Tag: Mr. Anil Rajput

Business World, News

The vision of self-reliance will help strengthen the domestic ecosystem and make the country more globally competitive, Says Experts At ASSOCHAM’s ‘Wisdom Series’

Mar 17, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #ASSOCHAM, #Chairman, #FMCG Council on Brand Promotion & Brand Protection, #Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, #IAS, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Shri M.Thennarasan, #Vice Chairman & Managing Director

New Delhi: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India in association with ITC Sunfeast concluded the Tenth edition of its Wisdom Series lecture titled “Interaction on Ease of Doing Business” on the theme of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Vocal for Local – Moving towards Self-Reliant India’. The session was graced by the presence of Shri M.Thennarasan,IAS, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation. The session was moderated by Shri Anil Rajput, Chairman, FMCG Council on Brand Promotion & Brand Protection, ASSOCHAM holding an insightful interaction on various initiative.

Appreciating this great initiative called Atamnirbhar Bharat, Shri M Thennarasan gave a presentation on Ease of Doing Business wherein he highlighted the various initiative of GIDC specially during covid- 19 . He said “India has been ranked 79 from 142 to 63 in a span of 5 years as the ranking system established by World Bank. Next he talked about the compliance system.Govt. Of India is committed to ease the regulatory compliance system for the businesses in India. Next, he discussed the various initiatives taken for Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) by Government of Gujarat like Gujarat Single Window Clearance Act 2017, Investor Facilitation Agency, Online Incentive Application, Labour Compliances, Ease of Electricity Connections, Auto Renewal of NOCs etc. Next he highlighted key initiative for EoDB by GIDC like online modules of GIDC, GIDC Setu, Mobile App, Dues/Accounts information, Self clearances etc. Talking about the other initiatives he said that initiatives like Digital Signature, E-File Movement, Decision Support System etc were also taken to facilitate EODB in the state. At last he concluded by inviting participants and companies to the state for investment.”

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FMCG Council on Brand Promotion & Brand Protection, ASSOCHAM gave the opening remarks and introduced the panelist to the participants. Talking about the theme he said “Ease of doing Business refers to the regulatory environment in a country to set up and operate a business. Every year, the World Bank compares the business environment in 190 countries in its Ease of Doing Business Report. The ease of doing business rankings is based on a country’s performance on 10 parameters such as enforcing contracts and starting a business. These parameters are regulated by different agencies across the three tiers of government (i.e. central, state and municipal). The vision of self-reliance will help strengthen the domestic ecosystem and make the country more globally competitive. At the same time, sustaining economic growth in the next phase will depend significantly on fundamental reforms to support de-regulation/improved regulatory delivery. Majority of the regulatory compliances require businesses to make multiple visits to the government agencies in the state to obtain approval. Several states have introduced online systems, including Single Window Systems (SWS) for obtaining such approvals. As with any other new initiative there are still implementation gaps and but monitoring of these systems through third party audits will help improve even the existing systems. Attracting investors and facilitating the growth of domestic players requires the Indian regulatory ecosystem to undergo rationalization and increased digitization. Indeed, if state governments are committed about reforms and are focused on economic recovery, they should first focus on improving regulatory delivery.”

Health, News

INFLUENZA & PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES IMPORTANT FOR ELDERLY AND HEART PATIENTS DURING WINTERS TO STAY FIT AND KEEP COVID-19 AT BAY: CARDIOLOGY EXPERTS

Jan 9, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #ASSOCHAM National Council on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), #Cardiac Sciences, #Chairman, #chairman PSRI Heart Institute, #Dr. Rajesh Kesari, #Eminent cardiologist, #Founder and Director, #Max Healthcare, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Padma Bhushan Dr K.K. Talwar, #Padma Shri Dr Balbir Singh, #Total Care Control

New Delhi: People with cardiovascular problems need to be extra cautious when temperatures start to fall, as risk of a heart attack begins to climb during cold weather, said cardiology experts sharing their experiences during 16th edition of ASSOCHAM webinar series on Illness to Wellness.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the program which promotes healthy living with a quality life focusing on wellness and preventive health through healthy lifestyle habits, balanced diet, regular exercises, and holistic health saw the speakers engage on the preventive measures for healthy Heart especially in winter season.

It was also discussed that influenza vaccine for all individuals above 65 years and in addition to that Pneumococcal vaccine is key to stay fit for everyone with heart diseases.

“The supply of oxygen-rich blood to heart muscles gets reduced during winter season forcing the heart to work harder, as such any demand-supply mismatch in terms of blood flow to heart muscles due to cold temperatures can put health at risk for those having heart conditions,” said experts during the panel discussion at an ASSOCHAM webinar on ‘Heart Care during winters in Covid-19 era,’ held yesterday .

Staying extra cautious and taking certain precautions like limiting the in-take of high-calorie food, indulging in sports activities and others can help minimise risk of heart attack or a cardiac arrest, said experts sharing their views during the webinar.

Eminent cardiologist, Padma Bhushan Dr K.K. Talwar, chairman PSRI Heart Institute in his address said that elderly people are at a higher risk during winter season as cold weather can affect heart, especially those having cardiovascular disease. “Being outdoors in cold weather for long time should be avoided, cardiac patients should move out only when sun is shining and cover themselves up properly.”

Dr Talwar also said that a regular exercise routine can be a blessing not just for heart patients but for normal people as well and that it is always better to play any sport rather than merely walk.

Talking about the food habits, he stated that oily foods need to be avoided and those who consume liquor should take small amounts to just relax themselves, besides sweets, milk products and bakery items should be completely avoided by those suffering from heart diseases.

On a cautionary note he said that it is extremely important to keep blood pressure under control in all circumstances and for diabetics and kidney disease patients it should be less than 130/80.

Sharing his views, Padma Shri Dr Balbir Singh, chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Max Healthcare said that heart disease is preventable by following certain healthy practices. First, it is important to give up high-saturated diet because if we eat and drink in moderation then it won’t become a health risk. He also said that in today’s fast paced-lives, stress has become quite common among people thus it is important to manage it by indulging in recreational activities like yoga and others.

He added that there is a popular myth that alcohol consumption can prevent heart attack, it is nothing but overblown. He said, in India people indulge in binge drinking and eat high-calorie food which is very harmful for heart health.

Dr Singh further said that usage of facemasks should be continued even after the covid-19 has subsided as it would help prevent spread of infections like pneumonia and viral diseases. Even in hospitals, he said infections have significantly decreased due to measures like wearing masks and hand sanitization.

ASSOCHAM National Council on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), chairman, Mr Anil Rajput said that the year 2020 saw medical fraternity rising to the challenge thereby showcasing their unwavering spirit despite complex nature of Covid-19 pandemic.

He added, that fighting the Covid-19 virus becomes more challenging for those with underlying heart conditions, more so during the winter season when heart must work extra hard to maintain a healthy body temperature.

Mr Rajput also lauded the doctors, scientists, frontline workers for fearlessly dedicating themselves to the fight against this deadly virus.

The session was moderated by Dr Rajesh Kesari, founder and director, Total Care Control who also shared his experiences and highlighted that heart disease and high blood pressure can put one at greater risk, thus following a healthy regime can help protect one’s heart during the COVID-19 pandemic.

News

Economic security cannot be treated as separate from physical security: Mr Balesh Kumar, Principal Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Dec 28, 2020 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #CBIC and Advisor, #Chairman, #Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), #FICCI CASCADE, #Former Chairman, #Mr Balesh Kumar, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Mr. P. C. Jha, #Principal Director General

NEW DELHI: “National security needs to be looked at holistically. We must understand that economic security cannot be treated as something separate from physical security,” said Mr Balesh Kumar, Principal Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), while discussing the smuggling scenario in the country at the FICCI CASCADE ‘In Conversation Series’. Speaking on the challenging security environment that India faced, Mr. Kumar was underling the need for all law enforcement agencies to have a constant vigil to prevent smuggling as well as to ensure that necessary inputs were available to prevent potential terror attacks funded both externally and internally.

“Sealing of borders is not enough to secure the hinterland. Issues relating to security can travel across the borders very quickly into India and for that we must have a clear strategy of comprehensive approach of looking at the internal security in conjunction with external security as well as physical security along with economic security”, he added.

Highlighting the unwavering efforts of DRI officers during the unprecedented coronavirus crisis, Mr Kumar informed that DRI has strategically focused on smuggling of cigarettes and gold this year seizing illicit cigarettes worth Rs. 45 crores and gold worth Rs. 275 crores in the last 9 months.

FICCI CASCADE has launched an ‘In Conversation Series’ to share insights and deepen understanding on the various facets of illicit trade such as smuggling and counterfeiting with various subject matter experts. As part of the series, Mr Balesh Kumar discussed the threat posed by smuggling to India’s security and economy, the pattern of smuggling due to COVID-19, preparedness of enforcement agencies in terms of adequacy of manpower and resources, and terrorism financing through the proceeds of smuggling.

Moderating the session, Mr. P. C. Jha, Former Chairman, CBIC and Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, said “Smuggling of items such as cigarettes, narcotics, substandard food items and medicines leads to severe health hazards. The unaccounted profit generated through smuggling is also utilised to finance global terror activities.”

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE, in his welcome address, observed that illicit trade was undeniably one of the greatest risks globally. Unfortunately, the problem has only compounded in the current COVID crisis when criminals have used the pandemic as an opportunity to increase their nefarious activities. Applauding the work of DRI, he added, “Even in this challenging scenario, DRI officers are fulfilling their responsibilities with utmost dedication and zeal and are playing a vital role in strengthening the economic and physical security of the nation.”

FICCI CASCADE has been, over the years, actively focusing on curbing the problem of growing illicit trade in smuggled, pass-offs and counterfeit goods and have been conducting dialogues focusing on identifying opportunities for joint actions to combat this menace. The interaction revolved around the collaborative role of law enforcement machinery, government and industry in thwarting this menace besides the need for collaboration through data sharing mechanisms and knowledge dissemination.

 

News

Public policy and strong enforcement are needed to address counterfeiting and smuggling: Dr Amar Patnaik, MP, Rajya Sabha

Nov 27, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Deepankar Aron, #Dr Amar Patnaik, #enforcement, #FICCI CASCADE, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Public Policy

Dr Amar Patnaik, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha elaborating on India’s economic resurgence yesterday said that parallel economy in counterfeiting and smuggling has to be addressed if India wants to achieve a $ 5 trillion economy in 2025 and aim to take it to $ 10 trillion by 2027.

Addressing the webinar on ‘Communication, Coordination and Collaboration- Strengthening the fight against counterfeiting and smuggling’ organized by FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE), Dr Patnaik said, “Measures such as public policy and strong enforcement are needed to address the problem of counterfeiting and smuggling.”

Mr Anil Rajput, Chair, FICCI CASCADE said that despite several measures taken by all stakeholders to contain smuggling and counterfeiting, further steps are required, both in the form of policy intervention and awareness generation to address this socio-economic scourge. “Establishing a coordinated national strategy to share intelligence, best practices and cooperation on cross-border investigations is the need of the hour,” he added.

While highlighting the need for all the stakeholders to work in sync to combat this menace, Mr Deepankar Aron, Commissioner, GST (Appeals), Dehradun, Uttarakhand said, “Right data sharing with the right people at the right time is important in order to address the issue of smuggling and counterfeiting.”

Further, on the enforcement scenario, Mr Aron said, “In just one-year, fraudulent imports exports worth Rs 2000 crore were detected leading to 200 arrests on white-collar crimes by the DRI, Eastern region.”

FICCI CASCADE has been over the years conducting multi-stakeholder dialogues focusing on identifying opportunities for joint actions between governments, enforcement agencies, industry and consumer organizations to combat this menace. The webinar brought together policymakers, think tanks, enforcement agencies, industry, and consumer organizations to deliberate on industry issues in tackling the flow of counterfeit, smuggled, and spurious products not only in the offline markets but on the online market space too.

The webinar saw participation from the e-commerce giant, Amazon whose representative discussed measures that Amazon employs to check the proliferation of the issue and highlighted their innovative mechanisms and advanced technology solutions in blocking & tracing bad actors.

Discussions revolved around the collaborative role of government and industry in thwarting this menace such as the need for collaboration with customs through data sharing mechanisms and knowledge dissemination. Areas of concern in consumer safety and brand protection was also highlighted.

News

Seizures of illicit cigarettes jumps by 800% during COVID times

Nov 18, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #cigarette, #FICCI CASCADE, #Mr. Anil Rajput

FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) applauds the enforcement agencies in India for their increased vigilance to combat smuggling activities. In a commendable feat, the agencies have seized an astounding quantity of illicit cigarettes worth around Rs. 412 crores in the last five months across India. The seizures witnessed a quantum jump of almost 800% from mere Rs. 52 crores in 2019 (June-Oct) to a mammoth Rs. 412 crores for the same period in 2020. This comes in the wake of several cases being intercepted during the COVID -19 pandemic.

During the last five months, Customs, DRI, Assam Rifles, BSF and State Police have reported large seizures of illicit cigarettes in Mumbai, Kolkata, North East, Bhopal, Hyderabad and several other cities. The increase in the scale of seizures not only highlights the importance of the work done by enforcement agencies but also calls for continued focus on tackling the widespread menace.

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE said, “There has been an almost eightfold increase over the year, indicating that India continues to be a target for tobacco smugglers in spite of several restrictions. It is clear that criminal enterprises are continuing to seek ways of ensuring the infiltration of smuggled goods into the country.” Complimenting the government and the enforcement agencies for relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators, Mr Rajput added, “While the recent efforts of enforcement officers are laudable, we cannot afford to let the guard go down and must maintain strict vigil to ensure that these offenders are kept at bay”.

In spite of several measures which are being undertaken by the government, to tackle this problem, further steps are required, both in the form of policy intervention and awareness generation. In order to create large-scale awareness of this menace, FICCI CASCADE has been conducting interactions with government and enforcement agencies across several states in India on the ways to mitigate this challenge.

Health

Gastrointestinal Tract can also serve as a Transmission Route for COVID-19 – says Experts at ASSOCHAM’s ‘Illness to Wellness’ Series

Oct 30, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), #Dr. Rajesh Kesari, #Dr. Saumitra Rawat, #Dr. Vasudevan K.R, #Dr.(Prof) D.K. Bhargava, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #SAVLON

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the tenth edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed webinar on ‘Digestive Health In COVID-19 Era’. The event saw an elite panel of leading gastroenterologists discuss the possible transmission of Coronavirus through fecal-oral transmission and the viability of a COVID vaccine.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme, an innovative and comprehensive approach to cascade awareness through wellness campaigns to address preventive healthcare management and to promote health, hygiene, and well-being of people, the webinar saw renowned panelists speak at length on how the number of patients experiencing GI symptoms exceed those suffering from respiratory symptoms.

Speaking on the issue, Padma Shri Dr.(Prof) D.K. Bhargava, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said, “Gastrointestinal tract can also serve as a route of transmission for COVID-19. Although, it has not been proven completely, scientific evidence points to the probability of fecal-oral transmission serving as another route. Symptoms of these are mostly nausea, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal distension and diarrhoea in about 20% of cases. Sometimes, in close to 50% of cases, intestinal symptoms precede respiratory symptoms. It has been documented that in more than 50% cases, the stool samples of COVID-19 positive patients contain RNA and nucleic acid particles. They represent the presence of the virus in the stool so the faecal-oral transmission can occur. So, one should be very careful when handling this stool. In some cases, it has been documented that patients may not have any respiratory symptoms but showcase only gastrointestinal tract symptoms.”

Padma Shri Dr. Saumitra Rawat, Chairman and Head Surgical Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Sri Ganga Ram Hospital further elaborated on the topic saying, “Patients having GI symptoms are usually having milder symptoms of COVID-19 than those experiencing respiratory tract symptom. For patients who have the virus is in the respiratory tract, the stool sample remains positive for about 15 days and then the patient becomes negative. The fecal sample positivity for patients showing GI symptoms usually lasts for nearly 28 days, so strong precautions need to be taken. Though the GI symptoms start early, sometimes, the respiratory symptoms can develop later. In some cases, the patient may have only GI symptoms. And even if the patient continues to have GI symptoms then it is of milder form.”

Commenting on how poor lifestyle choices of Indians contribute to gastrointestinal issues, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council said, “In India, unhealthy eating habits, poor lifestyle, unclean water and improper sanitation has led to a surge in digestive disorders. It is well known that stress and anxiety, high blood sugar, insomnia and other degenerating habits can alter and damage the gut microbiome. Taking precautions against these is of greater importance in the backdrop of the pandemic. Besides having a balanced diet, incorporating pre- and pro-biotic supplements can go a long way in improving and maintaining digestive health. Curd in that regard is extremely beneficial but in today’s hostile environment, many might need stronger supplements.”

Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control who moderated the webinar by placing poignant questions before the panelists, added to the discussion by sharing a recent study he had come across. “A survey by IMA said that when they surveyed about thousand COVID positive patients, they found that most of the patient’s family members had GI symptoms that did not progress to fever and other problems. However, for one or two family members, it did progress further. The other symptoms they faced were loss of taste and loose motion.”

The panelists also spoke at length about the world’s COVID vaccine readiness by sharing details of the various stages of development being carried out across the world. Dr. Vasudevan K.R., Senior, Consultant & Head Liver Transplantation & GI Surgery, Institute of Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, PSRI Hospital though warned, that a vaccine does not necessarily mean that it will provide complete protection against COVID infection.

“The intention of the vaccine is to try and minimize the burden of the disease on the population and the healthcare system. It is not a cure. As a patient, if you expect that a tablet or an injection can keep you safe from the virus by not taking any precautions then you are very wrong. The purpose of the vaccine is such that even if you do get infected, you get COVID in a milder form. We hope that the vaccine is there soon and whenever it is there, the existing fear will be gone. Also, the phenomenon of not being able to provide ICU beds due to the overburdening situation will be controlled and reduced. We will get on with life, but the fact is that we can not stop wearing masks because a vaccine has been created. Precautions will still have to be taken,” he said.

Speaking on the importance of developing immunity, the panellists agreed that maintaining a balanced diet with immune-boosting food items such as green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits along with optimal calorie intake, unsaturated fat oils, and low sugar can help in the long battle against COVID. They also suggested taking additional supplements for those needing it to maintain a healthy microbiome in the intestine.

Business World

Creating consumer awareness and reducing illicit market operations- vital for a conducive environment for growth and development in the country

Oct 28, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Deepak L Aswani, #Dileep Narayanan, #FICCI CASCADE, #M I Sahadulla, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #P. Thilothaman, #Paul Francis, #V. Noushad, #Varkey Peter

“Create consumer awareness and substantially reduce the illicit market operations for a conducive environment for growth and development in the country”, said Shri. P. Thilothaman, Hon’ble Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Govt. of Kerala at the Webinar held today on Combating Counterfeit and Smuggled and Pirated goods During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, organized by FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) focusing on the state of Kerala.

business women

Hon’ble Minister further added, “Consumer awareness on fake and smuggled goods is low and hence many consumers are unaware that they are buying such goods and equally unaware of the consequences. Protecting and promoting the welfare of consumers has become one of the major concerns of our government and organizing awareness programs such as this help to educate and sensitize the consumers.”

Complimenting the Kerala Government, Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE said, “despite having multitude of challenges owing to COVID-19, the enforcement agencies of Kerala have seized large number of illicit liquor, fake sanitizer products, gold, tobacco products and much more.” Highlighting Prime Minister’s Vocal for Local initiative, Mr. Rajput emphasised “I could not imagine a better time for the Hon’ble Prime Ministers clarion call of vocal for local-Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which to my mind could alleviate the pain and catapult India to even greater heights in the future.”

In his opening remarks, Dr. M I Sahadulla, Co-Chair, FICCI Kerala State Council and MD, KIMS Healthcare Management Ltd. said, “Kerala being a consumer state, the opportunity is more for illicit traders. Hence, it is essential to create awareness and put an end to such nefarious activities.”

Perspectives from Kerala Police was shared by Shri. S. Sreejith, IPS, IG, Crime, Kerala Police. Shri Sumit Kumar, Commissioner of Custom, Preventive, Kerala Customs shared the custom department’s vision in addressing this issue. Some of the key suggestions included:

  •  Need for a wide-scale programme to educate both industry and citizens about the dangers of smuggled and counterfeit goods.
  • A convergence of the stakeholders to address the menace of counterfeiting and smuggling
  • Information based preventive action is a key tool to catch the perpetrators of illicit trade.

Eminent industry leaders including Shri. Deepak L Aswani, Co-Chair, FICCI Kerala State Council and Managing Partner, Lachmandas & Sons; Shri. V. Noushad, Managing Director, VKC Group Companies; Shri Varkey Peter, Managing Director, Mothers Agro Foods Pvt Ltd.; Shri. Paul Francis, Managing Director, KLF Nirmal Industries (Pvt) Ltd and Shri. Dileep Narayanan – Head-Bullion & Treasury ,Malabar Gold Private Ltd., took part in the deliberations and were of the view that problem of illicit trade has only compounded in the current situation, where criminals have used the pandemic as an opportunity to cause significant damage on the economy of the nation, health, and safety of the consumers. All the speakers also reiterated that consumer safety, safeguarding legitimate businesses while promoting indigenous production will play a significant role in the path to our economic recovery.

Several steps are being taken by FICCI CASCADE and the government to create large-scale awareness among the most impacted segment of this menace: the consumer. The seminar, focusing on the State of Kerala which was organised, is a part of a series of such events to be organised across the country as part of a nation-wide awareness campaign to highlight the issue and focus on the growing menace of illegal trade.

Business World

Empowering Women through skills contribute to the GDP: Experts at ASSOCHAM’s ‘Wisdom Series

Oct 20, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #‘Wisdom Series, #Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), #Dr. Kochhar, #ITC Sunfeast, #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Ms. Seema Jindal Jajodia, #Role of Women Entrepreneurs

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India in association with ITC Sunfeast concluded the fourth edition of its Wisdom Series lecture titled ‘Role of Women Entrepreneurs’ on the theme of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Vocal for Local – Moving towards Self-Reliant India’. The event saw an expert panel consisting of Ms Ritu Beri, Fashion Designer, Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of companies and Ms. Seema Jindal Jajodia, Founder, Nourish Organics hold an insightful discussion on building successful entrepreneurial grounds to boost and encourage women participation in building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The panellists at large deliberated on how to promote local MSMEs and industries to achieve a self-reliant India in an engaging webinar. Emphasizing the need for skilling and continuous knowledge upgradation across the country to reach this goal, Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of companies said, “Every woman needs to be empowered and the best way to do it is skilling. Skill them to become entrepreneurs. I too started from a little place, they can start anywhere, it does not even have to be a town. During COVID times, I figured that they need not rent an entire place, they can also get a big space together and then work. It is an easy and empowering way. We have to realise that when you empower a woman you also help her to contribute to the GDP of the country as she gets to provide for her family.”

Further elaborating on the topic, Dr. Kochhar spoke on boosting rural female entrepreneurship through co-operatives. “There is a lot of scope for them in wellness and they can also get into manufacturing of incense sticks, soaps, candles and others. You can form them into small co-operatives or collectives to start manufacturing items like these and then finding a buyer for the product so that the product is exposed to the outside world. The way to boost them is to help them start on their own.”

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, FMCG Council on Brand Promotion & Brand Protection, ASSOCHAM, highlighting the importance of women entrepreneurs in achieving Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call of Vocal for Local said, “India currently has 48.04% female population compared to 51.96% of male population. Thus, it is critical for national objectives to have active and robust participation of women in all sectors. This will chart development for the country that is both inclusive as well as far reaching. While societal mindsets have historically served as impediments to women’s success, but social thinking is now evolving to view women in roles outside the home. Increasingly, women are shattering the glass ceiling and emerging victorious in their endeavours. The wide spectrum of women entrepreneurs in a leadership or impactful position stand testimony to this.”

Ms. Seema Jindal Jajodia, Founder, Nourish Organics laying out the blueprint for female entrepreneurial mindsets in terms of coming across the right product or service to create said, “Think in terms of what does my family, friends and the people around me need and try to match your passion with those needs, then you have a winner on your hand. It is also crucial to believe in your product. You must believe that you have a truly great product and once people discover it, they will never leave it. They will stick to your brand and like what you are providing to them.”

She also added that for entrepreneurs just starting on their journey, having a parallel funding in the forms of a job or other source of income can help to keep them funded till they can start earning from their start-up.

The panellists of path-breaking entrepreneurs also shared the experiences and the obstacles they faced in their journey from a start-up to an established business. Ms Ritu Beri, Fashion Designer, shared how she worked to launch a fashion label at a time when India was yet to witness the birth of a fashion industry. “Thirty years ago, when I launched myself as a designer, it was a challenge, there was nothing I could look at like a map or inspiration. There was no fashion industry then in India, people were not so conscious about their daily dressing, they used to only dress for weddings and occasions. So, it was both easy and difficult at the same time for me.”

The expert speakers while sharing nuggets of their success stories also mentioned how Make In India is slowly shaping up in India and has steadily changed sourcing of raw materials for some businesses. Dr. Kochhar mentioned how initially lavender for her aromatherapy products had to be imported from France as they were not produced in India, however, now her raw resources are majorly received from various corners of the country and the final product exported. Ms. Jajodia also added that her first batch of products was completely made from raw materials sourced from abroad as back then organic food materials existed only for rice and dal. But that has now changed as more and more ingredients have been brought under organic farming in India.

However, the panellists agreed that for the country’s produce to meet global standards, quality products need to be delivered on time while maintaining competitive pricing at home as Indians continue to be price conscious buyers.

Business World

Let India’s 7 Crore Traders Become Ambassadors of Vocal For Local, Says Experts At ASSOCHAM’s ‘Wisdom Series’

Oct 10, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #‘Wisdom Series, #ASSOCHAM, #Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), #Mr. Anil Rajput, #Mr. Bejon Misra, #Vocal for Local’

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India in association with ITC Sunfeast concluded the third edition of its Wisdom Series lecture titled ‘Role of Consumer Voice’ on the theme of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Vocal for Local – Moving towards Self-Reliant India’. The event saw an expert panel consisting of Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, International Consumer Policy expert, Shri Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General, Confederation of All India Traders and Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM FMCG Brand Promotion and Protection Council holding an insightful discussion on retail chain utilisation, quality control of products and role of small and medium-sized enterprises to promote local MSMEs and industries to achieve a self-reliant India.

Highlighting the crucial role played by retail traders in pushing the agenda of Vocal for Local, Mr. Praveen Khandelwal said, “Traders can play a major role here as India’s 130 crore population have the first contact with the trader. For any kind of requirement, they approach a trader first. We have more than 7 crore traders and they can play a crucial role in this aspect. Every trader in the country can be a brand ambassador for Vocal for Local and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This can be a great contact point for launching a vicious campaign as to why we need Vocal for Local and Aatmanirbhar Bharat as there are several in this country who do not know the real value of buying local.”

He further added on how liberating traders from license raj can propel consumption, “Today if you want to start a business or manufacture a product, then you need 28 types of licenses. How can manufacturers plan to produce if they have to get 28 licenses? Most of these licenses are redundant and they have been existing since the pre-Independence era. The producing sector should be liberated to the extent that it becomes easy for the sector to concentrate on producing more and not put their mind on how to reduce costs. They need to be given freedom from the command of multiple authorities.”

Furthering the discussion by focusing on how small traders in the value chain can be amply used to realise the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Mr. Bejon Kumar Misra said, “There should be an inventory of the existing industries we have, their capacities, their core competencies and what are the other applications of their skills. Then we need to have an inventory list of products that are being imported but can also be manufactured domestically. Once these two lists are matched and steps like incentivising small scale manufacturers, linking of medium-scale manufacturers to large-scale manufacturers by becoming an ancillary part of them in terms of outsourcing and sub-contracting are taken then am sure that we will be able to utilise a lot of unexplored capacities. In order to utilise the full potential of small manufacturers, they need to be helped which means our internal procurement system, be it government or private, must develop a good supply chain.”

Both the experts agreed that there needs to be a standardization of manufactured products to encourage domestic and global consumption. Mr. Bejon Misra in this regard said, “The cornerstone of Aatmanirbhar Bharat is quality. We must bring in standards and regulations that assure the consumer of quality and safety. If we want to become a manufacturing hub then we need to bring in the best quality of the world in the goods manufactured in India. If we can produce the best quality domestically, then we will not only capture the Indian consumer but also the global consumer. The government must incentivise local manufacturers not just through subsidies but by upgrading their technology, knowledge and incentivising good manufacturing and distribution practices.”

Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM FMCG Brand Promotion and Protection Council while moderating the discussion presented insightful questions before the panellists and highlighted the role of consumers in promoting domestic consumption. “The recent pandemic has brought many changes in consumer behaviour and their pattern. While shopping malls and multiplexes were closed, small grocery shop and vegetable and fruit vendors delivered essential items at the doorstep of every citizen’s houses. This led to citizens opting for small grocery stores and vendors selling goods near their living area and saw many businesses reinvent their products, services and distribution channel. This shows that consumers have a very important role to play to make the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat successful by promoting local products and increasing use of Indian products. This is an opportunity for local brands to establish themselves well in local markets and then promulgate at national and international levels.”

Health

Screening Test for Children (Ages11 to 18) for Early Detection & Treatment of Hypertension, Cholesterol and Diabetes, Says Experts At Assocham’s ‘Illness To Wellness’ Series

Oct 8, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #ASSOCHAM, #cholesterol, #Diabetes, #Dr. Manjinder Sandhu, #Dr. Rajesh Kesari, #Dr. Raman Puri, #Dr. T.S. Kler, #Hypertension, #Mr. Anil Rajput

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the eighth edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed ‘Prevention and Management of Hypertension’. The event saw an elite panel of leading cardiologists, hold an active dialogue on hypertension prevalence in India, its risks at the time of COVID-19, its early detection in children and best practices to lead a healthy life free from hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme, an innovative and comprehensive approach to cascade awareness through wellness campaigns to address preventive healthcare management and to promote health, hygiene, and well-being of people, saw the renowned panellists firstly put forth the commonality of hypertension and how it is showing its presence even in children.

Reflecting on how hypertension is no longer a rich man’s disease but a steady silent killer, Padma Bhushan Dr. T.S. Kler, Chairperson, PSRI Heart Institute said, “Hypertension is currently one of the most common diseases in the world today. It was estimated in 2012 that there are 1.13 billion people with hypertension. In men, only 9.2% of the adult population has hypertension and in females, it was 4.5%. So roughly, more than one-fourth of the world population has hypertension. Two-third of the patients of hypertension are in the lower-middle-income countries. In fact, incidents of hypertension are less in advanced countries like the USA. People say that it is a disease of the rich, but it is not so, rather it is the other way around. Also, almost 95% of hypertension cases are idiopathic hypertension meaning, we do not know the cause of it. Only 5% of cases have some removable cause.”

Elaborating on how children too are prone to hypertension, Dr. Manjinder Sandhu, Director Cardiology & Artemis Cardiac Care said, “It is a big myth that children do not have hypertension, rather a significant number of children do have it. In fact, paediatricians these days routinely check the blood pressure of children. When children or young adults have hypertension, we need to explore secondary causes. This is very important because earlier blood pressure of children would not be checked, and they would go undetected. By the time it was detected, it would have already created a lot of damage in the body due to the constant high pressure exerted.”

He also added that patients of hypertension are not necessarily more prone to contracting COVID-19 or developing severe symptoms but bear the same risks as a healthy person.

Adding to the discussion by focusing on how early detection can help prolong lives, Prof Dr. Raman Puri, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and Chairman, Lipid Association of India said, “If parents have a history of premature coronary artery disease then the child comes at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. In such a case, the cholesterol test should be done at least at the age of 11 or at least at 18. For children born with a family history of high cholesterol, it can be done as early as 2 years of life. It may seem surprising, but it is the right age to detect. Detecting high cholesterol in the younger age group and bringing it down to a normal range will prolong their life. I request parents to screen their child’s blood sugar and lipid profile at least at ages 18 or 20. Preventable and treatable disorders like high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension when detected early can make life comfortable and disease-free for these children.”

He further added that cardiovascular mortality in Europe and America has reduced by 50% while in India it has increased by 41%. Almost 40% of those approaching doctors with heart problems are less than 40 years of age and 20% of those dying of heart diseases are less than 40 of age highlighting the high prevalence of coronary artery disease in the country.

The expert panel unanimously agreed that those suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases, can easily bring it under control through regular exercise, weight control and by learning better management of internal and external stress. Regular monitoring and continuation of prescribed medicines can keep these conditions from developing into high-risk factors.

Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, reiterating the prevalence of hypertension and the importance of raising awareness around it said, “It is estimated that over 1.3 billion people worldwide are affected by hypertension. If you do not have it under control, it can lead to several complications. The rise in cases over the decade has been worrisome. Thus, we can see the importance attached to having greater knowledge and awareness about this disease. The most common cause is often pointed to an unhealthy diets such as excessive salt consumption, a diet rich in trans fats and a lower intake of fruits and vegetables. In poor countries, having a balanced and healthy diet becomes an extremely challenging task. Therefore, it is important for people to have ample awareness of the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.”

Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director Total Care Control acted as the moderator of the event and raised pertinent questions before the panellists to guide the discussion into a strong knowledge-sharing, myth bursting and information-heavy webinar. His smart manoeuvring of the discussions helped reap health foresight from the veteran cardiologists.