17, Feb 2023
Spectators witnessed 3rd play on the life of Dr. Batra

Mumbai: 17 February 2023: A play based on the life of Padmashree Recipient, Dr. Mukesh Batra was witnessed by the audience at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium. Also present on the occasion was Rakesh Maria, Former Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Madhoo Shah, Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Pritish Nandy, an Indian poet, painter, journalist, parliamentarian, media and television personality, animal activist and maker of films, TV and streaming content.

Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai makes history after two housefull shows which was the first theatrical performance to ever be depicted on the life of a living person. A gripping performance, the play depicts the real-life failures and challenges that Dr. Mukesh Batra endured on his journey towards becoming an entrepreneurial visionary and celebrated homeopath. The story on how he built the world’s largest chain of homeopathy clinics is captured through this play. This one-of-its-kind multimedia Indian theatrical production with background visuals and a star cast of more than 25 actors and over 100 crew inspired the audience with its intensity. The play is funny and sad in parts but overall creates great inspiration and a sense of pride in identifying with a global Indian.

Overwhelmed by the audience response at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Dr. Mukesh Batra said, “I’m thankful to all those who took their time out to witness my journey here at Sophia and for the encouragement and appreciation that the play has received. I am grateful that my life experiences can be a guide for others and hope it will help them in their own journeys.”

17, Feb 2023
Ministry of Rural Development and Meesho sign MoU to onboard rural women as online sellers

Bangalore, February 17, 2023: The Ministry of Rural Development and Meesho, India’s only true online marketplace, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to drive digital inclusion of all women registered under State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and enable them to sell online. The partnership will give impetus to Meesho’s ongoing efforts to onboard rural women entrepreneurs in various states and enable them to launch and grow their businesses online. Over the last few months, Meesho has tied up with several government-run self-help groups (SHGs), such as Sanjeevini – Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission and UMEED – Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Meesho will now work with the central government to facilitate this digitisation at scale, organising rural women as community institutions, ensuring their financial inclusion and helping them with market access. The Ministry of Rural Development will support Meesho’s engagement with state-owned and SRLM-promoted enterprises to bring local artisans, weavers and craft producers into the e-commerce fold.

Giriraj Singh, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, said, “Uplifting rural women across India by unlocking livelihood opportunities for them has been our key objective. Our constant endeavour has been to support the growth and development of rural communities and the collaboration with Meesho will be instrumental in driving financial inclusion for them. Through market insights and training on product cataloging and packaging, women from these self-help groups will be able to leverage the power of technology in making their products visible and accessible to a wider customer base, thereby increasing their earning potential.

With more than 40% of the women population into non-farming, it is our collective responsibility to build capabilities and unlock wider opportunities for them through online selling platforms. We are hopeful to empower 10 crore women financially through this partnership, thereby making them an integral part of India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy.”

Meesho’s continued commitment towards creating a level playing field for the smallest of sellers and its industry-first initiatives like zero commission will encourage women from across the country to embrace internet commerce and allow them to access a wider market. Aligned with Meesho’s vision to enable 100 million small businesses to succeed online, the move will allow them to become self-employed entrepreneurs and fulfill their aspirations of achieving financial independence.

Sanjeev Barnwal, Co-founder and CTO, Meesho, said, “We are honoured to partner with the Ministry of Rural Development on our mission to democratise internet commerce for everyone. Women entrepreneurship is key to India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy and, over the years, Meesho has empowered lakhs of them to succeed in the online world and achieve financial independence. This partnership will amplify our efforts in that direction, unlocking the power of internet commerce for their social and economic growth. We will provide them with all the tools and guidance they need to grow their business online with Meesho.”

Meesho will provide end-to-end support to SHGs, training them on the various facets of running an online business. From guidance on identifying the right products and creating a seller account to uploading catalogues and packaging, Meesho will organise a host of in-person training workshops in several regional languages. Further, Meesho will impart education and training on features like product and pricing recommendations, besides facilitating logistics tie-ups in the respective states.

17, Feb 2023
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023

New Delhi, 17 February 2023: Leading private life insurer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance today unveiled the second edition of its flagship survey Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023, which identifies the Life Goals and aspirations of Indians. It is designed to capture a complete picture of India’s Life Goals, aspirations, influencers, and readiness toward achieving these goals. The comprehensive study maps over 40 Life Goals and evaluates how Indians are preparing themselves to achieve these goals.

Providing financial security for the family emerges as the top Life Goal for Indians post-pandemic with 71% of Indians prioritizing it over other goals. Retirement planning, leading a balanced lifestyle, and providing for children’s education continues to feature among the top Life Goals, finds the Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023. New focus areas like career growth, traveling abroad, and ensuring adequate care for aging parents are also emerging as important Life Goals for Indians. Interestingly, the average number of goals increased from 5 in 2019 to 11 in 2023.

The life Goals Preparedness Index, which is a function of confidence, knowledge, and action taken towards financial planning for one’s Life Goals, stood at 47 as Indians aspire for more Life Goals post the pandemic.

INDIA’S TOP LIFE GOALS ACROSS CATEGORIES

  •  71% of the respondents have financial security for their family as the most important Life Goal
  •  Post-covid, 84% of Indians have the desire for living a balanced life as compared to 51% in 2019
  •  1 in 2 Indians say living a balanced life is their priority Life Goal
  •  2 in 3 Indians have health and fitness goals up from 35% in 2019
  •  Being physically and mentally fit is amongst the top 5 Life Goals for respondents
  •  Health goals see a sharp increase in non-metro regions with a 33% points jump
  •  2X increase in Indians pursuing travel goals over 2019, particularly in metros and among younger consumers
  •  8 in 10 Indians across salaried or business segments have career-related Life Goals, a 1.5X jump over 2019
  •  Pursuing higher education is a Life Goal for 1 in 4 Indians
  •  Ensuring adequate care for aged parents is a priority Life Goal for 40% of the respondents
  •  Philanthropy is sustained as a new-age Life Goal, including avenues like providing employment opportunities, supporting other’s dreams, or imparting knowledge through teaching
  •  1.6X Increase in Indians looking to contribute towards creating a social impact

“It’s interesting to observe that India’s goals are a mix of accomplishing important goals like financially securing their family and leading a balanced life, along with having an aspiration to do more in one life. This reflects the strong tenets of the growing economy of India and the increasing confidence amongst Indians. Post-pandemic, the country has emerged stronger and our fundamentals to progress as a nation has outshone many, which I believe has fueled the aspirations of the nation,” said Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance at the unveiling of India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2.0, here in New Delhi.

DRIVERS OF LIFE GOALS

The Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023 reveals that the average number of influencers increased from 3 to 4 in 2023, as people felt comfortable reaching out for more advice. Interestingly, social media sites and influencers enjoy widespread popularity, even as the reliance on family, elders, and friends for advice continues to increase.

  •  Social media is amongst the top 3 influencers of Life Goals for Indians
  •  Over 2X increase in the importance of social media in fueling new age health, travel & lifestyle goals
  •  The rising influence of social media amongst non-millennials in deciding Life Goals

“The pandemic has certainly shaped our outlook towards life, career, health, and family. A deep realization about wanting to do more and living a holistic life encompassing self-care, family security, and societal-wellbeing surfaces across cohorts of socioeconomic profiles. Further, the survey underlines a key finding that Life Insurance continues to be a reliable anchor and enabler to India’s Life Goals,” said Chandramohan Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.

INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS TO ACHIEVE THEIR LIFE GOALS

The Life Goals Preparedness Index of Indians was 47 in 2023, indicative of their growing aspirations post Covid.

  •  Indians are confident of achieving 1 in 2 Life Goals. For 48% of their Life Goals, they are unsure of achieving them
  •  When it comes to financial planning of Life Goals, Indians feel that they have not done sufficient financial planning for 60% of their own Life Goals
  •  61% of people feel that it is difficult to fulfill the dream of building their own house
  •  67% feel financial freedom in old age is tough to accomplish
  •  58% expressed that achieving financial security for their family is difficult

WHERE INDIANS PREFER TO INVEST TO ENABLE THEIR LIFE GOALS

Life Insurance is the most preferred investment option for 65% of the Life Goals.

  •  For Retirement Life Goals, the preference for Life Insurance increases even further
  •  82% of Indians prefer investing in Life Insurance for financial freedom at old age
  •  77% Indians prefer Life Insurance for a secure and carefree retirement
  •  73% of Indians prefer Life Insurance for the financial security of their family – the most important Life Goal post-pandemic

RESEARCH DESIGN

Kantar IMRB conducted the Bajaj Allianz Life India’s Life Goals Preparedness Survey 2023 with 1936 people across 13 cities including metros, Tier 1, and emerging Tier 2 cities. Cities covered:

  •  North: New Delhi, Ludhiana, and Bareilly
  •  East: Kolkata, Patna, and Bhubaneswar
  •  West: Mumbai, Surat, and Amravati
  •  South: Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, and Guntur

Demographics include:

  •  Age group 22-55 years
  •  New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) A1+, A1, A2/A3 (20:50:30 ratio)
  •  Salaried and Businessman/Self-employed (50:50)
  •  Investment decision-makers

Statistically valid insights were gathered through a quantitative approach to provide a holistic understanding of India’s Life Goals. The data collection was done using tablet-based faced-to-face interviews. The survey data was collected in October 2022.

17, Feb 2023
Mahashivratri’s celebrations to get bigger with Divya Jyoti’s corporate excellence program

New Delhi, February 2023: Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) – the internationally renowned socio-spiritual organization established under the mentorship of Ashutosh Maharaj Ji announces to roll out the much-awaited program- ‘Shiv-Xtasy-Yogic Night of MahaShivratri’ planned to be held on 18th Feb. 2023 at Saffron Hall, Key Events, Rajouri Garden, 6:00 pm to 12:30 am.

This exclusive event is designed by PEACE (a corporate excellence program of DJJS) to address life-related issues for working professionals in corporate houses, government, and non-government departments and companies. The confirmed guest list for the event includes Smt. Smriti Z Irani, Union Cabinet Minister for Ministry of WCD & Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, and Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Rajya Sabha & National Spokesperson of BJP. The participants would comprise highly intellectuals coming from various professions – doctors, lawyers, GMs, HRs, Directors, and Executives of top companies.

Besides introducing the participants to the beauty inherent in the cultural & Vedic heritage of India, this upcoming Mahashivratri event will unravel the ‘Shiv’ element in the most scientific, spiritual & infotainment way, which in turn would assist corporates to productively nourish their professional and personal life dimensions.

Key highlights of SHIV-XTASY

  •  Antarling Pujan – Ceremonial Worship of Inner-self with Mantra Vibes and Classical
    Presentations
  •  Natraj Yog – Performing Taandav-based Yogic Postures and Pranic Mudras
  •  Anoop Roopam – A Unique Fashion Show with Scientific Analysis of Shiv’s Stylization
  •  Puranic Natyam – Decoding Traditional Legends of Shiv with Epical Ballets
  •  Tattv Darshanam – A Deep Insight into Shiv’s Third Eye, Metaphysics Behind Meditation, and Bhaang-based Secret
  •  Shivratri Surotsav – A Group Dance Fest and Musical Melodies of Emotions

The program makes the concept of practical spirituality more approachable and relatable to youth, corporates, and the rational working class. Each session will be presented in a contemporary style like Scientific Experiments, Demonstrations, Human Models, Musical Concerts, Self-assessment Activities, Yogic Ice-breakers, Visual & Sculptural Art, Dramatic Biopic, Dance Ballets, Classical Forms, Epical Poetry, etc.

17, Feb 2023
SOI signed between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Sabeer Bhatia’s ShowReel; Collaboration aims to tackle youth unemployment by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in young Indians

New Delhi, 17 February 2023: A Statement of Intent (SOI) was signed between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and ShowReel (Tiptop-ShowReel Private Limited) to create better opportunities for young and budding entrepreneurs in India. The collaboration aims to double down and support AIM in its efforts of fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in India. By democratising access to the right tools and resources, AIM and ShowReel want to empower young Indians, with a special focus on smaller towns and non-English speaking communities, to tackle the unemployment.

AIM has been at the forefront of providing infrastructure and support necessary to develop and promote an entrepreneurial ecosystem at universities, research institutes, the private sector, and MSME sector in India. All its initiatives are measured and monitored continuously for success and improvements to foster curiosity and innovation in young minds of the country. Sabeer Bhatia’s ShowReel, an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship in the developing world, will deliver a TV show, software, video technology, and entrepreneurial skills through this SOI and provide aspiring entrepreneurs the tools they need to successfully obtain investment and launch a business.

Talking about the partnership, Sabeer Bhatia, Founder, ShowReel (Tiptop-ShowReel Private Limited), (co-founder, Hotmail) said, “Building technology with a purpose has always been my inspiration, and at ShowReel we are committed to providing youth in India web-based tools to succeed in business with skills, knowledge and support for entrepreneurial development. The current state of the global economy is a little challenging, with unemployment looming as a major issue that needs to be handled by national governments. We truly believe that the youth unemployment crisis can be solved through fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in India. AIM has proven to inspire young minds in the country by giving them opportunities to scale. We are happy to work with AIM and the Government of India to support youth in the country and help them successfully foster “the next big idea”.

Looking at the potential of the partnership, Mission Director, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), said, “We are always looking to partner with organisations that can help in creating a collaborative working system to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. With ShowReel on board we feel Mr. Bhatia’s expertise will help us reach potential entrepreneurs from all parts of the country. Young people from smaller cities have had fewer opportunities and we want to help them by introducing them to the entrepreneurial way of thinking so that they can acquire the skills and mindset required to start their own successful business journey.”

This initiative will primarily target regional areas of the country in an effort to confront the existing, often classroom centered rote learning system, and to impart the knowledge and abilities needed to flourish as an entrepreneur in a social media-optimised environment. Both AIM and ShowReel have a keen interest in building entrepreneurship journeys of people and both parties through this SOI want to educate, motivate and instill the feeling of building something of your own amongst the youth of the country. The SOI will provide various avenues to budding entrepreneurs in the country including the platform of ShowReel TV along with other initiatives to further India’s innovation ecosystem. This SOI will create a huge impact on the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem as millions of youngsters will now have an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs.

17, Feb 2023
Mumbai Duo Takes the World by Storm: Elvis and Namrata Crowned World Champions of Kizomba Semba

17th February 2023, Mumbai, India – Elvis and Namrata, the pioneering duo of Kizomba and Semba in Mumbai, have achieved a historic feat as they become the first Asians to win the World Championship of Kizomba and Semba. The competition, known as the Olympiad of Kizomba, was held in Paris and saw the best dancers from around the world compete in the authentic category of dance styles.

Elvis and Namrata, who have been dancing since 2014, have spent years perfecting their craft and honing their skills under the guidance of some of the top names in the industry. Their dedication and hard work paid off as they beat some of the stalwarts in the competition, including talented Angolan dancers, to take home the coveted title.

Their journey to the world stage began when they won the Asia Qualifiers in Delhi, hosted by Muxima India. This win earned them the opportunity to represent Asia in the World Championship and put their skills to the test against the best in the world.

“We are thrilled and honored to have won the World Championship of Kizomba and Semba,” said Elvis and Namrata in a joint statement. “It has been a long journey, but the love and passion we have for dance has driven us every step of the way. We hope to inspire others and spread the knowledge of these amazing dance styles across the world.” – The couple added

The win has put Mumbai and India on the map as a hub for talented Kizomba and Semba dancers and has solidified Elvis and Namrata’s place as pioneers and leaders in the industry.

In conclusion, Elvis and Namrata’s victory at the Olympiad of Kizomba is a testament to their dedication and passion for dance and serves as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

17, Feb 2023
AICTE and BPRD Jointly Launch KAVACH-2023, a National Level Hackathon to Tackle Cyber Threats and Provide Effective Solutions

New Delhi, 17 Feb 2023

Advancing India’s cyber-preparedness, KAVACH-2023, a national-level hackathon was launched on 16th Feb, 2023 to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for addressing the cyber security and cybercrime challenges of the 21st century. KAVACH-2023 was launched at National Media Centre, Raisina Road, New Delhi on 16th February 2023.

Dr T G Sitharam, Chairman, of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), said, “KAVACH-2023 is a unique kind of national hackathon jointly conducted by MoE’s Innovation Cell, AICTE, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D, MHA) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C, MHA) to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for addressing the cyber security and cybercrime challenges of the 21st century faced by our Law Enforcement Agencies and common citizens.”

Sh. Balaji Srivastava, IPS, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), said, “It will be a 36-hour long event, during which youth from educational institutions across the country and registered start-ups will participate to find robust, secure and effective technological solutions for cyber security by using their technical expertise & innovative skills. It will advance the blockage of cyber security crimes with a robust system monitoring and safety provisions.”

Sh. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE, said, “KAVACH-2023 will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the problem statements, grouped into various buckets such as Fake News/social media, Dark web, Women safety, Phishing Detection, Video analytics/CCTV, Obscene Content Detection, Spam Alert, and Malware Analysis/Digital Forensics shall be posed to the public. Willing participants are expected to develop digital solutions for the statements using robust technologies like Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, etc. and submit their concepts on the portal of Kavach-2023.”

Sh. Rajesh Kumar, IPS, CEO, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) during the launch of this Hackathon stated the importance of this Hackathon given the age of digital crimes. He said, “The Grand finale of KAVACH-
2023 will be a 36-hour long mega event, during which selected youths from educational institutions across the country and registered start-ups will participate to find robust, secure and effective technological solutions using their knowledge, technical expertise and innovative skills. Total prize money worth Rs. 20 Lakh will be awarded to the winning teams.”

Smt. Rekha Lohani, IPS, Director, MoD, “The concepts so submitted by participants will be evaluated by a group of domain experts and the most innovative ideas will be selected during the second phase which shall culminate with Grand Finale, selected participants will be expected to demonstrate their solutions for ascertaining technical feasibility and implementability of their solutions. The best ideas will be declared winners by the jury.

The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Smt. Rekha Lohani, IPS, Director, MoD.

17, Feb 2023
Samsung and Bhajanlal Commercial Pvt. Ltd. to Launch the Samsung Galaxy S23 Series in India

KOLKATA, INDIA, 17 February 2023 – Samsung is gearing up to launch its latest flagship series, the Samsung Galaxy S23, in India. The highly anticipated event will take place at Bhajanlal Commercial Pvt. Ltd., one of the leading mobile retail stores in the country. The event is scheduled for February 16, 2023, at midnight, and will be attended by the popular actress Paoli Dam.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series boasts the Exynos 2200 processor, a 6.7-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its triple rear camera system features a 108-megapixel primary sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and 5-megapixel macro lens, with 8K video recording, Super Slow-mo, and Night Mode. It has an under-display fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, Samsung Knox security, and a 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging technology.

Available in three variants, including the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23 Plus, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the new flagship series comes in four stunning colors, including Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, and Phantom Pink.

Bhajanlal Commercial Pvt. Ltd. with a wide network of stores across Eastern and North Eastern India is known for providing high-quality products and services at competitive prices.

Bhajanlal offers mobile phones, music and sound systems, TVs, gaming consoles, smart gadgets, and other electronics, along with related services like mobile phone repairs and data recovery. The company also provides value-added services like buyback programs, exchange offers, and extended warranty plans.

Bhajanlal is committed to keeping up with the latest technology trends and providing its customers with the latest and most innovative products and services. The company has an online presence through its website www.bhajanlal.in and has won Times Business Awards for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022.

In response to COVID-19, Bhajanlal has also ventured into the health and safety products market. The company is dedicated to providing a seamless shopping experience and ensuring that customers receive the best possible service and support.

17, Feb 2023
European LNG demand to drive competition for new supply and dominate trade in the long term

New Delhi, 17th February: European countries, including the UK, imported 121 million tonnes of LNG in 2022, an increase of 60% compared to 2021, which enabled them to withstand a slump in Russian pipeline gas imports following its invasion of Ukraine. A 15 million tonne fall in Chinese imports combined with reduced imports by South Asian buyers helped European countries to secure enough gas and avoid shortages. Europe’s rapidly rising appetite for LNG pushed prices to record highs and generated volatility in energy markets around the world.

With reduced Russian pipeline gas, LNG is becoming an increasingly important pillar of European energy security, supported by the rapid development of new regasification terminals in north-west Europe. In contrast, China is evolving from being a rapidly growing import market to playing a more flexible role with an increased ability to balance the global LNG market.

“The war in Ukraine has had far-reaching impacts on energy security around the world and caused structural shifts in the market that are likely to impact the global LNG industry over the long term,” Steve Hill, Shell’s Executive Vice President for Energy Marketing, said.

“It has also underscored the need for a more strategic approach – through longer-term contracts – to secure reliable supply to avoid exposure to price spikes.”

The drop in Russian pipeline gas flows prompted unprecedented policy and regulatory intervention as governments in Europe sought to bolster energy security and shield their economies from high costs, including prioritizing LNG imports and quickly developing new import terminals.

In 2022, Europe’s LNG demand forced other buyers to reduce their imports and switch to other fuels, generating more emissions. High global LNG prices led to a drop in LNG imports in South Asia, with Pakistan and Bangladesh importing more fuel oil to minimize power supply shortages and India using more coal.

Total global trade in LNG reached 397 million tonnes in 2022. Industry forecasts expect LNG demand to reach 650 to over 700 million tonnes a year by 2040. More investment in liquefaction projects is required to avoid a supply-demand gap that is expected to emerge by the late 2020s.

Diverse new technologies to reduce emissions from gas and LNG supply chains will help to consolidate its role in the energy transition. And there is growing industry focus on the development and deployment of decarbonized gases – including renewable natural gas, synthetic natural gas, hydrogen, and ammonia – to deliver more sustainable energy security in the future.

17, Feb 2023
Zydus Hospitals & Medtronic collaborate to launch India’s first indigenous AI based stroke care network in Gujarat

Bengaluru, 17th February 2023: Zydus Hospitals, Ahmedabad, and India Medtronic Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), announced their partnership to support stroke patients in Gujarat via a hub and spoke network. As part of the partnership, Medtronic will collaborate with Zydus Hospitals to build an ecosystem that can help in the timely diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients by facilitating the use of indigenous AI-enabled technology and providing tools and technologies to support the education and training of doctors in select remote hospitals.

In India, nearly 1.8 million patients are affected by stroke each year.1 In the bigger cities with improved healthcare infrastructure, patients stand a better chance of proper diagnosis, followed by the requisite treatment. However, in the peripheral & rural settings, the challenges are aplenty. The partnership will serve the people of peripheral Gujarat by helping them deal with stroke as a disease effectively. The hub and spoke system works on an advanced AI capable of interpreting a CT scan for a stroke. A team of stroke experts at Zydus hospital (hub) would visualize the CT scan performed at the remote hospital (spoke) and handhold the local physician on further patient management. This way, the physician at the remote hospital is empowered to decide on the future course of action basis the patient’s needs and the patient receives the right treatment at the right time.

Michael Blackwell, Vice President, Medtronic India said, “At Medtronic, we’re accelerating the development of technologies that can help patients manage their disease while living their lives to the fullest. We’ve been consistently partnering with hospitals across India to advance our vision of transforming stroke care for patients in India. Through these collaborations, we can integrate technology to address local healthcare barriers across the care continuum.”

Dr. V N Shah, Mentor & Senior Endocrinologist & Metabolic Physician, Zydus Hospitals, stresses the need for a greater patient-centric approach. He says, “Medicine as a profession revolves around the patient. The patient-centric approach will take us on the path of constant improvisation. Stroke is a big disabler in developing countries like ours. Treatment of any disease starts with quick and efficient detection; the launch of peripheral stroke centers will enhance the survivability of our patients.”

Dr. Kalpesh Shah, Senior Consultant, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Zydus Hospitals emphasizes the fact that the “Brain is a complex organ, so are the diseases associated with it. Often stroke & brain hemorrhage lead to disability which is not just limited to the patient but the adverse effect is equally felt by the family and the household. Timely diagnosis of the disorders with the use of AI even when you are miles away from the specialist hospital can be a lifesaver enabling guided treatment to start immediately under expert supervision.”

Dr. Dipak Patel, Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery, Zydus Hospitals opines “Brain stroke may occur in the form of infarction or hemorrhage. Treatment within the first six golden hours has a greater impact on outcomes in the case of infarction or hemorrhage. Removal of a blood clot to open up the closed blood vessel and emergency surgery for hemorrhage or infarction is associated with good outcomes in such patient.”

Dr. Arvind Sharma, Senior Stroke Neurologist, Zydus Hospitals says “80% of strokes are preventable & time is the brain. If you keep hypertension, diabetes & obesity in check, and stop smoking, the chances of stroke can drastically reduced. If anyone has stroke symptoms, the right diagnosis and optimal treatment within the golden hour is paramount. Creating a network of remote stroke centers will bridge the care gap.”

Dr. Ajit Sowani, Senior Neurologist, Zydus Hospitals “In stroke, the most important course of treatment is to remove the block in the brain as soon as possible- and must be done within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms. The turnaround time is crucial in such a situation and the AI-driven technology helps clinicians to fast-track the next steps of treatment addressing critical patient diagnosis.”