category instituted in 2018 in memory of the late Mr Javed Abidi, to recognize advocacy efforts to promote accessibility and the principle of Universal Design. Two awards will be given under this category to individuals/organizations in the area of physical infrastructure, transport, ICT, products, and services doing exemplary work to create a level playing field for People with Disabilities to access the same opportunities and rights as all other citizens of India.

The last date to fill the application forms is 23rd July 2022. The nomination forms can be downloaded from the NCPEDP website www.ncpedp.org. The Awards will be presented on 28th September 2022.

Union Bank of India launches a charity initiative ‘U Smile – Spread Smiles’

Hyderabad, July 01, 2022: Union Bank of India today launched a unique initiative named “U Smile – Spread Smiles” a charity initiative at its Head Office in Mumbai, wherein all Unionites and well-wishers come forward & Donate voluntarily for a cause. A well-structured provision for acceptance of Clothes, Grocery items and Donation in cash has been provided for at the Ground Floor, Central Office Building, and Reception Area.

The Donation received/collected will be totally distributed amongst the needy and poor through NGOs, Old age Homes, etc. at regular intervals.

Each Unionite will have an opportunity to voluntarily Donate on apt occasions as per their choice.

(Seen in the photograph is Ms. A Manimekhalai, MD&CEO, Union Bank of India along with Executives of the Bank at the launch of ‘U Smile – Spread Smiles’, a charity initiative by the Bank.)

Single-Use plastic ban: 5 Startups Embracing Plastic-free solutions for a Cleaner Planet

The degrading situation of the environment due to the use of plastic has turned out to be a big concern for many countries including India. The Government of India is taking steps to promote innovation, banning single-use plastic from July 1 and providing an ecosystem for accelerated penetration and availability of alternatives all across the country. The adverse impacts of littered single-use plastic items on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in marine environments, are globally recognized. Addressing pollution due to single-use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge in the country, on the same front these startups are providing product solutions to remove single-use plastic and stop environmental degradation.

1. Bambrew offers Plant-based Packaging

Bambrew is a one-stop innovative solution provider for sustainable packaging in India.  With a mission to wipe out plastic usage in the packaging industry, it offers a host of products that are 100% handmade, reusable, and the perfect natural substitute for single-use plastics in the B2B domain. The company curates every product made from bamboo, sugarcane, and seaweed.  Incepted in 2018, Bangalore-based Bambrew is the brainchild of Vaibhav Anant. Bambrew has reduced more than 10,000 tons of plastic usage to date without using chemicals or pesticides in its production. It is the only company to target the leading giants that majorly contribute to the plastic waste generated worldwide in E-commerce & Retail, FMCG, F&B, Pharmaceutical, etc. This strikingly sets the company apart from the rest of the other players in the industry.

2. CHUK

CHUK is a 100% compostable & biodegradable tableware brand that uses agri-residue to produce toxin-free products as a perfect alternative for plastic tableware. Through its unbleached, eco-friendly, carcinogen-free, and hygienic range of products, the brand aims to positively transform the catering and food ecosystem by setting it down the greenway. Apart from being microwaveable, ovenable, and freezable, each of the brand’s FDA-approved offerings boasts a sturdy and elegant design. It is this dynamic modularity that makes CHUK and its product globally recognizable. The brand builds on the rich legacy of its parent company, Yash Pakka Limited (YPL), which has more than 35 years of experience in pulp manufacturing. The primary target demographic includes players in the catering and food ecosystem. These include quick-service restaurants (QSRs), restaurants, cafes, hotels, food festivals, institutional catering, party caterers, etc.

3. Pappco Greenware

The Mumbai startup sells seven different product lines with over 150 items, ranging from plates, glasses, and bowls, which are made from sugarcane, wheat straw, and bamboo, among others. In fact, these products are microwavable up to 100 degrees Celsius. It also leverages bioplastics created from plants, algae, or microorganisms.

4. Zogam Bamboo Works (ZBW)

V Ginkhanpau and Golan Suanzamung Naulak run an eco-friendly handicrafts venture by the name Zogam Bamboo Works in Lamka, Manipur. The duo uses bamboo to make pens, water bottles, and decorative pieces.

Recently, one of Zogam’s products — the bamboo tiffin box — became a hit after IFS officer Radha Ramen shared it on the social media platform Twitter. The tiffin box is similar to a traditional steel one, which has three storage sections, with all of them tightly sealed to prevent any sort of leakage. These boxes can last up to three years and can be used to store both hot and cold food.

5. Beco

Consumer goods startup Beco (Be Eco) was founded by Aditya Ruia, Anuj Ruia, Punit Batra, and Akshay Varma in 2017. The startup is known for manufacturing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products such as facial tissues, toilet rolls, and kitchen towels.

Most of Beco’s items are made from bamboo pulp and corn starch, and hence, are completely eco-friendly. It has been using a specific type of bamboo called Moso, which mainly grows in China, Maharashtra, and certain regions in Northeast India.

De Beers hosted the 11th edition of its Annual Forum

Mumbai: July 1, 2022 – The De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, held its annual Forum this week. The Forum brought together all its authorized partners, diamantaires, and manufacturers from across the country as well as key decision-makers from the De Beers global team.

The idea behind the three-day Forum was to facilitate a common platform for members of the diamond industry to interact, network and spark insightful conversations around the growth and vision of the brand as well as for the natural diamond industry at large.

This year the theme encapsulated De Beers’ most historic tagline, ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ which galvanized the brand’s legacy as the storyteller of forever. This year marks the 75th anniversary of this iconic tagline.

The attendees of the Forum experienced interesting retail technology innovations which demonstrated the brand’s unique aspects. Bringing gamification to the forefront interactive games using various elements of the brand was displayed. The diamond journey was demonstrated using advanced projection mapping technology.  Another fascinating creation was a special dark room that brought the sounds of the Okavango Delta in Botswana to Mumbai using the light and beauty of a De Beers diamond. Highlighting De Beers’ sustainability goals for 2030, there was a series of interactive animations designed, and through light projections, it made each initiative come to life.

Marc Jacheet, CEO De Beers Brands said, “India has played a crucial role in the diamond industry globally and the Forum helps us further connect with our authorised partners.  Today’s clients are increasingly looking for brands that reflect their values and inspire trust. A diamond from the De Beers group holds the inherent value of preciousness and reflects the strength of the Building Forever 2030 sustainability goals.”

At the Forum, the brand also announced the launch of new designs in the Forevermark Avaanti Collection. Adding a fresh, contemporary chapter to the evolution of the modern collection, the latest designs embody a spirit of possibility, inspiring the wearer to realise their power and make a lasting statement every day. The new rings, pendants, and earrings all feature a beautiful, rare, and responsibly sourced De Beers Forevermark diamond, set in 18K yellow, white or rose gold. The clean, dynamic designs are also available with the added radiance of pavé-set diamonds.

The special ‘Knowledge Series’ brought together eminent speakers from across industries including Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Founder & Chairman of Marico who spoke about his entrepreneurial journey giving a fresh perspective to the jewellery industry. His Excellency Mr. Gilbert S. Mangole, High Commissioner of Botswana to India highlighted the partnership between De Beers and Botswana speaking on how diamonds do good for the community along with India’s importance to the diamond industry. As well as Namrata Singh, Head-Metaverse & Digital, Sony Entertainment Talent Ventures India (SETVI) who opened doors to exploring brands in the metaverse universe.

“Over the years, the De Beers group have continued to draw inspiration from the iconic line, ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ through all the highs and lows, as well as through changing circumstances. Through it all, De Beers has steered through changing market dynamics, including even the most recent pandemic. Our perseverance has seen phenomenal business growth over the past year. We continue to focus on agility, quick adaption and being connected to the emotional quotient of our consumers across the board. Each year the Forum is an opportunity for us to bring our partners together, to network and transact over three days, and this year they even had the opportunity to interact with our global team who have visited India after a two-year hiatus. We are looking forward to an extremely positive season ahead,” said Sachin Jain, Managing Director, De Beers India.

The De Beers Forum has marked a success displaying over 3000 designs from 16 manufacturers with over 500 attendees each day. The brand is now geared up for the upcoming season.

Bharat Forge successfully completes acquisition of JS Autocast

India, July 1, 2022– Bharat Forge Limited (BSE: 500493, NSE: BHARATFORG), along with its subsidiary, BF Industrial Solutions Limited (together referred to as “Bharat Forge”) today announced that it has successfully completed the previously announced acquisition of JS Autocast Foundry India Private Limited (“JS Auto”). The Enterprise Value of the transaction is Rs 489.63 Crores.

This acquisition significantly enhances our capabilities and addressable market segments both domestically and in export markets, especially in niche industrial segments. This transaction also brings with it significant synergies that particularly strengthen Bharat Forge’s positioning as a preferred ‘Industrial Solutions’ provider.

Recently, JSA has been granted Environmental Clearance to expand its existing foundry operations at SIPCOT from 21,768 TPA to 72,000 TPA. This coupled with 28,800 TPA foundry capacity at Coimbatore, provides a significant growth platform for the company.

JSA will focus on enhancing its product portfolio from current small castings to address opportunities in medium sized castings for both Renewable and other industrial applications. In the next 3 years, JSA will start manufacturing ‘green castings’ utilizing 100% renewable energy and raw material which is predominantly recycled scrap.

In FY22, despite a challenging & volatile environment, JSA recorded revenue Rs 416.87 Crores, growth of 59.5% as compared to FY21.

Zee Studios Takes The Phygital Route to Box Office Success for Rashtra Kavach Om

Mumbai, July 1, 2022: Rashtra Kavach Om, one of the most awaited action movies of 2022, is finally out in theatres and getting an overwhelming response from the audience. Marketed in partnership with the leading Mumbai-based independent agency, White Rivers Media, the action-thriller has been on top of the minds of Indians for over a month now.

Ever since the launch of its captivating teaser, the various dialogues and action scenes from the film have been doing rounds on social media. A seamless blend of physical and digital touchpoints was created specifically to make the country’s youth a part of the campaign, which revolves around the patriotism and valour of the film’s young protagonist ‘Om’.

In the past week, the cast & crew toured cities all over India, such as Pune, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Delhi and Dubai, reaching out to the local young blood and getting them to engage with the leading faces of the film. Influencers across genres accompanied the tour and amplified these physical events online using their unique voice. The Great Khali from Jalandhar, Ruhee Dosani and Faiz Baloch from Mumbai, Aishwarya Mohanraj from Delhi, and over a dozen similar creators ensured that a movie about the country’s hero reached every corner of the country.

These efforts set the stage for the film’s trailer, which registered a whopping 24 Million+ views within 24 hours of its release.

Neeraj Joshi, Marketing Head of Zee Studios said “Now that the world is going out and about again after the pandemic, on-ground marketing is regaining its strength and previous glory. With Om, we had a clear goal of combining our strengths, both online and offline, to engage with the energetic youth of our country. Considering the response to live events, such as last night’s massive fan screening, and the online engagement led by India’s favourite influencers, we would say that we did so successfully.”

“Working with ZEE Studios has always been a delight, especially on launches like these, where the youth is keen to be a part of the campaign before they watch it in theatres. Marketing for Indian action-thriller movies has evolved a lot in the last few years and continues to do so. The right marketing approach is instrumental in creating a positive perception in the mind of the audiences. With Om, our phygital approach has hit the bullseye, and the footfall in cinemas is just a sweet testimony,” said Shrenik Gandhi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, White Rivers Media.

Audi India registers 49% growth in the first half of 2022

Mumbai, July 01, 2022: Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today announced it has retailed 1765 units in the January – June 2022 period, buoyed by new product introductions and continued demand for Audi e-tron range, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi A4, Audi A6 and S/RS models. Audi India has recorded a robust 49% growth over the same period last year.

Mr. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, said, “The first six months of 2022 have seen a healthy sales growth of 49%. We continue to lead the charge with our electric vehicles – the Audi e-tron 50 and 55, the Audi e-tron Sportback and Audi e-tron GT range. Our petrol-powered portfolio including the Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi A4 and Audi A6 are doing good numbers and our S/RS models continue to shine with a strong order bank for 2022. We are now all geared to launch our flagship sedan, the Audi A8 L in India on July 12, 2022.” 

Audi India recently announced segment-first initiatives to celebrate fifteen glorious years in the country. The brand introduced a warranty coverage for five years with unlimited mileage for all cars sold this year, starting June 01, 2022. In addition, the brand launched Audi Club Rewards – a program that offers exclusive access, segment-first privileges and bespoke experiences to all existing owners (including Audi Approved: plus owners) and future customers of Audi India.

Audi India continues the expansion of its pre-owned car business, Audi Approved: plus in India. Currently operating with sixteen Audi Approved: plus showrooms across all major hubs in the country, Audi India is expanding rapidly and will have twenty pre-owned car facilities by the end of 2022.

Manipal Hospitals’ latest campaign showcases the importance of trust in their profession

Mumbai/Bangalore, 1st July, 2022: This Doctor’s Day, Manipal Hospitals, through its latest campaign, highlights the real reasons behind doctors doing what they do best — care for us, even though they are judged for their decisions. The campaign is based on a recent survey which highlighted that more than 90% of Indians don’t trust the healthcare system. The film showcases what a doctor has to go through, to help the patients, while fighting the doubts of the patients and their family members around the treatment.

This campaign, which has been conceptualised and executed by the creative agency, Social Panga, is an extension of last year’s campaign — Happy Doctor’s Day, REALLY?; which highlighted violence faced by Indian doctors and questioned the sentiments of the public. This year, the slight change in the narrative highlights the patients’ trust issues, changing the perspective to — Happy Doctor’s Day. REALLY!; no more questioning, rather acknowledging the sentiments of the larger masses.

Mr. Karthik Rajagopal, Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., says, “Nowadays, people shower us with their frustration more than praise and gratitude if we extend their time in the hospital by a few hours or give them a long list of tests and medicines. They associate it all with having to shell out extra money instead of considering that it is advised out of care and concern. It is time a doctor’s profession was shown due trust for what it is known to do best — save lives. The Social Panga team has done a wonderful job in making it easier for us to send this message across via the Doctor’s Day film.” 

Gaurav Arora, Co-Founder of Social Panga, sheds light on the campaign saying, “For Manipal Hospitals, we believe that deep-rooted insights work best to bring out the most powerful campaign while ensuring it is relatable for the audience. While doctors are respected for what they do, we expect this campaign to serve as a wake-up call for those who do not give the profession the trust it deserves.”

Wrangler expands footprint to Mumbai with the launch of new store

Mumbai, July 01, 2022: Wrangler, the iconic American denim brand today announced the launch of its new flagship store at Linking Road in Mumbai. This is the 39th store of Wrangler in India and the first in Mumbai.

With a wide inventory assortment comprising jeans, T-shirts and shirts, the store is spread across 950 sq. ft. in the heart of one of India’s largest shopping districts. On the 75th anniversary of Wrangler globally, a special ‘75 years of Wrangler’ collection is available for customers at the store. Wrangler also offers a curated ‘Traveler Collection’ comprising denims catering to the adventure-ready and thrill-seeking customers. Customers can also purchase black hooded T-shirts, unisex tank tops and T-shirts in black and white colours as part of the ‘Pride Collection’ launched to support the LGBTQIA+ community. To mark Wrangler’s 75th anniversary, the store will give away 75 T-shirts to the first 75 customers.

Speaking on the launch, Nitin Chhabra, Co-founder & CEO, Ace Turtle said, “We are excited to launch the new flagship store of Wrangler in Mumbai. True to its brand ethos, Wrangler appeals to the young and adventurous customers who are looking for freedom to try new things in life. Post pandemic, we have seen strong footfalls at offline retail stores in high street areas. We are committed to expanding the offline retail footprint by adding 100 more stores of Lee & Wrangler in the current fiscal.” 

The store design enables customers to immerse themselves in brand experience across fit and style. It has an array of trendy menswear displayed for a seamless shopping experience, providing customers with the best denims, T-shirts and jackets. It offers an extensive wardrobe selection of denims, T-shirts, shirts and jackets. The design resembles a contemporary hangout where denim culture is celebrated and showcased through lifestyle presentations, rich storytelling and interactive touch-points.

Ace Turtle launched the Licensed Brands vertical in 2021 by acquiring long-term licenses of iconic denim brands Lee & Wrangler for India and select South Asian markets. It has an end-to-end offering comprising design, local sourcing and retailing for international brands in India. Within a short span of time, Ace Turtle has leveraged the strengths of its omnichannel technology platform to transform the businesses of both Lee & Wrangler in India. Customers can buy Wrangler products from the retail stores and online at www.wrangler.in. Retail store franchise queries may be sent to franchisee.enquiry@aceturtle.com.