7, Nov 2023
Ransomware Attacks Have Doubled Over the Past Two Years, According to Akamai Research
Bengaluru, India, 7th November 2023 – Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today released a new report highlighting the increase in ransomware, the adoption of Zero Trust, and the benefits of micro-segmentation. The State of Segmentation 2023 found that organizations surveyed experienced an average of 86 ransomware attacks in the past 12 months, up from an average of 43 annual attacks two years ago. Security organizations have responded to the recent rise in attacks by implementing Zero Trust and micro-segmentation strategies. Nearly all (99%) of respondents who reported that they have deployed some form of segmentation have also deployed a Zero Trust security framework.
The report is based on input from 1,200 IT and security decision-makers from around the world. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that micro-segmentation is an effective tool to keep assets protected, but deployment was lower than expected, with only 30% of organizations segmenting across more than two business critical areas. Globally, the top obstacles to deploying microsegmentation are a lack of skills/expertise (39%) followed by increased performance bottlenecks (39%), and compliance requirements (38%). Almost all of those surveyed, no matter the sector, industry, or country, reported the same obstacles to slightly different extents.
Despite slow deployments, organizations that have persevered and implemented a micro-segmentation strategy across six mission-critical areas reported recovering from an attack in an average of only four hours. That’s 11 hours faster than organizations that have only segmented across one critical area, underscoring the effectiveness of a Zero Trust strategy that utilizes micro-segmentation.
“The cybersecurity landscape is always evolving and shifting based on the latest threat methodologies developed by cybercriminals. Whether it’s defending against ransomware, new zero-days, or sophisticated phishing attacks, it’s vital that organizations reevaluate their risks to protect their critical assets,” said Steve Winterfeld, Advisory CISO at Akamai. “One of the key ways to do this is with a Zero Trust architecture. That means utilizing a combination of Zero Trust Network Access and micro-segmentation integrated as part of a clear security strategy supported by access to staff and partners with necessary skills.”
Other findings from the report include:
Of all respondents, 93% claimed that microsegmentation is critical to help thwart ransomware attacks.
Network downtime (44%), data loss (42%), and brand/reputation damage (39%) were the most common issues impacting organizations after a ransomware attack.
The U.S. and Germany reported the most ransomware attacks over the past year, with the U.S. at 115 and Germany at 110.
India leads the way in segmentation, with 58% of organizations reporting more than two assets/areas being segmented, followed by Mexico with 48% and Japan with 32%.
Read the full report.
Methodology
Akamai partnered with Vanson Bourne to interview 1,200 IT and security decision-makers in 10 countries to measure the progress organizations have made in securing their environments, focusing on the role of segmentation.
They were asked questions related to their IT security approaches and segmentation strategies, as well as about the threats their organization faced during 2023. These findings give us insight into how security strategies have changed since 2021, and where progress still needs to be made.
Security personnel and decision-makers from the U.S, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Germany, China, India, Japan, and Australia were interviewed. All worked for organizations with more than 1,000 employees, and they represented a balanced range of industries and sectors.
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- By Rabindra
7, Nov 2023
To The New is certified as an AWS Graviton Service Delivery Partner
New Delhi, 7th November 2023 – TO THE NEW, a leading global digital technology services company, is proud to announce its certification as an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Graviton Service Delivery Partner. This recognition validates AWS Partners that excel in enabling the best price-performance for workloads in Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), RDS, DocumentDB, Elasticache, OpenSearch, MemoryDB, & more and that help customers accelerate and scale their adoption of AWS Graviton to achieve better workload performance and cost savings.
This specialization strengthens TO THE NEW’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge cloud solutions on AWS Graviton’s advanced architecture and empowers businesses with enhanced performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
TO THE NEW has been an AWS partner since 2013, helping customers across geographies and industry verticals adopt AWS, set up new applications on AWS, migrate legacy applications and infrastructure from on-premises data centers to the cloud, deploy DevOps automation, and 24×7 managed services.
As an AWS Graviton Delivery Partner, TO THE NEW, joins an exclusive group of AWS Partners that offer customers world-class services to implement workloads on AWS Graviton-based services. From pilots to production deployment, verified partners are able to recommend a transition strategy to AWS Graviton and guide the customer throughout the entire process.
The collaboration with AWS enables TO THE NEW to leverage the power of AWS Graviton processors for a wide range of workloads, including web applications, containerized microservices, and data analytics.
“We are thrilled to achieve the AWS Graviton Service Delivery Partner certification,” said Narinder Kumar, COO and Co-founder at TO THE NEW. “This recognition showcases our dedication to staying at the forefront of cloud technology and delivering exceptional solutions to our clients. With a team of 50+ specialized AWS Graviton experts and our experience in the successful migration of complex cloud workloads to AWS Graviton, we commit to fueling customer-centric next-generation architecture adoption on AWS. Leveraging ARM architecture, we aim to unlock higher speed, power, performance, and flexibility, while reducing the total cost of ownership for our customers.”
With this certification, TO THE NEW looks forward to offering migration services tailored to leverage the unique capabilities of AWS Graviton processors along with strategic guidance throughout its customers’ AWS Graviton adoption journey. With extensive experience in cloud-native development, TO THE NEW is well-positioned to assist businesses in harnessing the full potential of AWS Graviton and driving digital transformation initiatives.
TO THE NEW’s recognition as an AWS Graviton Delivery Partner further strengthens its position as a trusted digital transformation partner capable of delivering innovative cloud solutions and driving business growth for customers. This includes helping Tata Play, India’s leading PayTV and OTT Services Company, to define a strategy and execute a successful end-to-end migration.
Commenting on this, Vishal Arya, CTO/CIO at Tata Play, said, “Cultivating innovation is at the core of Tata Play’s ethos. We leverage AWS for several large digital platforms. TTN has been our Cloud and digital partner for many years. As part of the Cloud Cost Optimization drive, TTN helped us migrate a lot of our workloads to AWS Graviton. It not only resulted in significant cost savings without any performance impact but also contributed towards our ESG goals. We will keep leveraging such services as they emerge to further accelerate our pace of innovation and bring cost efficiencies to our customers.”
7, Nov 2023
Evaluation Report finds 400 million people benefitted from NDB’s USD 10 billion COVID-19 Emergency Financing
The New Development Bank (NDB)’s financing facility of up to USD 10 billion for loans in response to the COVID-19 emergency in its founding member countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa benefitted 400 million people, including women, health workers, senior citizens, people with disabilities, farmers and more, according to an evaluation report by NDB’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO).
The report estimates that through this financing, the member countries were able to provide much-needed support, including life cover of USD 67,400 to 2.2 million health workers, USD 4.17 billion in income support to 206.5 million women, ex-gratia payments of USD 13.5 each to 28.1 million senior citizens, widows, and individuals with disabilities, USD 26.9 each in advanced funds to 95 million farmers, and deliver 142 million gas cylinders to 75.6 million people.
Additionally, the India focused COVID-19 Response Programmes generated 5.4 billion person-days of employment, with 52% going to women, and ensured 100% of district hospital doctors and nurses were trained to meet WHO standards, with 61% of them being women.
NDB’s first COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Programme Loan was approved on March 19, 2020. This was the first such loan by any multilateral development bank in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address the health and economic consequences of the outbreak. The report applauds NDB’s agility in responding to the pandemic and the needs of the member countries and recommends formulating a crisis response policy that can help shape the Bank’s response to a wide range of significant global crises.
The pandemic triggered substantial economic challenges, trade volume contractions, and a surge in global unemployment, posing a unique set of difficulties for nations worldwide.
NDB’s Independent Evaluation Office presented its findings from the comprehensive evaluation of the Bank’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a stakeholders’ seminar today in New Delhi, India. This was followed by an Evaluation Capacity Development seminar.
According to Mr. Anil Kishora, Vice-President & Chief Risk Officer, NDB, “The COVID-19 pandemic was one of those rare global crises which demanded a response from almost every institution having a stake in human well-being or global development. It was a reminder that multilateral organisations, in particular, need to stay ever prepared and equipped to respond to global crisis situations which might hit us in future.”
He further added, “The COVID-19 pandemic challenged both the member countries and NDB in terms of magnitude, dynamics, and complexity. However, the Bank demonstrated exceptional agility and speed in its response, prioritizing the immediate needs of its member countries. The COVID-19 Response Programme Evaluation was the logical next step to identify lessons that need to be thought through and internalized.”
The NDB’s response was characterized by the implementation of the Policy on Fast-Track Emergency Response to COVID-19 and the subsequent COVID-19 Emergency Programme loans aimed at alleviating the pandemic’s impact.
Speaking about the evaluation and its learning, Mr. Ashwani Muthoo, Director General of the IEO at the NDB, said “The evaluation accounted for the exceptional challenges posed by the pandemic and the absence of well-established benchmarks. When one comprehensively considers all aspects, it becomes evident that the NDB’s COVID-19 Response Programme played an instrumental role in the triumph of the individual country programs. It is heartening to witness the commitment of all stakeholders discuss the lessons and recommendations from this independent evaluation.”
Among other topics, the stakeholders discussed the need for strengthening coordination and cooperation among different actors including governments, international organisations, civil society, private sector and others for deeper efficiency and better results in crisis-response situations. Participants also discussed the setting up of institutional arrangements to support operational teams when implementing specific multi-country programmes: providing guidance and templates specifically tailored to the programme; as well as ensuring that key quality at entry requirements for funding are met.
Pursuing its commitment to strengthening evaluation capacities across all member countries, NDB also hosted an Evaluation Capacity Development seminar today in New Delhi. This seminar focused on measures to enhance evaluation practices and methodologies that need to be tailored to the local context for promoting improved accountability and learning.
The NDB seminars saw over 100 participants from relevant government offices, development partners, officials from all NDB member countries, NDB project staff, representatives of the NDB Board of Directors, relevant research and academic organizations, non-governmental organizations, foundations and private sector organizations and others.
7, Nov 2023
Airtel’s Deepak Gupta Joins CARS24 as Vice President of EngineeringAirtel’s Deepak Gupta Joins CARS24 as Vice President of Engineering
New Delhi, November 07, 2023 – CARS24, India’s leading AutoTech Company has today announced the appointment of Deepak Gupta as its Vice President of Engineering. In his new role, Deepak will catalyze driving technological innovation within the Engineering Division, aiming to enhance both the performance delivery and the overall user experience for customers buying and selling used cars. This move underscores CARS24’s dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform the way we interact with the pre-owned automobile market, offering customers a seamless and efficient journey
Deepak is a forward-thinking technologist with a career spanning over two decades at the nexus of technology and business. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to shape technical strategies, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver remarkable results that propel organizations to new heights. Throughout his career, Deepak has been the mastermind behind the development of extensive engineering platforms, adaptable and scalable websites, apps, and products, all designed to provide cutting-edge functionality and intelligence to end-users. His dedication to ensuring customer satisfaction drives continuous innovation and swift product development.
An alumnus of IIT, Delhi, Deepak firmly believes in technology as a catalyst for positive change, surpassing mere trend-following to strategically unlock technology’s potential in solving intricate challenges, optimizing operational efficiency, and birthing ground-breaking products and services. His visionary leadership is centred around guiding organizations through this transformative technological landscape, making them agile, competitive, and future-proof.
In his most recent role at Airtel, Deepak spearheaded technology initiatives across 14 countries, overseeing critical functions, including Airtel Money and Airtel Payments Bank. Prior to Airtel, he headed the technology division in G4S, a global integrated security committee, and worked with other renowned organizations like Publicis Sapient, Xchanging, and MPS Technologies. Deepak is also an official member of the Forbes Technology Council.
Talking about us, Deepak Gupta, the newly appointed Vice President of Engineering at CARS24, shared, “I am honoured and excited to join the dynamic team at Cars24 as the Vice President of Engineering. Cars24 is at the forefront of revolutionizing the automotive industry, and I look forward to contributing my expertise to drive innovation leveraging AI and Data Science and excellence in engineering at its Financial engineering and compliance vertical. Together, we’ll build the future of automotive technology.”
Marut Singh, the Chief Technology Officer at CARS24, couldn’t contain his excitement about Deepak’s addition to the team. He expressed, “We’re not just welcoming Deepak; we’re unleashing a tech-savvy maestro to the CARS24 Engineering Team. Our mission has always been to transform the global used car market, and Deepak’s addition to the team at this juncture will work like a booster to our digital transformation journey. With his rich experience across various verticals and ability to lead large teams, we’re geared up to offer our customers a world-class experience”
In his new role, Deepak will lead CARS24’s Financial engineering and compliance vertical, focusing on creating a scalable ecosystem to build various financial products. He will fortify team dynamics, foster seamless collaboration, and spearhead technological and process innovation while driving advanced product development to fuel the organization’s business growth. Deepak’s addition to the CARS24 team represents a pivotal step in reinforcing the company’s commitment to nurturing its talent force, delivering unparalleled experiences, and solidifying its position as an industry leader in the dynamic used car market.
CARS24 remains at the forefront of auto-tech innovation. Earlier this month the company announced its plans to on-board over 100 tech experts in domains such as R&D, data sciences, and product development this quarter to further strengthen its tech team.
7, Nov 2023
STPI launches Leap Ahed initiative for startups to get access to investment, mentorship & global connect
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology Secretary Shri S. Krishnan launched the initiative
New Delhi, 7th November 2023: In the bid to support and accelerate the success of tech startups across India, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri S. Krishnan launched the LEAP AHEAD initiative, a joint collaboration of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Delhi-NCR, here at the LEAP AHEAD summit in the gracious presence of Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI; Shri Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY; Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR & Co-Founder, Indian Angel Network; Shri Alok Mittal, Co-founder, Indifi Technologies & President, TiE Delhi-NCR; Shri Ashok Singh, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations, Mumbai Angels; Shri Prem Bharthasarathy, Managing Partner, Pontaq Ventures India LLP, Shri Devesh Tyagi, Senior Director, STPI; Shri Subodh Sachan, Director, Innovation and Startups, STPI and Ms. Manjusha Chourasia, Scientist ‘E’, MeitY.
This initiative will be a game-changer for tech Startups that are in the scaling stage, growth stage, product diversification, or planning expansion into new geographical locations. They can benefit through funding support of up to ₹ 1 Crore and a comprehensive three-month mentorship program that combines virtual and in-person sessions for a well-rounded learning experience. Furthermore, the initiative will provide start-ups with access to an extensive network and personalized guidance through one-on-one mentorship sessions with seasoned investors and industry experts.
Secretary MeitY, Shri S Krishnan said, “This LEAP AHEAD initiative is very timely in terms of emphasizing the opportunities that lie for entrepreneurship in India. Today, India is no longer known as a BPO destination, it has evolved into a global capability center and R&D center. India stands as a leader in digital public infrastructure and this can now be used in multiple ways by entrepreneurs to build successful enterprises. Youth in smaller cities have the hunger to do and achieve more. That’s the fire in the belly we need to build on. We would like to also see more women and people from tier 2/3 cities coming as entrepreneurs.”
Shri Arvind Kumar, DG, STPI said,” With this initiative, technology startups will gain entry into the market, experience rapid growth and diversify into new horizons. This program is focused mainly on two things – mentorship and co-investment. Besides Delhi, the LEAP AHEAD Startup Summit is also planned to be held in Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, and Chandigarh.”
Dr Saurabh Shrivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, said, “Through the collaboration with STPI, TiE Delhi-NCR is not only providing funding but also providing mentoring and market access. These are people who build successful companies and know the mistakes they have made. We will help these companies to scale and grow.”
This initiative will enable startups to establish a product market fit, identify customer segments, grow hacking strategies, business compliance, leadership recruitment, and fundraising. With a strong focus on nurturing startups and fostering entrepreneurial brilliance, this event represented the first step in an
an exciting journey that will extend the LEAP AHEAD Accelerator Program to cities like Vijayawada, Chandigarh, and Bhubaneswar.
The launch was followed by three pivotal panel discussions on Path to a Product Oriented Nation, Accelerating Innovation, and Funding Insights: Navigating the Investment Landscape. Esteemed panelists from the industry shared insights with young entrepreneurs in the audience. The event also served as a platform for invaluable networking, connecting entrepreneurs with peers, potential investors, and influential thought leaders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A knowledge report on “From Startup to Scale Up: The Role of Digital India and Opportunities Ahead” was unveiled during the event. The report is a comprehensive resource that showcases success stories of startups that have harnessed the potential of Digital India to create innovative solutions that address societal challenges, while also driving economic growth and job creation. The event also saw seven MoUs exchanged between STPINext and ecosystem enablers, felicitation of Build for Bharat IoT Challenge winners, and 20 startups cumulatively received ₹6.1 crore today from NEXTGen Technology Fund1, the fund established under NGIS scheme with STPINEXT as anchor investor and other investors.
7, Nov 2023
BIG FM’s festive campaign ‘Super Duper Dhamaka’ is back with Sonu Sood as India’s next shopping partner
National, 07th November 2023: Embracing the festive spirit, it is the time of the year when people are eagerly excited to shop to their heart’s content. Taking the shopping experience a notch higher, BIG FM, one of the leading radio networks in the country, returns with Season 2 of its celebrated campaign ‘Super Duper Dhamaka’. With the tagline ‘Khelte Khelte Shopping Karega India’, the campaign this year introduces an innovative and dynamic concept – a gamified sale that combines the excitement of the stock market with the joy of retail shopping. The radio network has roped in Bollywood star Sonu Sood, who is the face of the campaign and India’s next shopping partner.
Conceptualized with the aim of helping small-scale retailers to build back better, Super Duper Dhamaka Season 2 takes a step ahead to make this a rewarding experience for all. The campaign offers an enhanced user interface with engaging gamification elements. The website, www.superduperdhamaka.com, is designed to be visually appealing and easy to navigate and features a bar displaying various price points, from the lowest to the highest for the products listed. Adding an exciting element, users will have to catch the lowest price point in an engaging gamified manner, akin to a video game. For retailers, the campaign holds the promise of increased product visibility, and encouraging user engagement.
Once the user registers, Sonu Sood will be the shopping partner for the entire experience. He will explain the entire concept of the Super Duper Dhamaka sale and help them navigate the platform. Offering a more personalized experience, Sonu Sood will engage users by enquiring about their product preferences amongst a host of categories, while also providing information about the best offers available in particular areas. QR codes will also be present in stores which users can scan and a lucky few will stand a chance to win bumper prizes.
Speaking about the campaign, Sunil Kumaran, COO, of BIG FM, said, “Super Duper Dhamaka is our endeavour to provide small-scale retailers with a platform that helps increase their reach resulting in sales and which makes shopping an easy experience for the users as well. After the stupendous success of the first season, we are excited to bring back season 2 with Sonu Sood as the face of the campaign. This year we have completely gamified the entire experience making it extremely interactive for the users whilst highlighting the best deals they can secure”
Actor Sonu Sood said, “I am excited to associate with BIG FM for a campaign that promotes and helps small businesses in such a unique manner. Super Duper Dhamaka aims at giving a rewarding shopping experience to the consumers and I am thrilled to become their shopping partner for this fun, creative and seamless engagement. This is my first stint associating with the brand and I am looking forward to engage with my fans through this medium.”
BIG FM Super Duper Dhamaka Season 2 is presented by Anchor by Panasonic, co-powered by Bikaji and our trading partner, Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy. The campaign combines the local reach of radio with gamification to give advertisers and consumers a never-before opportunity. It is being extensively promoted on-air and across digital and social media platforms of BIG FM.
7, Nov 2023
Varco® Leg Care’s Vision for Healthy Legs Gets an INR 2 Cr Funding Boost
– The funding round was led by Mr. Neeraj Garg, Former CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola, a blend of existing and new investors participated in the round
– The funds to be used mainly for fuelling the company’s growth and expansion, R&D, among other strategic interventions
National, 7th November 2023: Varco® Leg Care, a leading consumer health-tech company at the forefront of best-in-class science, photo technology, and neural network innovation, has announced raising a bridge funding round of INR 2 Crore to advance its mission of revolutionizing leg care across India and the world. This round was led by Mr. Neeraj Garg, Former CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola. Besides the participation of existing investors, the round also witnessed participation
from multiple new investors, including senior executives from Coca-Cola, Emporia UAE, Highway Concessions One – a KKR company, and a few HNIs, recognizing the immense potential and promise that Varco® holds.
Varco® Leg Care will be utilizing the newly acquired capital to propel the company’s growth across various crucial areas, such as the acquisition of top talent, expanding retail presence, appointing key opinion leaders (KOLs), exploring new international markets, integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance treatment adherence, enhancing R&D efforts, and elevating customer retention efforts.
Speaking about the latest fundraise, Mr. Anondeep Ganguly, CEO, of Varco® Leg Care remarked, “We are happy to announce the successful conclusion of our bridge fundraise – which is a testament to the trust and confidence that our investors have in Varco® Leg Care and our committed team. Additionally, the funding will play a major role in bolstering our mission of fostering a healthier, happier world, one leg at a time. Beyond pioneering effective leg care products with the help of advanced phyto and neural network technology, we at Varco® are also empowering consumers to actively engage in diagnosing and managing their leg health. In the long run, we aim to become a global leader in the leg care solutions domain, and envision a world where all individuals move freely without any leg disorder burdens”.
Ex-CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola, Mr. Neeraj Garg, who is the lead investor of the round, and has been recently appointed as an Individual Director of Nano Phyto Care, the parent company of Varco®, expressed his confidence, saying, “This successful fundraise underscores the profound belief that investors have in Varco® Leg Care. By creating breakthrough leg care solutions powered by phytotechnology and enabling consumers to proactively manage their well-being, Varco® is ushering in an unforeseen positive transformation in the leg care space. Going forward, we foresee Varco® Leg Care products becoming a household essential across our country and internationally too”.
Based on its ambitious and strategic vision for growth, over the next two years, Varco® Leg Care is determined to achieve an impressive 10x growth in its Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR). This transformation shall be driven by several key initiatives, including attracting top-notch experts to strengthen its team, integrating technology into operations for streamlining procedures and enhancing client experiences, and ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence. Furthermore, Varco® will also be expanding its product portfolio, introducing unique topical photo products for foot ulcers, restless leg syndrome, nail fungus, and cellulite.
Through these strategic endeavors, Varco® is poised to establish itself as the world’s leading leg care brand, committed to delivering healthier, happier legs to people across the globe. Varco® Leg Care is actively developing a comprehensive leg care products portfolio and plans to strengthen its position across the US market through strategic partnerships with leading marketplaces, as well as to expand to new markets such as GCC countries.
Powered by state-of-the-art neural network technology and photo technology, Varco® Leg Care offers users the ability to actively self-diagnose and manage their leg health, ushering in a new era of personalized care and convenience. Varco® has achieved many remarkable milestones in its journey since its inception in 2022. To date, they have served over 3 lakh customers, expanded their presence to over 1500+ pharmacies across Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, and recorded a net
lifetime revenue of over $1 million.
With a retention rate exceeding 40% and an efficacy rate surpassing 82%, Varco® has successfully earned the trust of Indian consumers by offering competitively priced, high-quality, and effective products that target a range of leg health issues. They are proud to be among the select Indian brands listed on Walmart and have been achieving a remarkable 30% month-on-month growth rate. The company is looking to raise more rounds of funding in the near future, to further enhance and skyrocket its growth.
7, Nov 2023
Global Leader in Cleaning Solutions, Kärcher India, Honours Cleaning Staff Nationwide on ‘Thank Your Cleaners Day’
November 07th, 2023, India: Kärcher India, a subsidiary of Germany-based Kärcher GMBH, the world’s leading cleaning technology provider, collaborated with reputed customers and NGOs like VIDYA and PRAYAS to organize and celebrate ‘Thank Your Cleaners Day.’ Multiple events were held across Kärcher India’s 14 branch offices and 15 client sites in cities like Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Delhi, and more nationwide. The Kärcher representatives personally thanked the cleaning professionals of their facilities in October for their role in creating environments that contribute significantly to the overall health and well-being of communities nationwide.
The Germany-based world’s leading provider of cleaning technology Karcher India, has now taken the initiative nationwide to showcase its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. “Thank Your Cleaner Day” was first celebrated in 2015 by Karcher New Zealand in partnership with the Building Services Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ), and ever since then celebrated worldwide by Kärcher subsidiaries.
Jatinder Kaul, Managing Director, Kärcher India, said, “At Kärcher, we deeply appreciate the vital contributions of cleaning professionals in safeguarding community health and hygiene. ‘Thank Your Cleaner’s Day’ is our tribute to their often unheralded efforts. Collaborating with our customers to roll this out, our own branch offices, and with NGOs like VIDYA and PRAYAS, we are committed to fostering grassroots change, fostering gratitude for essential services. As responsible community members, Kärcher remains steadfast in supporting programs that both empower and promote social and economic well-being.”
In partnership with VIDYA, a non-profit focused on literacy and skills training, Kärcher celebrated ‘Thank Your Cleaner Day’ with 1500+ hand-painted cards by their students and distributed to cleaning staff across India. The company is also engaged in a weekly teaching program where its employees teach conversational English and Math to students from underprivileged backgrounds.
At customer locations, their own offices & at Vidya NGO, the company also distributed goodie bags to the cleaning staff that contained an appreciation certificate, a thank you card, a pen, a keychain, a sipper bottle, and chocolate. The cleaning staff were also treated with high tea on the occasion.
With Prayas JAC Society, a community-based organisation serving vulnerable groups, was another critical collaboration for Kärcher India. On the occasion of ‘Thank Your Cleaner Day’, Prayas has supported Kärcher India in the distribution of 500 safety kits, which included masks, gloves, and sanitizers, to rag pickers. Additionally, they offered refreshments to these individuals as part of their assistance efforts. This initiative was aimed at ensuring the safety of rag pickers in their daily tasks. The distribution event took place at the Prayas Centre in New Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, where Prayas also impart training on waste management and preventive measures to them. The kits provided by Kärcher’s side equipped them with the necessary gear to go about their jobs. On receiving the kit they shared heartfelt testimonials about how these kits will benefit them.
Giving back to society has been integral to Karcher India’s culture. Kärcher India successfully conducted an environmental movement with Kärcher Clean-Up Days to mark the occasion of World Clean-up Day 2023 in September. Equipped with masks, gloves, and eco-friendly garbage bags, the enthusiastic team of employees of the company was determined to leave a positive imprint on the environment. The enthusiastic volunteers utilized cutting-edge cleaning solutions to clean the park next to the Noida centre, from removing litter to cleaning up the grassy areas and walkways, the Kärcher Clean-Up Days demonstrate the company’s unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference to environmental preservation.
Kaul emphasized the importance of recognizing essential workers like cleaners who form the backbone of operations across sectors. He said, “Their hard work often goes unnoticed despite the long hours before and after regular work. ‘Thank Your Cleaners Day’ offers a chance to change this by publicly appreciating their services.”
Karcher India aims to celebrate ‘Thank Your Cleaners Day’ in even more cities in the coming years with help from its partners. As Kaul put it, “We want this day to inspire a movement for the gratitude of cleaners across India. Everyone can make small, daily gestures to show gratitude to cleaners. This Day is celebrated pre-Diwali to celebrate the hardworking cleaners and spread awareness of the importance of cleanliness in our environment. “
7, Nov 2023
Styched Relaunches Sneaker Brand Flatheads, The Shark Tank Sensation, After Landmark Acquisition Deal
Pre-orders of Flatheads signature sneakers are scheduled to commence on the 9th of November
07th November 2023, Bengaluru, India: Styched, the leading direct-to-customer (D2C) fashion and lifestyle brand has announced the relaunch of the casual sneaker brand, Flatheads, following a landmark acquisition deal. Pre-orders of Flatheads signature sneakers are scheduled to commence on the 9th of November. Customers can exclusively place their pre-orders through the official Flatheads website.
Styched is excited to reintroduce Flatheads with three distinct collections: Ellipsis – Breathable Sneakers, available in Cobalt, Burgundy, and Graphite; Luft – Lightest Sneaker, offering options in Fern Green, Cocoa Brown, Crimson Red, and Blue Melange; and Linen Sneakers, presenting a stylish array in Blue Navy, Burgundy Red, Olive Black, and Grey Black.
Flatheads’ commitment to expert design and using the right materials sets them apart. Their insoles, midsoles, knitted uppers, and lacing closures are meticulously crafted to provide exceptional comfort throughout the day. The use of optimal materials tailored for the Indian tropical climate ensures that Flatheads sneakers are both durable and comfortable. The designs maintain a minimal, casual chic aesthetic that complements a wide range of fashion styles.
Flatheads’ journey to this relaunch is a story of resilience and determination. Founder Ganesh Balakrishnan faced a critical moment on the sets of ‘Shark Tank India Season 2,’ where Sharks hesitated to join his entrepreneurial journey. Despite the setbacks, Ganesh’s entrepreneurial spirit endured. Following the show, Flatheads experienced an overwhelming outpouring of support from people all across the nation. The brand swiftly garnered success, selling out in India and making inroads in the US and the UAE markets before the acquisition.
Durga Dash, COO of Styched, expressed, “ We at Styched are beyond thrilled to reboot and relaunch Flatheads- most lightweight comfort shoes which make a chic style statement too. It’s been a challenging yet exciting journey for Flatheads, bouncing back and learning from the setbacks; and we are super confident we can write a fresh new chapter for the long term with the trendy Flatheads and the strong loyal support base it has always enjoyed. Flatheads 2.0 begins this DIWALI 2023! “
Mr. Ganesh Balakrishnan, Founder, of Flatheads, added, “It is a great feeling of happiness to see the brand Flatheads live on with the Styched family. I’m excited for the relaunch and hope to see the nation adopt the new avatar of Flatheads.”
This relaunch signifies a momentous milestone for Styched, which acquired Flatheads in July of this year in an all-equity transaction, marking the company’s inaugural acquisition. Subsequently, Styched expanded its portfolio by acquiring Zymrat, a performance wear brand, in a cash and equity swap deal, along with the addition of the Zymrat team in September 2023.
7, Nov 2023
Nature’s groove by Leela j singh
Ashima Leena’s ‘Nature’s grove’ inspired by nature and its magnificent scintillas, is a luxury prét collection.
The palm leaf collection that Leena Singh put together features silhouettes with modern flare hems. Vivid hues, its unique silhouette, and its distinctive pattern makes it perfect for contemporary women.
The embellished blouse with the satin saree along with blue organza ruffles, has detailings that are intricate and follow garment storytelling with every bead that has been put onto it.
The gold and black satin saree is skillfully embroidered with golden borders. The transition between black and white narrates a story that aligns with the label itself. It is synonymous with Ashima Leena’s metamorphosis as a label that was showcased in the LFW.
The kaftan, with a mustard and grey leaf pattern, is adorned with a detailed design that curves to the contours of the body. A surreal landscape is created for the weaver through satin, by prints created over a white canvas that is inspired by nature’s bounty.
Each silhouette is crafted from the finest materials, such as heavy georgette, flowing satins, and clever use of organzas, to accentuate the wearer’s beauty. It features intricate appliqué work.
Ashima Leena’s ‘Nature’s Grove’ is an ode to nature and all of its beautiful elements.
I was truly excited to be part of Lakme Fashion Week. Having participated in innumerable FDCI fashion weeks for years together, it’s a great feeling to have completed the full circle after having shown in the first ever LAKME FASHION WEEK of India in 1998 as a board member of FDCI says, LeenaJ Singh
