Author: Neel Achary

PRIF’s Initiative Raftaar Expands Access to Organized Sports to 1,600+ Tribal Youth in Maharashtra, 50 Percent of Top Performers Are Girls

Mumbai, Jan 13: On National Youth Day, Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF) marks three years of Raftaar, a structured athletic training program implemented in partnership with the Bridges of Sports Foundation for tribal youth under the age of 14 across three villages—Talegaon, Awankhed and Karanji—in Dindori Taluka, Nashik. So far, Raftaar has reached more than 1,600 tribal children through community sports events, 531 through regular training which includes 20 athletes who received structured training in sprinting. Girls constitute 50% of the program’s top performers, demonstrating visible shifts in participation and confidence. Programs such as Raftaar reflect PRIF’s commitment to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in working for an equitable society using sports as a tool for inclusion, discipline, and opportunity.

As per reports, access to organised sports in India remains limited. Only 1% of Indian youth under the age of 35 participate in organised sports, while women’s participation stands at 29%, significantly below the global average of 40%. For tribal youth in regions such as Dindori, Nashik, these gaps are further compounded by schools lacking physical education teachers, sports equipment, and means to identify talent. Girls are often the first to be withdrawn from physical activity due to social expectations, restricting opportunities for holistic development and confidence.

Launched in 2022, Project Raftaar was launched based on assessment of the sports ecosystem in over 20 primary schools and through interaction with teachers, parents and children. The program identifies talent through fitness tests and supports them with regular coaching, sports gear, and nutrition. Athletes demonstrating higher potential receive advanced training and opportunities to participate in state-level competitions. Over the past three years, the program has conducted over 300 training sessions. The program has trained nine local coaches drawn from the community, strengthening local capacity and supporting long-term continuity. Athletes supported through Raftaar have won over 50 medals across district, state and national level competitions, compared to one medal in the year prior to the program.

Mr. Gagandeep Sethi, Senior Vice President, Integrated Operations, Sustainability & Responsibility, Pernod Ricard India, said, 

“Diversity and inclusion are central to PRIF’s work. Through Raftaar, we are supporting structured access to sports for tribal youth while strengthening local coaching capacity and encouraging greater participation among youth in tribal regions of Maharashtra.”

To strengthen local infrastructure, a community sports gym-cum-activity room is established at Gurukul School, Karanji, benefiting school and community children through regular access to training facilities.

In the long term, Raftaar aims to support more tribal youth in accessing national sports academies, sports-related careers, and opportunities in the armed forces, while continuing to strengthen community-led initiatives.

Krystal Integrated Services secures multiple municipal sanitation contracts worth approx. 275 crores across Vasai–Virar

Mumbai, Jan 13: Krystal Integrated Services Ltd, a leading provider of integrated facility management solutions, has secured three major municipal solid waste management contracts from the Vasai–Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), with a combined contract value of approximately 275 crore over a five-year period with an additional three-month preparatory phase. The mandates cover end-to-end municipal sanitation services in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The scope of work includes door-to-door collection, segregation, transportation of municipal solid waste, street cleaning services and cleaning of public spaces across residential, commercial, institutional, and notified public areas. Krystal will also ensure transportation of segregated waste to authorised processing, treatment, and disposal facilities. Krystal will deploy dedicated manpower, specialised vehicles, and modern equipment, to ensure uninterrupted, hygienic, and compliant waste management services across all three wards, while maintaining strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Sanjay Dighe, CEO and Director of Krystal Integrated Services Ltd, said,

“Securing these multiple municipal sanitation mandates from Vasai–Virar City Municipal Corporation marks another important milestone for Krystal Integrated Services. Urban waste management is a critical public service that demands operational discipline, reliability, and regulatory compliance. These engagements reinforce our ability to manage large-scale, people-intensive municipal operations while supporting city administrations in delivering cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments.”

The Vasai–Virar City Municipal Corporation serves one of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing urban regions, and these contracts highlight the increasing reliance on professional facility management partners for civic sanitation and urban infrastructure services.

For Krystal Integrated Services, these wins further strengthen its municipal services portfolio and underscore its capability to deliver long-term, high-impact public infrastructure operations at scale.

Tara Prakashana signs MoU with Ministry of Culture, Government of India, under Gyan Bharatam Mission

 Bengaluru, Jan 13: Tara Prakashana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, following its selection under the prestigious Gyan Bharatam Mission, a national initiative focused on the preservation, digitization, documentation, and dissemination of India’s vast manuscript and knowledge traditions.

The Ministry of Culture has invited Tara Prakashana to participate in the Gyan Bharatam Mission as one of a select group of 18 institutions nationwide. In the state of Karnataka, it is one of two organizations that have been invited. In the last 20 years Tara Prakashana has come up with innovative technologies for imaging, processing, and archiving ancient manuscripts.

The Gyan Bharatam Mission aims to strengthen coordinated national efforts to safeguard India’s intellectual and manuscript heritage, enhance scholarly access, and integrate modern technologies for long-term preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge systems.

The signing of this MoU is recognition of Tara Prakashana’s sustained contributions to research, publication, and preservation of classical Indian knowledge traditions. Under the agreement, Tara Prakashana will work closely with the Ministry of Culture to advance the objectives of the Gyan Bharatam Mission at regional, national and global levels.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. P R Mukund, Founder Trustee, Tara Prakashana, said

“ Tara Prakashana has partnered with leading global technologists in the field of ancient manuscript preservation. Tara Prakashana has brought state of-the-art technologies such as multi-spectral imaging, 3D printing, and Waferfiche™ to Bharat. It is our hope that, as a result of this partnership, these technologies can be scaled to national levels .”

Sri Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India said,

“ Tara Prakashana would be a key partner for successful implementation of Gyan Bharatam.  Ministry wants to deepen ties with such institutions who are doing pioneering work in the field of manuscript conservation, digitization and research. Signing of MoU is the beginning of a long term partnership to take Gyan Bharatam forward .”

FUJIFILM instax™ Undisputed Breaking Championship Makes India Debut with National Qualifier in Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 12: Undisputed, one of the world’s most respected breaking championship series, is set to make its debut in India with the FUJIFILM instax™ Undisputed Breaking Championship – India Qualifier, scheduled to take place on Friday, January 31, 2026, in New Delhi.

This landmark national qualifier marks India’s official entry into the global Undisputed championship circuit and will bring together the country’s top breaking talent alongside leading international athletes. The Delhi qualifier serves as a crucial stop on the road to the Undisputed World Final in Tokyo, to be held on March 21, 2026.

Winners in the Solo Women, Solo Men, and Crew (5vs5) categories will earn direct qualification and an invitation to compete at the World Final in Tokyo.

Following successful qualifiers in major cities across the globe, the India edition represents a significant milestone for the country’s breaking community, providing Indian breakers with a platform within an officially recognised international competitive framework.

International and Indian Athletes Share the Stage

The championship will feature a curated lineup of acclaimed breakers from India and abroad, including:

• BBoy Flying Machine (India) – Six-time Indian Champion

• BGirl India (Netherlands) – Three-time World Champion and Paris 2024 Olympics Athlete

• BBoy Quake (Taiwan) – Paris 2024 Olympics Athlete

• BBoy Ryoga & BGirl Yuina (Japan)

• BGirl Mia (France)

Additional national and international participants will be announced soon.

The event will highlight the depth, individuality, and evolution of India’s breaking scene while maintaining Undisputed’s global competitive standards.

Industry Leaders Share Their Vision

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India, said:

“As India’s creative and youth-driven cultural ecosystem continues to evolve, the country is emerging as an important contributor to global street and breaking culture. Bringing the Undisputed Breaking Championship to India for the first time reflects our recognition of this momentum. At FUJIFILM India, we are committed to enabling platforms that bring diverse communities together and encourage authentic self-expression. This initiative reinforces India’s importance as a strategic market for us, where culture plays a meaningful role in how stories are created, shared, and celebrated.”

Adding to this, Mr. Arun Babu, Associate Director & Head of Electronic Imaging, instax™ & Optical Devices Business, FUJIFILM India, said:

“The instax™ Undisputed Breaking Championship – India Qualifier is designed as an open and inclusive platform for India’s breaking community, bringing together solo dancers and crews across experience levels. Our focus is on enabling participation, nurturing grassroots talent, and creating a structured competitive environment that supports inclusivity. The instax™ philosophy of ‘don’t just take, give’ aims to connect people, capture authentic moments, and bring communities closer through shared experiences. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen the ecosystem and encourage young creators to freely express themselves through breaking.”

A Celebration of Breaking and Hip-Hop Culture

Beyond the competition, the championship is designed as a full cultural experience—celebrating breaking, hip-hop, music, and community in an open and inclusive environment.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, January 31, 2026

• City: New Delhi

• Venue: Worldmark 1, Aerocity

• Admission: Free entry

Registrations Open

Registrations for solo breakers and crews are now open via and8.dance.

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi Showcases Authentic Malaysian Cuisine at Tamra

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi presents an authentic exploration of Malaysian cuisine at Tamra from January 9 to 18, 2026, bringing together a culinary team from Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur with the restaurant’s accomplished chefs for a ten-day celebration that promises to redefine Delhi’s understanding of Southeast Asian flavours. Central to this showcase are Chef Rasyafiq Bin Sabri and Chef Muhammad Akashah Bin Shafie, both Malaysian culinary professionals from Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, whose experience spans Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. Trained in high-volume luxury kitchens and guided by classical techniques and regional authenticity, the duo brings a disciplined, flavour-forward approach that reflects Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage with precision and integrity.

Malaysian food culture represents far more than the sum of its influences. While its foundations lie in Malay, Chinese, and Indian traditions, the cuisine has evolved into a language of its own; one that prizes precision as much as generosity. Fragrant pandan, lemongrass, and ginger form its aromatic backbone, layered with the richness of coconut milk, the measured heat of chillies, and the pungent, fermented complexity of belacan. The result is food that is assertive yet balanced, with flavours that unfold gradually and linger well beyond the last bite.

The special menu reflects this philosophy through a curated selection of Malaysia’s most emblematic dishes. Nasi Lemak anchors the experience with its coconut-scented rice and classic accompaniments, while Laksa reveals the cuisine’s talent for building deeply complex broths. Flaky Roti Canai, smoky Satay served with peanut sauce, the curry-laden plates of Nasi Kandar, and the high-heat precision of Char Kway Teow together present a portrait of a culinary tradition shaped by migration, memory, and mastery of technique.

The special menu is available for Lunch and Dinner buffet. The Lunch and Dinner Buffet is available from 9 to 15 January 2026 at an exclusive price of INR 2,600 all-inclusive per person.

From 16 to 18 January, 2026, the Lunch buffet is priced at INR 3,500 plus taxes per person and the Dinner buffet is priced at INR 3,800 plus taxes per person. Sunday brunch, starting at INR 4,200 plus taxes, extends the experience into the weekend, inviting guests to engage with the cuisine in a leisurely, immersive setting that allows its layered flavours and cultural narratives to fully unfold.