Archive: March 1, 2023

Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital Launches Samvaad – An Inspirational Journey of Women Achievers

Mumbai, 01 March 2023: Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8^th March, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital launched an initiative called ‘Samvaad – An Inspirational Journey of Women Achievers.’ The initiative aims to inspire and empower women to prioritize their health while pursuing their goals. The event featured a panel discussion with distinguished women achievers who shared their thoughts on the importance of prioritizing women’s health and the impact it has on oneself,  family, and society.

IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute shared her valuable experience of managing her career and family simultaneously from a young age. She emphasized that women need to focus on their personal health and exercise regularly.

Ms. Bhagyashree, a distinguished Indian actress and philanthropist, hosted the enlightening panel discussion. “Samvaad will be an ongoing platform that highlights women’s health and other pertinent issues. Such discussions will not be limited to International Women’s Day alone, but will instead serve as a means to spotlight the experiences of accomplished women, influential women leaders, members of prominent women’s forums, Rotarians, and senior citizen clubs,” she emphasized.

Senior Indian film journalist, critic, author, and historian Bhawana Somaaya shared her journey of overcoming societal demands to find personal success. She urged young women to follow their passions and not let society dictate their choices.

Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer Ruchi Narain spoke about overcoming language barriers and achieving success while telling enlightening stories through her script and direction. She emphasized the importance of introducing concepts of work-life balance to children from school days.

Deputy Executive Editor of ABP Majha, Sarita Kaushik, talked about the importance of celebrating unsung heroes such as young and brave girls from distant villages of Maharashtra through media. She also shared her personal struggles of reporting in rural Maharashtra as a woman and the challenges she faced.

Noted veteran doctors of Nanavati Max Hospital, Dr. Gayatri Deshpande, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Dr. Kalpana Sarangi, Consultant- Cosmetic Dermatology stressed that women should prioritize their personal health and not let their career, family, or aspirations affect their wellbeing.

The event was attended by over 150 healthcare workers who were inspired by the panelists’ insights.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Mangla Dembi, Senior Vice President and Head of Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, said, “As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is our collective responsibility to empower women and create a supportive environment that enables them to lead fulfilling lives and achieve their dreams. From today, let’s pledge to value ‘self,’ to achieve psychosocial and emotional wellbeing.”

Samvaad is an initiative that aims to inspire and empower young women to prioritize their health and well-being while pursuing their dreams. It is a step towards creating a supportive and encouraging environment for women to achieve their full potential.

COAI Statement on GSMA bestowing Government Leadership Award 2023 to India

“We convey our heartiest congratulations to the Government of India on being bestowed with the Government Leadership Award 2023. The GSMA’s Government Leadership Award recognizes world-class leadership in the establishment of sound regulatory policies for mobile connectivity. This aptly reflects the magnitude of the Government’s efforts, approach and focus on evolving into a Digital India as envisioned by our Prime Minister and placing our nation on a leading position in the global map of rapidly advancing digital economies. 

We express our warm compliments on this tremendous achievement, especially to the Union Minister of Communications & IT, the Minister of State for Communications, the Telecom Secretary, as well as the entire Department of Telecommunications and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, for the prolific leadership and dynamic support provided to the industry in growing rapidly as a crucial socio-economic enabler for the country and reaching globally competitive levels in several important aspects. The industry is delighted and greatly enthused by this development, and we look forward to playing our role in taking the Indian Telecom sector to further heights and help achieve more milestones going ahead.” 

To be attributed to Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI

Tech Mahindra Strengthens Partnership with Microsoft to Deliver Azure Operator Nexus Solutions

New Delhi 01 March 2023: Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, today announced an expanded partnership with Microsoft as an Azure Operator Nexus Ready  Systems Integrator.  The partnership will empower telecom operators and enterprises to build, host, and operate Long-term Evolution (LTE)s and 5G networks by using virtualized/containerized network functions leveraging Azure Operator Nexus.

As an Azure Operator Nexus Ready Systems Integrator, Tech Mahindra will provide its talent, expertise, comprehensive solutions, and professional managed services offerings. The partnership will leverage a fully cloud-native and blueprinted 5G core running on Azure Operator Nexus that will enable telecom operators to provide enhanced and customized user experiences. It will further provide operators with streamlined business operations through simplified management, policies, and automation delivered through unified cloud management.

Manish Mangal, Global Head, of 5G & Network Services Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “The world is embracing telco network transformation becoming more open, edge-centric, hybrid, and data-driven. With Microsoft as a strategic partner, Tech Mahindra is helping operators realize the full potential of their networks and providing innovative and agile services. The partnership focuses on reinventing the customer experience with innovation at its core and transforming telco networks by building innovative cloud-native infrastructure solutions in the 5G Core and RAN domains. It will further strengthen our network service portfolio by combining the Microsoft cloud with our deep expertise and footprint in the telecom industry.”

Utilizing Azure Operator Nexus, Tech Mahindra will enable operators to run all their workloads (such as core, RAN mobile and voice core, operating support system, and business support system) on a single carrier-grade hybrid cloud platform. This will help meet the security, resiliency, observability, manageability, and performance needs required by operators to achieve meaningful results from digital transformation.

Shawn Hakl, Vice President – Azure for Operators, Microsoft, said, “Network operators are looking to adopt cloud technology to modernize and monetize the network – lowering network total cost of ownership; driving operational efficiency and resiliency; and improving security. Through our expanded partnership, Tech Mahindra will deliver innovative Azure Operator Nexus solutions and services, that will help customers drive business transformation and realize new growth.”

The expanded partnership is in line with Tech Mahindra’s DigitALL philosophy for comprehensive Business Transformation. As part of NXT.NOW™ framework, which aims to enhance ‘Human Centric Experience’, Tech Mahindra focuses on investing in emerging technologies and solutions that enable digital transformation and meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Fire-Boltt expands its Outdoor smartwatch series with the launch of ‘Sphere’

New Delhi, March 1st, 2023: Home-grown brand Fire-Boltt announces the launch of its all-new sporty & rugged smartwatch – ‘Sphere’ from its Outdoor series. An ultimate smartwatch for the adventurer in you, Sphere is designed to withstand even the toughest environments, while still keeping you connected and in control. Designed specifically for the outdoors, the smartwatch comes with military standard toughness and is equipped with a 1.6-inch HD display with 400*400 pixels resolution and 600 Nits brightness, providing an outstanding visual experience to the users. It is currently available on Flipkart & Fireboltt.com at an introductory price of INR 2999.

Fire-Boltt Sphere comes with a shockproof metal body and is fuelled by 600 mAh battery which is one of the largest in its segment. On a single charge, the smartwatch can run non-stop for up to 8 days in classic mode and 25 days in standby mode. It is equipped with multiple sports modes and an intelligent sports algorithm feature, the smartwatch helps in tracking down even the minutest of details of one’s workout sessions. The smartwatch also supports Bluetooth calling which comes with HIFI audio quality. With the availability of a quick dial pad on the watch, the users can make, reject or accept calls on the go. Rated IP68 for water resistance, the smartwatch can easily handle accidental water splashes and strenuous workouts in the gym. Additionally, the smartwatch is loaded with exciting features like periodical health reminders, sedentary reminders, remote camera control, weather forecast, alarm clock, timer, and stopwatch that allows user to fully utilize their time outdoors. The smartwatch is available in 2 striking color variants- Black and Green Forest.

Commenting on the launch, Aayushi Kishore and Arnav Kishore, Co-Founders of Fire-Boltt, said, “We are thrilled to expand our outdoor category and introduce yet another sporty and rugged smartwatch for our consumers. The overall response to our outdoor watches has been phenomenal which gives us a sense of pride as we have been successfully able to create a new category in the budget smartwatch segment. We will be even more aggressive with our portfolio expansion in the coming months and will leave no stone unturned to bring the best quality smartwatches to our customers.”

The Sphere smartwatch combines a sporty and rugged design providing an intuitive experience to the user. One can use this smartwatch for any activity or adventure, be it hiking, trekking, or thrilling environmental conditions like dust, water splashes, pressure, etc. Fire-Boltt Sphere can also track heart rate, sleep cycle, and SPO2 levels with its signature health suite. It comes with a dual chamfered crown and highly durable glass which gives a premium look and feel to the smartwatch. While the solid body of the smartwatch tackles outdoor activities with ease, its skin-friendly silicon strap with a sweat-wicking design ensures it stays dry and sits comfortably on the user’s wrist. Not only this, but one can also get an option of 6 menu interfaces to choose from along with 100+ cloud base watch faces.

Bajaj Finserv empowers differently-abled persons in Pune with hi-tech mobility solutions

New Delhi, 01 March 2023: Bajaj Finserv Ltd., one of India’s leading and diversified financial services groups, has committed support to differently-abled persons by providing hi-tech mobility solutions that enable them to integrate into mainstream society.

The initiative ‘Accessibility & Freedom’ is part of Bajaj Finserv’s social responsibility programme, aimed at driving equitable and inclusive opportunities for children and youth. It is being funded and driven through its subsidiary, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, in partnership with Round Table India, a non-profit working to improve the lives of differently-abled persons.

The initiative was launched at an event in Pune where 40 differently-abled persons identified by Round Table India were provided hi-tech mobility devices that convert a wheelchair into a roadworthy vehicle. The device is an indigenous innovation by NeoMotion, a start-up from R2D2 of IIT Madras. It comprises NeoFly, a compact, personalized wheelchair designed to best fit a user’s health and lifestyle, and NeoBolt, a hi-tech motorized add-on that transitions it seamlessly into an outdoor mobility device.

The first recipients of the solution were largely individuals with quadriplegia, including ex-servicemen, para-athletes, and homemakers. Under the initiative, 200 hi-tech mobility solutions will be provided by Bajaj Finserv to recipients across India. Present at the event were Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson, CSR Steering Committee, Bajaj Finserv; Ajay Sathe, Group CSR Head, Bajaj Finserv; Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, and senior officials of Round Table India and Neo Motion.

Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson of the CSR Steering Committee, Bajaj Finserv, said, “The initiative is life-transformative for the differently-abled. It ties in with our efforts to advance inclusion among children and youth by giving them equal access to resources, health, education, and opportunities. The hi-tech device gives recipients improved access, a feeling of freedom and goes a long way towards integrating them into mainstream society. It is heart-warming to see the smiles on recipients’ faces when they receive the devices. For us, it’s deeply satisfying to be able to make a tangible impact on people’s lives.” 

Tapan Singhel, MD & CEO, of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, said, “As a group, Bajaj Finserv has always believed in giving back to society and making a positive impact on communities. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance resonates with the Group’s philosophy and strives to take measures that add value to the lives of our citizens. Many fellow Indians who use wheelchairs face numerous challenges in their routine lives, restricting their career opportunities and thus hampering them economically. As part of this initiative, we have donated 200 hi-tech mobility solutions to suit users’ health and lifestyle needs, empowering them to move around with much ease. We endeavour to make a difference in society and contribute to the well-being of the citizens of this country so that they can live a life of dignity.”

Ajay Sathe, Group CSR Head, Bajaj Finserv, said, “The initiative illustrates how technology can be leveraged for social impact. The hi-tech mobility solutions improve access for differently abled persons, enabling them to pursue an active liberated lifestyle. With the increased availability of these devices, the macro socio-economic impact can be significant. We are happy to associate with Round Table India. They have done commendable work in identifying the recipients and getting this initiative off to a great start. “

India has approximately 3 crore differently-abled persons facing mobility challenges and heavily dependent on a support ecosystem for their fundamental necessities. Restricted mobility impacts their ability to move outdoors, earn livelihoods and grow economically.

The hi-tech mobility solutions provided by Bajaj Finserv are compact wheelchairs customized to an individual’s posture and energy and are fitted with a motor-powered clip-on device that converts the wheelchair into a safe, roadworthy vehicle. It eliminates the need to transfer the person into other vehicles and can be independently attached by the user within seconds.

The powered wheelchair has a maximum speed of 25 kmph and can travel up to 25 km per charge. The solution has been compatible with rugged conditions to enhance its utility. Recipients can access the outdoors with the solution, pursue an active liberated lifestyle, be independent, and explore a world of opportunities, including education and employment.

Pankaj Gupta joins Quickplay as Head of Solutions Engineering, APAC and MVPD

Toronto, ON, Canada,01 March 2023: Pankaj Gupta, a transformation champion who has been on the leading edge of video evolution across wired, wireless, and cloud infrastructures, has joined Quickplay as Head of Solutions Engineering, APAC, and MVPD.

Gupta, who joins Quickplay after three years with Synamedia, will leverage his expertise in helping content distributors shape and build video delivery systems as he spearheads go-to-market strategies in the APAC and India markets for Quickplay’s industry-first, cloud-native OTT platform.

“The success and rapid growth of deployments with aha, PLDT, and others have spurred increased interest in how MVPDs, telcos, and other providers can transform every aspect of their businesses by moving to cloud-based architectures,” said Chris Drake, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Sales and Revenue for Quickplay. “Pankaj Gupta is highly regarded for his extensive knowledge, especially of the APAC market, and his ability to help each video provider create the system that meets their specific needs.”

During Gupta’s tenure as director, of solution consulting for Synamedia Asia, his consultative approach to identifying customer pain points and possible resolutions was key to the company’s APAC sales strategy. Previously he was head of sales and business development/video cloud product SME during a five-year career with Cisco that included execution of the world’s first hybrid video cloud platform deal. Gupta also was CTO for Airtel International’s direct-to-home project and general manager and head of DTH NOC for Airtel India.

“Quickplay’s cloud-native architecture, its spirit of innovation, and its results-oriented team are powering the company to new heights,” said Gupta. “I’m here to help Quickplay do what it does better than anyone in the industry: help streaming providers to seamlessly transition from the confines of legacy architectures to the limitless possibilities of platforms based entirely in the cloud.”

Tata Motors launches Re.Wi.Re, its first Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility

Bengaluru 01 March 2023: Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile manufacturer, today, took a significant leap forward in its commitment towards sustainable mobility with the launch of Re.Wi.Re–Recycle with Respect, its first Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, this state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of 15,000 vehicles per annum and follows world-class, eco-friendly processes for safe and sustainable dismantling of end-of-life vehicles. It is developed and operated by Tata Motors’ partner Ganganagar Vaahan Udyog Pvt. Ltd. to scrap end-of-life passenger and commercial vehicles of all brands.

Inaugurating Tata Motors’ maiden Re.Wi.Re RVSF, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari said, “The National Vehicle Scrappage Policy was introduced with the aim to promote circular economy by creating an ecosystem for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles and to achieve a lower carbon footprint in the country by replacing them with greener and more fuel-efficient vehicles. I congratulate Tata Motors for setting-up this quality facility that is at par with global standards. We are working towards positioning India as a vehicle scrapping hub for the entire South Asian region and need more such state-of-the-art scrapping and recycling units in India.” 

Speaking on the launch of Re.Wi.Re., Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “At Tata Motors, we are committed to delve into every aspect of mobility to make it greener and sustainable. The inauguration of this RVSF (Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility) heralds a new beginning in the responsible scrapping of end-of-life vehicles. With globally benchmarked and optimized recycling processes, we intend to yield maximum value from the scrap for future use and minimize waste for the overall betterment. We appreciate the visionary efforts of Shri Gadkari ji in enabling the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy and look forward to setting up Re.Wi.Re facilities across the country in collaboration with our partners. These decentralized facilities will benefit the customers, share the economic value generated, create employment while addressing the need of scrapping vehicles in every part of the country in an eco-friendly manner.

The state-of-the-art Re.Wi.Re. facility is designed to dismantle end-of-life passenger and commercial vehicles of all brands and ensures de-pollution. It is fully digitalized for hassle-free, paperless operations and has dedicated stations for safe dismantling of components such as tires, batteries, fuel, oils, liquids, and gases. The vehicles go through a stringent documentation and dismantling process, curated individually for passenger and commercial vehicle requirements.

Jiraaf crosses INR 1000 crore in Investments

Bengaluru, 01 March 2023: Jiraaf, one of the fastest-growing high-yield alternative investment platforms in India, has recorded more than 15x growth and deployed more than INR 1,000 cr in investments as of January 2023. Jiraaf is the first horizontal fixed-income platform enabling digital participation from investors with a minimum investment size of INR 1 lakh. Investors can earn yields ranging from 8% to 20% for a period of 30 days to 3 years.

Founded in September 2021 by Vineet Agrawal and Saurav Ghosh, Jiraaf has emerged as a reliable fintech platform for alternative fixed-income opportunities repaying INR 550 cr with zero defaults or delays.

Speaking about this, Vineet Agrawal, Co-founder, Jiraaf, said, “Investments are key to financial wealth creation, and in the modern era, alternative investment options have emerged as great opportunities for those seeking predictable & high returns. While equity markets have seen enormous participation from the public, fixed income remains underpenetrated. Our mission at Jiraaf is to make fixed-income opportunities mainstream by innovating and making them more accessible. We are thankful to our partners like Caratlane, Homecredit, Everest Fleet and Rupeek among others for sharing our journey. We have created a strong team across functions including technology, investments, and credit risk to present a wide range of curated investment opportunities.”

Jiraaf takes a cautious approach to curating investments. It works with select borrowers across the yield spectrum which facilitates investors to create a diversified robust portfolio. Delivering INR 550 cr+ repayments without delays or defaults, Jiraaf has established an early track record. Jiraaf started in September 2021 and raised $7.5 mn in funding in April 2022 led by Accel Partners & Mankekar Family Office.

“In today’s market environment, retail investors have a growing appetite for alternative fixed-income products, and we believe there is a gap in the market for products vetted by professionals. Jiraaf has effectively democratised the debt market and has provided access to a wide array of products for wealth creation beyond the traditional asset classes. This milestone achievement aligns with what Saurav and Vineet were set to achieve. We are proud to be part of this journey of Jiraaf in revolutionizing wealth creation.” –  Barath Shankar Subramanian, Partner at Accel

Adding further, Saurav Ghosh, Co-founder, Jiraaf said, “We are extremely happy to have crossed the INR 1000 crore investment mark. The trust of our users remains our biggest asset. It gives us great confidence that 93% of our customers are return investors. Our endeavour in the next 12 months is to grow our user base and increase our monthly run rate of investments from 100 cr to 300 cr. Bringing new opportunities and building a robust digital platform will be our key focus areas in the next 1-2 quarters. We are grateful to our investors Accel partners, Aspire family office, Mankekar family office and others who have supported us through our journey.

2022 has been tough for investors with tremendous volatility in the stock markets. With continued uncertainty on several factors including high inflation, and challenging macro growth, there is a strong need for investment options that are predictable, transparent, and capable of delivering good returns. Studies have shown that diversifying 15-20% of your investment portfolio with alternative investments can provide great portfolio returns. Jiraaf has understood this need well and is fast emerging as a leader in the space of alternative investments.

Multi: directional, bladeless and new ventilation fans launched by luxury fan brand Fanzart

Bengaluru March 1st, 2023: Fanzart, the pioneers of luxury fans in India, have yet again added another set of luxury fans to their incredible list of designer fans. The new set of fans, one being multi-directional and bladeless and the other being a new age ventilation fan, is an addition to the already existing outstanding range of more than 100 luxury designer fans customised to meet the unique needs of its connoisseur clientele.

Commenting on the latest launches, Tarun Lala, Co-Founder and Director, Fanzart, says, “Our latest launches are set to bring in elegance, finesse along with the benefits of modern technology into the interior spaces. While the twin models of silent exhaust fans will be much sought after in the utility and service areas – the bathrooms, kitchens, utility areas and more, the bladeless pedestal option will serve as a fitting tribute to a sleek contemporary interior.”

Orbit: Multi-directional and bladeless

Orbit fan from Fanzart is a bladeless option, the air circulation being multi-directional, the body totally sleek and contemporary in looks to fit in finely into a high end space. Built with Japanese technology, the black coloured 38.1 inch designer fan, aptly christened as Orbit, comes with an oscillation of 900 and an air velocity of over 7m/s.

The silent performer also comes with power saving, requiring barely 45W for its operations. The luxury fan has a smart touch LED control panel, facilitating operation through infrared remote control that can be easily stored in a remote control nest. A built-in dust filter ensures the circulation of clean and dust free air.

Pro and Max: New age ventilation

Fanzart has yet again come out with a differential approach to addressing ventilation through its twin options of Pro and Max exhaust fans. Packing in an ultra-silent technology, the twin fans come with a noise level of 35db. Working on a low power requirement of 25W, the light weight exhaust fans prove to be high performers, with the airflow amounting to 320 m3/h.

The company is renowned across the country for its exclusive designer fans that include fans with classic looks, customised unique options to cater to children’s room, elegant fandeliers, mini fans, humanoids, fans with blue tooth and customisable blades.