Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

Pune’s Real Estate Boom – Is Now the Perfect Time to Invest?

akash pharande

By-Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

Pune, one of India’s most vibrant real estate markets, has experienced rapid changes over the past few years. Latest data from leading real estate consultancies show a scenario of strong housing price increases and ongoing changes in market dynamics, pointing towards further price hikes in the future.

According to real estate consultants Anarock, Pune and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) saw over 50% of the overall housing sales in Q2 2024 among the top seven cities. This is a resounding statement for Pune — a city once considered the laid-back cousin of the financial capital and is now competing in the same league.

Rising Property Prices: A Continuum

Recent data from various leading consultancies clearly show Pune’s trend of rising property prices. There has been a significant 20-23% year-on-year increase compared to Q1 2023. This resilience and rising demand are driving prices higher. Several factors explain Pune’s growing housing prices

– Economic Growth & Employment Opportunities: Pune’s real estate market has improved significantly due to its development into a major IT and manufacturing center. High demand from professionals seeking homes near their workplaces has led to a surge in property values in and around IT parks and manufacturing hubs.

– Infrastructure Development: Ongoing and planned infrastructure improvements such as road extensions, new flyovers, and the Pune Metro are boosting the city’s property values and connectivity. This dynamic is evident across Greater Pune, which includes the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the infrastructure-driven Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

– Shift in Housing Segments: Pune’s housing market is now driven by mid-range and premium-to-luxury housing, thanks to higher demand for such options. The higher purchasing and borrowing power of the target clientele supports ongoing price increases.

pune real estate

So – Buy Now or Later?

To answer this very important question, it is necessary to consider some fundamentals. Pune’s strong economic growth draws professionals and families from various industries. The city offers a high livability quotient, better housing affordability, and a superior climate compared to neighboring Mumbai. It also boasts top-grade healthcare and education options and proximity to Mumbai, Maharashtra’s main economic hub.

Pune has delivered an overall residential price appreciation of well over 20% in just one year. Naturally, both end-users and investors find the city very appealing, especially considering its rapid growth since 2020, which saw Pune’s lowest year for housing demand in the last decade due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Job losses, economic disruption, and the disappearance of construction labour brought building activity to a halt. The lockdowns caused a significant decline in real estate market demand and supply.

But in 2021, the market began to bounce back powerfully. With a 17% year-on-year increase, Pune saw the highest property sales since 2013. Buyer confidence increased steadily. In 2023, the Pune housing market rebounded remarkably. The current year is poised to set new benchmarks.

The writing is clearly on the wall — there is no stopping the Pune housing market, and a wait-and-watch stance can cost buyers dearly. For those who want to buy a home in Pune, either to live here or to reap investment returns, there is a strong argument for acting now. Historical data and current patterns clearly imply that the city’s property values will keep rising.

Given the continuous growth of the city and its expanding economic base, homes bought now will deliver significant value addition over time. Pune is currently second only to Mumbai in new residential launches and sales and is also attracting increasing interest from institutional investors eyeing its commercial real estate market.

This means more workplaces, more jobs, and even higher housing demand driving prices steadily northward. For potential buyers and investors, the message is clear – there is no equity in waiting for a more opportune time in Pune’s thriving housing market.

About the Author:

Pune's Real Estate Boom - Is Now the Perfect Time to Invest?Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience

Private sector’s vital role in strengthening India’s healthcare Infrastructure: Insights from TheHealthSite.com Summit 2024

Healthcare experts Dr. Sunil Kohli and Dr. Shafiq Ahmed shed light on the pivotal role of the private sector in bolstering India’s healthcare infrastructure at TheHealthSite.com Summit 2024.

According to Dr. Kohli, significant strides have been made in the country’s healthcare infrastructure in recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both public and private sectors have witnessed notable enhancements, with streamlined processes and improved manufacturing capabilities. Dr. Kohli highlighted the transformation from a nation reliant on importing PPE to becoming a manufacturer and exporter of such critical medical supplies.

Dr. Ahmed emphasized the challenges posed by disparities in healthcare accessibility across different regions of India. He noted the escalating risks of various diseases, both communicable and non-communicable, in different parts of the country. Additionally, Dr. Ahmed underscored the financial burden on individuals, stating that the rising costs of healthcare are exacerbating challenges for the average citizen.

The insights shared by these esteemed healthcare professionals, as published by TheHealthSite.com, one of the digital assets of IndiaDotcom Digital Private Limited, underscores the indispensable role of the private sector in fortifying India’s healthcare infrastructure. Their perspectives shed light on the ongoing efforts and challenges in ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services across the nation.

Runwal Group commemorates the Covid-19 Frontline Heroes on 75th Independence Day

Mumbai: On the occasion of 75th Independence Day, Mumbai based Runwal Group, one of India’s top real estate developers, felicitated the frontline warriors from Dombivli for doing their bit to fight the unprecedented health crisis due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The Group recognized and felicitated the unconventional warriors that included the doctors, nurses and hospital staff along with other heroes who stood tall for the community during a difficult period and brought in a positive change. The event was hosted at their integrated township project, Runwal Gardens which is located on the main Kalyan Shil Road.

Commenting on this occasion, Mr. Rajat Rastogi, Executive Director, Runwal Group said, “Runwal Group has always been a brand that believes in community development. These frontline warriors have been providing critical services to the community during the pandemic and we wanted to extend our gratitude to them. There could not have been a better occasion than the country’s Independence Day for this felicitation. Runwal Group sincerely thanks all the doctors and frontline workers for their dedicated and selfless service round the clock in this war against the pandemic.”

The Covid-19 pandemic had brought the entire world to a standstill last year. Amidst the multiple lockdowns, new emerging norms of living, a community that emerged as the true warriors was the group of doctors, nurses and the medical staff that not only were fighting the disease on the frontline but also were uplifting people around them with positivity. To name a few heroes who worked remarkably amidst the Covid-19 outbreak to serve the society were Dr. Aparna Singh, Dr. Ankita Garge, Dr. Vaishali Kashikar, Dr. Poornima Dhake, Dr. Santosh Kembhavi, Mr. Bhalchandra Nemade, Mr. Kiran Waghmare, Ms. Rohini Lokare, Mr. Pramod More, Mr. Surendra Tengale, Dr. Parag Bhanushali, Ms. Uma Kale, Mr. Vikram Bhavarte, Mr. Anthonies Francis and Mr. Pratik Tirodkar.

Here are a few glimpses of their work:

As the Covid cases weren’t dropping in Kalyan-Dombivli region due to high density and tiny congested apartments, Dr Poornima Dhake, Medical Officer at the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) along with her team took some stringent measures to control the spread of the virus. KDMC continued to seal the entire wing of a building when a case was identified. Her department had started a campaign to raise awareness among shopkeepers and vegetable vendors after complaints that they were routinely seen flouting mask-wearing rules.

Pratik Tirodkar, a 23-year-old instrumentation engineer from Dombivli, created a first-of-its kind ‘Internet-controlled’ robot specifically to address the needs of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. The gizmo, aptly called ‘Coro-bot’ independently dispensed food, water, beverages, medicines – and even some good advice – to Corona patients without the needs for nurses, ward staff or other care-givers. Pratik donated the first Coro-bot to KDMC to help health workers in dealing with Covid patients. The Coro-bot was deployed successfully at Holy Cross Hospital in Kalyan to serve food and water to Covid patients.

Ms. Rohini Lokare, Deputy Engineer & Manager Dombivli Gymkhana Covid Centre relentlessly worked for the Covid patients. She was also part of a special vaccination campaign for the blind and disabled where 59 blind persons from Wangani, Karjat, Kalyan, Badlapur and Dombivali were vaccinated at Dnyaneshwar Hindi High School Vaccination Center at Duttnagar Shivmandir, Dombivli East.

Ms. Vaishali Kashikar, Medical Officer at KDMC was instrumental in the KDMC’s Covid-19 vaccine dry run conducted at a health post at Gita Harkisandas Civic Hospital in Kolsewadi Kalyan.

The event started with a flag hoisting ceremony and concluded successfully by honouring all of them for their exceptional duties and contribution to the community.

Health and security advice for hajj amidst covid-19 From international SoS

DUBAI– International SOS, the world’s leading medical and security services company, is providing advice on health preparations for Hajj in Saudi Arabia, amidst COVID-19 pandemic. This year, with Hajj expected to commence between 17 July and 22 July, the Ministry of Hajj announced that pilgrimage will be permitted to 60,000 people, for residents of all nationalities and citizens inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Performing the Hajj rituals for this year will be limited to those between the ages of 18-65, who are free of chronic diseases and have been vaccinated.

In a normal year, more than 3 million foreign and domestic pilgrims are expected to perform their religious duties in Mecca, Mina, Arafat & Muzdalifah, with many also travelling to Medina in the weeks before and after the pilgrimage. Last year, the kingdom closed its borders to contain the spread of Covid-19 and Hajj was restricted to 1,000 domestic pilgrims.

Dr Olivier Barles, Regional Medical Director at International SOS in Dubai, advises:

“In the context of COVID-19 and even for those that have been fully vaccinated, pilgrims should continue to adhere to personal precautionary measures in order to best protect themselves from the potential threat all the COVID-19 variants. Therefore, they are still advised to keep safe distance between each other, to wear face masks and gloves and maintain a high degree of personal hygiene by washing hands frequently. It is also important to follow the regulations outlined by the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia and to pay attention to other known diseases prevalent in the region, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Wellness measures to cope with environmental issues, such as the extreme heat should also be implemented. Then, always choose clean, well-cooked food and safe beverages, including bottled water and pasteurised milk. Also, take measures to stay hydrated and cool to avoid heat-related illnesses.”

Mazen Jomaa, Regional Security Manager at International SOS in Dubai, said:

“Pilgrims undertaking Hajj this year, who are already residing in the Kingdom, should ensure they have taken the necessary precautions, obtained the correct approvals and follow the government regulations closely. Further, any domestic movements to Mecca, Mina and Muzdalifa should be completed with a trusted pilgrimage organiser that has the appropriate vehicles in place.”

International SOS top advice for Hajj during COVID-19:

· Wear a face mask and gloves at all times and maintain a distance of at least 2 metres between yourself and others.

· It is important to follow good hygiene measures including regularly washing your hands and disposing of used masks and gloves safely and immediately.

· Ensure you comply fully with all government requirements.

· Ensure any health issues are stabilised. If you need any medications, pack enough for the trip, with some extra in case of delays.

· Save emergency contacts on your mobile phone and make sure it is charged (police, ambulance, embassy, local contacts).

· Monitor the situation – remain abreast of the latest news and recommendations.

· Exercise heightened caution with regards to religious and cultural sensitivities, especially on social media platforms and respect all local legal, religious and cultural conventions at all times

· Expect tighter security at transport hubs as well as increased traffic and congestion.

· If conducting the pilgrimage, comply with your hajj operator’s instructions, specifically during the stoning rituals. There are set times for different operators organised by Saudi Authorities to minimise the potential for overcrowding. While completing your pilgrimage, be mindful of your belongings when moving throughout the crowds.

· Stay well hydrated to avoid heatstroke. Select safer food and beverages – Use bottled water. Wash fruits and vegetables well. Ensure any meat is thoroughly cooked, avoid non-pasteurised dairy items.

· Pay attention to people who may look sick; again, keep your distance wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.

· Avoid direct contact with animals, including camels. A potentially severe illness caused by another Coronavirus, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can be present in camels and their products.

How Each Day of Second Covid Wave is Effecting Consumer Behavior

The global COVID-19 crisis is continuing to grievously affect the societies and economics around the globe while hitting various sectors in the economy in different ways. The second wave of pandemic is an unprecedented situation which is significantly affecting the economic recovery. Also, the nationwide lockdowns have several consequences for the everyday life of consumers and have dramatically changed how businesses act and consumers behave.

The market recorded magnificent change in customer behavior during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic itself, majorly because of the government restrictions. “COVID-19 has introduced fundamental change in urban mobility; there is an unprecedented increase in e-commerce around the world due to the pandemic measures and various other government interventions. Consumers from all generations are now actively making digital purchases for essential goods and services. The consumer sentiment is diverging as per the government restrictions and monitoring this diversion will help us to strategise and transform our marketing goals’’ says Anuj Mundra, Chairman & MD, Nandani Creation Limited.

In addition to the acceleration of online retailing, other distribution options in which no physical human interaction is needed may gain in popularity. “I have to say, the market has become very challenging because of the rapid increase in corona cases each day. This has affected consumer behavior in both ways as people can now shop online and avoid getting in contact at retail stores. The consumer behavior is much towards the e-com these days. The retail stores are also taking all kinds of precautions but it is a bit difficult for people to shop offline so they are preferring online mediums. We are ensuring safer delivery methods and contactless delivery too for people. We understand that this traumatic situation can also be an opportunity to learn more about consumer behavior, so we are trying to work more on the same’’ explained ShivamSoni, CEO & Founder,Beyoung Folks Private Limited.

The aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in online transactions and augmentation in online searches, payments and ways of delivering goods and services. The profiles of online customers increased drastically. More consumers boosted their online shopping behaviorsthat caused spike in B2C ecommerce. The online shopping preferenceemerged as a preferable model for consumers that allow them to fulfill necessities and luxuries while maintain all public health precautions and avoiding infection risk. The digital shopping experience has turned out as a new reality which can sustain even after the pandemic.

“While the 1st wave was more of a sudden shock and it took time for people to adjust to this new way of life of WFH, the consumers are now better equipped at this online style of purchasing in 2021. Whether it is every essential like groceries or big purchases like a home or an automobile, the consumer has now become comfortable with Virtual transactions’’ says Ankit Goel, Director, Goel Ganga Developments.

The ongoing situation of the second wave of pandemic is making consumers reconsider their traditional buying and shopping habits wherein they have started to explore new ones. Due to the public health policies with strict control measures, manyconsumers have moved to online shopping, home-deliveries or cashless payment options, which they didn’t consider before. There is a need for retail managers and marketers to monitor the changes in consumers’ shopping behavior and habits to understand which changes in strategies they need to adopt.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is resulting in a decrease in consumption, as people are hesitant to spend money. Spending has decreased majority of the sectors, food and daily necessities being an exception.It has become highly relevant for retailers and marketers to understand the consumers’ buying behavior during the pandemic in order to implement strategies and tactics to sustain existing consumers and attract new one’’ added Vikas Gupta, CEO, Greyweave.com.

Natural Therapies for Mental Health Problems

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be the biggest public health challenge in over a century, and institutions and individuals across the world are finding ways to adjust themselves to what appears to be a different way of functioning. While the challenges posed by the situation are manifold and cover every aspect of our daily lives, they all have a significant impact on our mental health. If there ever was a time to foreground the discussion on mental health, it is now.

If you are finding it difficult to cope with the relative isolation, then you should take the help of support systems, be it familial, social, or medical. If your mental health takes a toll, it will also end up compromising your immune response, which is something you absolutely cannot afford during these critical times. While conventional pharmacological interventions certainly have their place, it is important to buttress them with supplements and functional foods that support a healthy lifestyle. Let us take a look at some natural remedies that have positive effects on mental health.

Tryptophan and blueberry extracts – There is a lot of ongoing research on how food supplementation can alleviate depression. L-tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, is known to help suppress anxious and depressed moods. According to a recent review conducted by researchers at Nihon Pharmaceutical University Japan, daily supplementation of L-tryptophan had a marked improvement in the mood of individuals. The researchers found that tryptophan availability to the brain is enhanced when it is ingested along with carbohydrates, maximizing its mood alleviating effects. Another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that supplementing the diet with blueberries leads to fewer depression symptoms compared to the placebo group.

Valerian – The herb derived from the root of the flower, Valeriana officinalis, is an effective combatant against anxiety and sleep problems. It is an excellent option for elderly people as it does not cause memory problems as most sedative medications do. It may also help children who have trouble falling asleep by reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality, especially if they suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, you need to consult with their physician for the appropriate dosage. Valerian causes headaches and upsets the stomach. It is not clear as to whether it is safe to use this herb during pregnancy, as there have been no studies on this front yet. Bear in mind that this herb takes a while to work. So, if you are looking for a quick fix, you need to use it along with prescription medication under advisement from your physician.

Omega-3 fatty acids – These naturally occurring fatty acids are abundant in cold-water fish, such as sardines, salmon, and anchovies. People who cannot eat fish can also obtain them from fish oil capsules. Omega-3 supplements boost the effectiveness of the antidepressant medication. They also double up as a stand-alone treatment for people who are concerned about the side effects of antidepressant medication, such as the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, and pregnant women. Omega-3 fats may help treat depression in people with bipolar disorder, but they can also trigger mania. So you must take them along with a mood stabilizer. Consult with your physician beforehand as excess dosage increases the risk of stomach upset and gastrointestinal bleeding.

It bears mentioning that complex problems like stress don’t have a single solution. While a good diet is important for mental well-being, there are no individual supplements that can help reduce or relieve stress. It is a common misnomer that if take glamorous and expensive supplements, we don’t need to pay attention to our diet. This is simply not the case. Paying attention to the food we eat and enjoying our meal is equally important, especially during these uncertain times. Ensure sufficient hydration, boost your protein intake by adding seeds and nuts to your breakfast meals, and choose whole grains wherever possible. Include a vitamin D-supplement, as it can help boost immunity for vulnerable COVID-19 groups, including elders, nursing home residents, and hospital inpatients. Just because these remedies come from plant or animal sources does not necessarily make them safe. Herbal remedies can interact with regular medication, just like other drugs. Talk to your doctor before you go for herbal supplementation.

The Apollo Foundation – Fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic with Competence, Care & Compassion

Hyderabad, September 2020: The Apollo Foundation, an organization established with a mission to create meaningful interactions with people across the country and help enhance their quality of life in every possible way, has been working tirelessly through the Covid-19 pandemic to bring relief and aid to stricken segments of society pan-India. Here’s a snapshot in numbers, of the initiative till date:

Women Empowerment Program
Through the Apollo Foundation’s Aragonda Vikas Trust Skill Center, regular salaries, additional bonus amounts, and daily food has been provided to women working at the Center, as well as their families, from the onset of the pandemic till date

Over 2 lakh face masks and counting
Have been produced by the women of the Aragonda Vikas Trust Skill Center, thereby instilling the practice of social distancing and personal hygiene measures

60,000 face masks
Were gifted to Government officials and frontline workers of Thavanampalle Mandal, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh

1238 PPE Kits
Were stitched by the women of the Aragonda Vikas Trust Skill Center, for the Government of Andhra Pradesh

Widespread Care
The Apollo Foundation has been providing medical care along with ration kits consisting of groceries and vegetables regularly to the inhabitants of 47 villages around Aragonda

3000 face masks
Have been provided to District Rural Development Agency staff in Aragonda Mandal

Apollo – WWF India
Via its efforts towards the World Wildlife Fund in India, the Apollo Foundation has provided ration kits consisting of groceries and other essentials to 500 tribal Chenchu families and forest guards in the Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve and the Ambrabad Tiger Reserve of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

3000 Covid Relief Supporters
Involved in the distribution of food were given health kits consisting of groceries and essentials

3009 Bed Days
Offered via ‘Project Stay,’ free service for patients who require isolation in the Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore regions

Covid-19 Safety Manual
Researched extensively by experts to help organizations and employees get back to work

7397 Reusable Face Masks for Over 123 Old Age Homes
Were supplied to the Billion Hearts Beating Foundation for over 123 old age homes in five states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Delhi)

174,000 Zinc Tablets
Along with ongoing regular medication for 138 old age homes across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Delhi, to help boost immunity

Over 30,000 Apollo Pharmacy Employees
Working tirelessly to ensure timely delivery of medicines and availability of stock for patients

Over 90,000 Tests by 1000 Medican Paramedics
From Apollo, Clinics are testing patients for Covid-19 in a timely and efficient manner

500 Beds Exclusively for Covid-19 Treatment with over 10,000 Paramedical Staff
Across Apollo Hospitals nationwide have healed over 30,000 patients till date and will continue to serve tirelessly

7 Apollo Hospitals

Are providing free services and have covered over 17,500 patients during the pandemic

– 100,000 medical practitioners trained on using ventilators
– 15 million free health risk scans with 24/7 support of call centre doctors
– 1 million teleconsults done free of cost by Apollo TeleHealth

Speaking about the initiative, Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice-Chairperson CSR, Apollo Hospitals Foundation, says “The effects of the pandemic are going to leave a lasting impact on all sects of society. We need to provide strength, support & positivity to help the needy power through the next 2 years. Generosity is defined not just by parting with wealth but by empowering people, teaching them skills, being there for them, providing emotional support & guiding them through these tough times.”

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said “we are fighting a war not just for this generation but also for the generations to come. Apollo Hospitals was built to keep this nation healthy and in this hour of need, the Group is all set to step-up, sacrifice and not rest till the mission is complete.”

This Teachers Day – Five Edtech Portals which can act as teachers for children during COVID 19 Pandemic

Globally, the closure of schools and educational institutions has affected almost 600 million learners across the world. COVID 19 pandemic has turned education system upside down and boosted remote learning process.

Hence, the EdTech platforms came into play to provide solutions to millions of students in India and helping them with their studies as well as keeping them safe from the deadly COVID-19. Also, these portals are catering to all age groups of children starting from 3 to 16+.

So, this Teachers Day we have listed five EdTech platforms that are helping students to easily study at home or acquire a new skill:

Vedantu :- Vedantu Learn Live Online is one of India’s leading online tutoring website that covers the whole syllabus ranging from CBSE, ISCE, NTSE, Olympiads, and even IIT JEE. Vedantu is offering free online classes on its website and through its app in order to keep students safe inside their homes. The website also offers free study material, apart from the online classes. The website has given a free access to all live classes and content of Vedantu for Grades 1 to 12, JEE & NEET. The online classes can be accessed via their website and on their app that is available for free on Android and iOS.

BeSingular.com – BeSingular is an EdTech platform to skill the next generation, create real, responsible impact through working with the technologies of the future. It’s age graded curriculum, which is curated using the best minds, is built to make students(Age 8-16 yrs) be fearlessly exploratory, big dreamers, progressive, dynamic, and futuristic. The programs at BeSingular focus on teaching Exponential Technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Programming, Robotics, Game Design, Embedded Systems, 3D printing, and Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR, VR). BeSingular impart these programs via offline & Online mode along with live projects focused on solving real world challenges and are curated by technologists and global experts. Established in May 2019 and founded by Mr. Nitesh Jain, he believes in having the ability to shape young kids’ imagination by helping them adapt to the future of technology and solve humanity’s biggest challenges. BeSingular’s Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP) is ‘Transforming education ecosystem to impact the learning possibilities of the next generation.’

Flintoclass@HOME – A preschool-at-home model designed to deliver high-quality preschool education to the homes of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The easy-to-use comprehensive preschool kit ensures that children continue their early education from the safety and comfort of their homes. Currently, it includes programs for 1.5-5.5 year olds and follows a blended learning approach with pre-recorded interactive sessions and hands-on activities. The all-inclusive monthly kit gets delivered with multi-sensory learning experiences, daily activities, step-by-step instructions, revision materials and even a dashboard to track every child’s daily progress. Flinto believes that given the right tools, every child has the ability to bloom and grow to his/her fullest capacity. And that’s why they take their design process very seriously. All the products and learning tools are intensively researched, developed and assessed at India’s first and only R&D Centre for early education — Flinto Early Learning Research Foundation, by a team of child psychologists, pedagogy experts, curriculum developers and game designers. The research centre collaborates with parents and early educators to create an ecosystem that is conducive for harnessing the true potential in every child.

Brainly – It is one of the largest online learning platforms, uniting students with fellow students, parents, and teachers around the world to help solve their academic problems and to facilitate knowledge exchange. It has a user base of over 25million in India. Here, it connects users to their peers to help strengthen their skills, from math to science, history, and beyond for free.

Byju’s – It is India’s most loved learning app for anyone from the first standard to a higher education aspirant. Engaging video lessons, study material mapped to the syllabus, interactive questions and unlimited practice with in-depth analysis inculcates a fun-learning experience, keeping the interest and longer retention period intact. You may buy a course as per the personal requirement. This EduTech platform makes the learning and understanding of concepts much easier for school kids. The subject focus of the platform is Maths and Science, and the concepts are explained using 12-20 minute digital animation videos.

Indian Companies from different sectors helping Startups to grow in this pandemic

At this time when the entire world is slumped by a COVID-19 pandemic, safety measures are taken worldwide and social distancing are hampering businesses. Startups have experienced huge impacts no matter how established they are. This is prompting them to re-look at their business strategies and different ways to maintain the steady growth of their Business.

While everyone is talking about the economic slowdown and financial setbacks, there are startups who have seen a surge in numbers with the by changing their business and marketing strategies and with the help of associating with different brands.

AdTech Marketing strategy – Promodome

Promodome is a full-service Advertising Agency based in Delhi. driven by two principal strengths: Creative and Media. Promodome helped startups to change their marketing strategy and grow their business even at the times of COVID-19. Promodome Communications is driven by a team of highly dedicated professionals with years of experience behind them in growing and nurturing brands.

Contactless Payment – DOTpe

A technology startup, DotPe provides neo digital transformation and commerce solutions to restaurants and F&B brands. By offering its QR code & WhatsApp based SCAN-ORDER-PAY solution, direct communication & digital ordering management technology to them, it can assist food courts to ensure streamlined business operations while following the social distancing norms and make customers feel safe through minimal human touch while ordering and settling the bill. Dotpe enables offline merchants/retailers to digitise their store in a matter of a few minutes and start accepting contactless orders.

C2B Data Marketplace – Aiisma

Aiisma, India’s first C2B data marketplace, rewards the users for exchanging anonymous data. In sync with the government’s mission of #AatmaNirbharBharat, AIISMA as a startup, is enabling 50 start-ups & SMEs to revive and stay relevant. C2B data marketplace is working towards reviving the local start-ups and SMEs hit by Covid-19. It is offering tech support, access to AiiAds&Aiisma Marketplace.

Conversational AI – Chatbot – Ori

Ori is a start-up that makes multilingual conversational chatbots. Covid19 has completely changed the working model of the businesses, now people can only connect virtually for sales and customer support which is the key for growth in business as it develops user’s trust toward the brand. Ori’s platform uses real-time insights and cues to help users improve their experience across calls, Emails, Conversations Over Chat. Several MSMEs were badly affected and in need of a quick, cheap solution. ORI created a simple solution, on Whatsapp, without any upfront charges to increase adoption and let MSMEs leverage the power of automation