Author: Rabindra

Adayu Launches ‘Adayulogues’ Podcast Series on YouTube for World Mental Health Day 2024

National, 14th October 2024: Adayu, a Fortis Group Company, has launched ‘Adayulogues with Dr. Samir Parikh,’ a pioneering mental health podcast series. This initiative aims to raise awareness about mental health and serves as a unique advocacy platform dedicated to reducing stigma and promoting well-being across society. The Podcast series will address a range of mental health topics, including bipolar disorder, panic disorder, addiction, suicide prevention and persistent depressive disorder, among others. Each episode features insights from experienced professional psychiatrists and psychologists within the Fortis Mental Health Program, led by Dr. Samir Parikh, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chairperson of the Fortis National Mental Health Program.

Discussing ‘Adayulogues,’ Dr. Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Program, stated, “Adayulogues is an initiative from Fortis’s Dedicated Mental Health Vertical, Adayu. The podcast aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, addressing the widespread misinformation and lack of knowledge surrounding them. Many individuals with mental health disorders may not recognize their symptoms, which can delay the process of seeking help. These long-format conversations, tailored to specific disorders, will help the audience identify potential symptoms and encourage them to seek timely help and intervention. Over the next four months, we will release a series of 36 episodes on our YouTube channel @fortismentalhealth, conducted in Hindi, covering 18 different illnesses, with each illness explored across two episodes. Through this initiative, we hope to empower individuals to take control of their mental health and promote a healthier, more informed society.”

Dr Ritu Garg, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, Fortis Healthcare said, “The status of mental health is India remains challenging, with lack of awareness and access to adequate mental health infrastructure. In recent years, though there has been increased awareness on mental health, however accessing affordable interventions and treatment options remains challenging. For young adults and working professionals, mental health concerns have escalated to a crisis level. Hence, it’s crucial to raise awareness and encourage early interventions. Adayulogues Podcast will help individuals identify the issue and seek help, if required. This will also bust myths and misconceptions around various mental health disorder.

GIIS Hadapsar Inaugurates Sabarmati Ashram to Commemorate Gandhi Jayanti

In a heartfelt tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, GIIS Smart Campus Hadapsar celebrated Gandhi Jayanti with an inspiring initiative. The school recently inaugurated its very own Sabarmati Ashram, with Dr. Shobha Supekar, Trustee of the Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Delhi, and Ms. Vaishali Borde, GMP, Country Head of Global Indian International School, as esteemed guests.

The event highlighted the school’s commitment to preserving Gandhiji’s legacy, integrating cultural heritage with acts of compassion. The Sabarmati Ashram established in campus aims to educate students about Mahatma Gandhi’s role in the freedom struggle. It features a museum that provides comprehensive information on Gandhian movements, while the installation of a charkha will be part of the vocational curriculum, offering students training in traditional weaving techniques. Plans are also underway to establish a library dedicated to books on Gandhian culture, further enriching students’ understanding of India’s history and inspiring them to adopt the values of non-violence, self-reliance, and social responsibility. A key highlight was the Daan Utsav celebration, where students from Dharamveer Shambhu Anathalaya were special guests of honor. Pre-primary and primary students contributed food items, while secondary students donated stationery and books for underprivileged children, fostering the spirit of giving and community service.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D. Lakshmi Prasanna, Principal of GIIS Hadapsar, stated, ” Our goal in establishing the Sabarmati Ashram at GIIS Smart Campus, Hadapsar, is to instill in our students the timeless values of Mahatma Gandhi—non-violence, simplicity, and service to others. We believe that by learning about his life and principles, our students will be inspired to build a more compassionate and just society, embodying Gandhiji’s vision of truth and equality in everything they do.”

This initiative will not only educate students about Gandhiji’s teachings but also serve as a vibrant space for discussions, workshops, and hands-on learning experiences. By engaging with the museum, the charkha training, and the library, students will develop a deeper appreciation for their heritage. The ashram will foster a sense of unity and purpose among students and faculty, ensuring Gandhiji’s legacy is kept alive through practical engagement and reflection.

The Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at GIIS Smart Campus Hadapsar were a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on students and guests alike. The inauguration of the Sabarmati Ashram, the charkha installation, and the heartfelt contributions during Daan Utsav truly embodied the spirit of Gandhiji’s teachings. By integrating these values into their education, GIIS continues to inspire its students to lead lives of compassion, simplicity, and service, ensuring that Gandhiji’s vision endures for future generations.

Uni Improves Decision Making and Risk Management with Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud

Bengaluru, 14th October 2024 – Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, announced that Uni, a leading next-gen fintech company, has been leveraging Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to create an integrated new-age data platform, helping them to launch newer applications, enhance customer lifecycle management systems, experiment and test new services, and support innovation in the credit industry. By leveraging Snowflake, Uni has centralized its data, enabling faster, data-driven decisions for leadership and business teams, leading to streamlining risk management, and creating personalized products tailored to customer needs.

Uni chose Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud platform because it offers a secure, single, unified, and simplified architecture to support various data workloads at scale. Today, with an integrated data platform, Uni can derive insights from multiple structured and unstructured data sources like credit bureau and risk rating reports, allowing them to perform end-to-end analytics centrally instead of collating different data in an Excel sheet and querying them, bringing down 2-3 days of effort to less than an hour. This has helped them improve their customer satisfaction score and promptly work on customer feedback.

Uni has over 70 microservices in the domain of credit management, each with its own database. Now, with Snowflake, setting up data pipelines for new applications takes less than five minutes, reducing the burden on engineering teams and allowing them to focus on more value-added functions. Uni can easily and securely manage reconciliation and regulatory reporting in real-time. For credit management offerings, Snowflake helps Uni understand customer preferences and improve their experience.

Uni is looking to leverage Snowpipe Streaming for operational ease and additional cost benefits in the future. Further, with Snowflake Data Clean Rooms capabilities, they intend to streamline the data management across various departments, such as marketing, engineering, and HR, and partners, such as NBFCs, helping create an anonymized, secure, and governed data sharing model that helps identify user patterns. This will allow Uni to build better cohorts for streamlined marketing communication and product innovation, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and retention. The company is also looking at leveraging AI for anomaly detection to detect and track improper cash flows and cash back to customers and identify fraud.

Sharing his experience, Abhra Dasgupta, Director of Engineering, Uni, said, “We have been working with Snowflake since our inception, and today, all our strategic business decisions are data-driven. With the AI Data Cloud, we can share data across different platforms securely and easily, driving innovation and faster go-to-market. We now have an enriched credit risk model helping us get deeper insights into our customer behaviours for our offerings, like the Paychek, PowerUp Money, NX Wave Credit Card, and other credit products. We also do our entire risk analysis and underwriting using Snowflake as our single data source.”

Highlighting the importance of the collaboration with Uni, Vijayant Rai, Managing Director—India, Snowflake, said, “The fintech industry in India relies heavily on data and insights to drive business growth. We are proud to have shaped Uni’s data strategy and collaborated on many of its first launches in the market. Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud platform has helped Uni be at the forefront of innovation and customer experience.”

How Skyview by Empyrean leads the way in water conservation amid Jammu’s water crisis

Jammu: October 14, 2024 – In a world where each wasted drop of water could have saved a life, being conscious about how you use this precious, natural resource is the biggest lesson to be learned! In India, regions like Jammu have been grappling with a severe water crisis for months. This year’s 27% deficiency in rainfall in the region has already got the local farming community and residents worried about the long-term implications of a water shortage.

In such a scenario, leading by example through small, simple steps in conserving, recycling, and reusing water can ensure each home has at least a minimum supply of water! Skyview by Empyrean, a 22-acre, premium mountain harbour located in Jammu’s Sanget-Patnitop area, that seamlessly blends luxury, hospitality, and adventure, is doing exactly that. As Jammu continues to face water shortages, Skyview by Empyrean is taking significant steps to conserve water and reduce its environmental footprint.

Skyview by Empyrean is a major tourist destination in Jammu that provides jobs and a steady income for the local community. By promoting eco-friendly tourism, Skyview by Empyrean is also fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among tourists and residents alike.

Here’s how Skyview leads the way –

RTSOI Champion
Skyview by Empyrean, India’s first sustainable tourism destination (valid till 2025) as declared by The Responsible Tourism Society of India, has pioneered innovative and eco-friendly, modern building design in the region. Its commitment to sustainability is evident in the way it preserves and utilizes natural resources, including rainwater.

Rainwater Harvesting
The buildings on the property are designed to facilitate rainwater harvesting. Water from the roofs of these buildings is collected in pits and transferred to underground tanks for daily usage. Two large underground storage tanks, each with a capacity of 20,000 litres, together provide a total of 40,000 litres of rainwater storage!

Since the property does not rely on external sources for water and is completely self-reliant, the people of Jammu have access to more water! The stored rainwater is then re-used exclusively for non-potable purposes, such as washrooms and gardening.

Rainwater harvesting has significantly reduced the property’s reliance on groundwater and other external water supplies, thereby contributing to the conservation of valuable freshwater resources in Jammu.

First Flush System
A key feature of Skyview by Empyrean’s rainwater harvesting system is the installation of the first-flush device, that plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of the collected water. Rainwater can carry dust, debris and dirt from the roof. This first-flush system is designed to divert this dirty runoff away from the storage tanks, ensuring that only clean, usable rainwater is stored. Not only does this device leave the water clean enough to reuse but also extends the life of the tanks and pipes.

By reducing the demand for external water resources, Skyview has also minimized the energy used in pumping and transporting water, thereby lowering the overall carbon footprint and significantly reducing environmental impact.

If each individual and organization in Jammu followed Skyview by Empyrean’s example by becoming more environmentally conscious and taking small steps every day to save water and use or reuse it wisely, the region’s water crisis could soon become a thing of the past.

KIIT World School, Pitampura, Ranks 3rd in Times School Survey, secures position among Top 30 in Delhi State in Cfore Survey

Delhi – KIIT World School, Pitampura, has proudly earned the 3rd rank in the Times School Survey for North Delhi Schools and has secured position in top 30 best schools in Delhi State in the Cfore School Survey. These prestigious recognitions highlight the school’s continued commitment to academic excellence and holistic student development.

Under the dynamic leadership of Principal Sangeeta Bhatia, the school has reached new heights of success. “These rankings are a reflection of our dedication to creating a nurturing environment where students excel both academically and personally,” said Principal Bhatia. The school’s focus on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and ethical values has set it apart as one of the leading institutions in North Delhi.

The Times School Survey is one of the most respected platforms that evaluates schools on various key parameters including academics, infrastructure, and extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, the Cfore School Survey recognizes schools that demonstrate innovation in teaching and excellence in student engagement. KIIT World School’s consistent presence in these surveys affirms its position as a top institution dedicated to comprehensive education.

KIIT World School continues to stand out for its blend of academic rigor and co-curricular excellence. With a student-centric approach, the school encourages hands-on learning, leadership development, and skill-building activities that prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Big Hello Launches Its Eighth Retail Experience Store in Bengaluru’s Electronic City

Bengaluru, 14 October 2024: Big Hello, a specialty fashion brand for plus-sized people, has recently inaugurated its eighth retail experience store in the heart of Bengaluru’s Electronics City Phase 1. The new store adds to existing Big Hello stores in Koramangala, JP Nagar, and several other locations in Bengaluru and brings world-class plus-size fashion within easy reach of the city’s discerning customers.

The new store brings a vibrant and distinctive shopping experience to plus-sized fashion customers. All Big Hello stores are designed as ‘Experience Stores‘ and feature vibrant interiors with dancing mannequins and excellent and engaging customer service, representing the lively and happy spirit of the brand. Big Hello is the first brand in India to provide a dedicated lounge for its customers to sit and shop comfortably, enhancing their retail shopping experience.

“Our newest store in Electronic City adds to our fast-growing footprint throughout Bengaluru and will offer our customers easy access to fashionable, high-quality clothing. We’re proud to bring our thoughtfully curated collections to the fashion-conscious community here,” said Modita Tripathi, Brand Head at Absolute Brands, the parent company of Big Hello.

The newly inaugurated Big Hello store presents an extensive collection of ethnic Indian and Western apparel for both men and women. In addition to clothing, customers can explore a diverse range of handcrafted accessories, all designed with a focus on fit and comfort. This new store opening marks the expansion of Big Hello retail footprint to a total of 18 locations, including prominent cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Indore.

Big Hello has existing stores in Bengaluru in locations like Koramangala, Mantri Mall, Kamanahalli, RMZ Galleria Mall, JP Nagar, Jayanagar, and New Bel Road, offering local shoppers even more convenience and choice.

Big Hello intends to open 50 more stores throughout India in the current financial year as part of the company’s rapid growth strategy, focusing on key regions like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Les Entretiens Debuts in India: Visionaries Unite to Discuss Mumbai’s Transformation to a Global Metropolis

Mumbai, India – October 14th, 2024: The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), in collaboration with the prestigious Les Entretiens, is delighted to present the inaugural Asia edition of Les Entretiens in Mumbai on Friday, October 18th, 2024, at the iconic Royal Opera House in Mumbai. This historic event, themed “Mumbai 2047 – The Rising of a Global Metropolis,” will be graced by His Excellency Dr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, among other dignitaries.

 Founded in 2003 by Mr. Jérôme Chartier, a former member of the French Parliament and Mayor of Domont (Val-d’Oise), Les Entretiens brings together thought leaders, top decision-makers, and influential personalities from various sectors. The India edition marks a significant step in fostering Indo-French collaboration, featuring more than 20 prominent figures from both countries, including business leaders, policymakers, and academics.

 Co-chaired by Mr. Sumeet Anand, Founder & CEO of IndSight Growth Partners and former IFCCI President, and Ms. Florence Verzelen, Executive VP at Dassault Systèmes, the event will delve into critical discussions surrounding Mumbai’s transformation into a global metropolis by 2047. Topics of focus will include the city’s infrastructure, sustainable consumption, education, urban culture, and the future of mobility.

 Mr. Jerome Chartier, Founder of Les Entretiens, shared his enthusiasm: “For twenty years, “Les Entretiens” have taken place in France and abroad in locations where human history, in all its forms and subtleties, is ever-present. These places serve as receptacles for moments of sharing and reflection that allow us to engage for the progress of humanity. These moments exist thanks to the galaxy of the friends of Les Entretiens around the world, nourishing the spirit of the Enlightenment through fruitful dialogue with other civilizations. Tirelessly, the community of Les Entretiens works towards the progress of humanity.

 This progress must be welcomed and never suffocated by fear or hatred. It is with a strong sense of freedom and meaning that we must accompany its movement. This movement will take place in Mumbai on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Royal Opera House, one of the city’s most iconic historical venues. With the first « Les Entretiens de Mumbai » we are opening, thanks to the perfect organization orchestrated by the French Chamber of Commerce in India, a new chapter of these unique moments of dialogue between civilizations for the progress of humanity. We will project ourselves into 2047, when Mumbai will become one of the largest metropolises in the world, and we will think together about how we must anticipate the emergence of Mumbai2047 starting now.”

 He further adds, “Thank you to the wonderful French delegation that has agreed to come share their visions and reflections. Thank you to the high-level Indian speakers for welcoming us for this significant moment of sharing intelligence and culture ahead. These first « Les Entretiens de Mumbai » are made possible thanks to all the organizations and companies listed on the poster below. Without them, none of this would be possible. We sincerely thank them all for their commitment.”

 “We are pleased to organise the 1st edition of Les Entretiens de Mumbai/ The Mumbai Interviews 2024 on October 18th 2024, by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in partnership with the prestigious French conference – Les Entretiens. Les Entretiens brings together the leading minds of France to discuss the future through the lens of the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Indian civilisation has contributed to global thought through its ancient traditions and knowledge, a contribution that has continued since our independence in 1947. India’s ambition of becoming a developed country by 2047 coincides with the 50-year celebration of the Indo-French strategic partnership. With Les Entretiens de Mumbai/ The Mumbai Interviews, we will bring together brilliant minds from India and France to discuss the future of Indian cities, under the theme of ‘Mumbai 2047 – The Rise of A Global Metropolis”, quipped Mr Sumeet Anand, Founder & CEO of IndSight Growth Partners and former IFCCI President.

 Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, added, “”Les Entretiens coming to Mumbai is a remarkable milestone in Indo-French relations. This prestigious platform will bring together leaders from both countries to engage in thoughtful dialogue on Mumbai’s future as a global metropolis. We are honoured to host such a significant event and believe the ideas and collaborations that emerge will contribute meaningfully to the growth and transformation of this metropolis.”

 The key sessions will feature engaging discussions on topics such as “Vision of Mumbai 2047,” “Transformative Transport Infrastructure,” and “Building a Sports Culture for a Global City.”

 Some of the distinguished attendees and speakers include:

•  Ms. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Former Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games
• Ms. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Former French Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Research
• Ms. Monique Canto-Sperber, French Philosopher & Current Director, CNRS
• Mr. Jean-Jacques Santini, Advisor to Chairman & CEO, BNP Paribas Group
• Mr. Vincent Montagne, President & CEO, Media-Participations
• Mr. Vincenzo Vinzi, President & Dean, ESSEC Business School and President, Conference des Grandes Ecoles
• Mr. Nadir Godrej, Managing Director & Chairman, Godrej Industries Ltd
• Mr. Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder upGrad & Swades Foundation
• Mr. Atul Ruia, Chairman, The Phoenix Mills Ltd
• Mr. Bijoy Jain, Architect, Studio Mumbai

 Supported by the French Embassy in India and the French Institute in India (IFI), Mumbai – Les Entretiens promises to be an insightful platform where leaders from across sectors will share their perspectives on Mumbai’s growth trajectory and vision for the future. The knowledge partnerships with Avid Learning and ISEG Foundation, underscores the event’s commitment to fostering an inclusive dialogue on the urban and cultural evolution of the city.