Giving Silence a Sound: How AI is Helping Nonverbal Children Speak Through ‘My First Voice’

India, 5 April 2025 – Using AI technology, Monks, the global, purely digital, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc, and the Centre for Community Initiative (CCI) have given parents the gift of hearing their nonverbal children’s voices for the first time.

The ‘My First Voice’ interface uses AI to give speech-impaired children the ability to communicate in their very own voice by replicating the personalized tone and texture of their sounds.

Ahead of World Autism Day on 5 April, Monks and CCI are announcing an ongoing partnership to scale up the My First Voice solution to reach more parents and children across India.

According to 2023 data from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), 5% of the Indian population is estimated to be on the Autism spectrum, with a significant portion of children starting their lives nonverbal. Autism Spectrum Disorder represents just one reason children can be non-verbal, with My First Voice also seeking to help nonverbal conditions arising out of cerebral palsy, hearing-impaired mutism and other development disorders, representing millions of impacted children throughout India.

This equated to millions of Indian children starting their lives nonverbal, not only trapping them in silence but discovering a world deep-rooted with stigma, excluding them from the emotionally secure well-being that they should have access to.

As partners of UNDP and UN Volunteers, the Centre for Community Initiative is a not-for-profit disability and advocacy organization founded to tackle pressing societal issues primarily around speech-impaired and nonverbal children.

Pauzagin Tonsing, Director and Founder of Centre for Community Initiative, explains, “There are many children with disabilities, even in a remote town like ours, but the biggest challenge is diagnosis and acceptance by parents because of so much stigma around them. Only with acceptance are we able to move on to their education and therapy needs. My own son was born with a disability, and with other parents and community, we dreamed of having a place where we could send our children to learn and grow, just like everyone else’s children — that was the birth of CCI.

Technology can be a force for good, particularly when addressing the challenges that not-for-profit organisations face. Tonsig explains the challenges of CCI: “We struggle with resource mobilisation in terms of special educators, infrastructure, and money, but the community comes together to support the children and their families.”

It is also an isolating journey for parents, who can feel helpless and long for the reassurance that simply having two-way communication with their children can provide. Many parents quietly recede into social seclusion arising out of lack of awareness and sensitivity around the subject matter.

“When people hear Patrick, they stare and point because he sounds different; he cannot speak like them. I feel embarrassed taking him out too much because I don’t want them to stare at us and talk about us. So we leave quickly,” says Patrick’s mother, Christie.

Monks has created an answer to this, using AI to create a real-time interface that not only gives children the ability to communicate but in a voice that replicates their own tones and sound textures. The solution trains AI using recordings of nonverbal children, such as the hums, grunts and fragmented vowels, as well as speech samples of their family members to generate the closest version of the child’s own voice.

In a country with a rich linguistic landscape of many dialects and languages, voice-to-voice training creates a voice that mimics the family’s accent. The child-friendly solution uses real-time text-to-speech input, as well as expandable preset inputs to help children who cannot type due to the impairment of motor skills or limited cognition.

“An app like this, where he can type and hear the words spoken aloud, is incredibly useful for both him and us. The day he got the app, he was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to show us how it worked. Seeing him that happy made me so glad and grateful,” adds Tyson Lungousang’s mother, Nemzaneng.

Monks has spent the past two years developing the technology, shortening the time taken to record, synthesise and create a personalised AI voice from three days to less than five minutes.

John Paite, Chief Creative Officer, India, explained, “Creating truly natural AI-generated voices for non-verbal children required a hyper-personalized approach. Unlike conventional speech models, our dataset consisted of unstructured voice data, often unclear, mumbled, or lacking distinct articulation, making the training process significantly more challenging. Standard AI models couldn’t capture these nuances, so we had to rethink conventional training methods. By fine-tuning multiple parameters and finding workarounds for custom accent training, we develop a solution that mirrors each child’s unique vocal identity.”

Monks collected datasets from parents and siblings and refined the approach through iterative learning to counter AI’s tendency to generalize. After multiple tests, the process was streamlined, reducing voice training time to under five minutes, making it very scalable while preserving natural, hyper-personalized speech traits and ensuring authenticity.

Paite added, “This breakthrough will transform how non-verbal children interact with the world. With a voice that feels truly their own, they can express personal needs more naturally, whether communicating in school, asking for help in an emergency, or even sharing essential information like their name and address if they are lost. Beyond just speech, this technology fosters independence and a deeper sense of belonging, bridging the gap between them and the world around them.”

The pilot of this project was a success, with 10 children’s voices being heard for the first time. A mother heard her son say ‘I love you too’. A father listened to his daughter recite poems she’d been writing for over five years.

“These days, almost every home has a smartphone, which can be the biggest learning opportunity,” adds Pausuanlal Guite, Head of School Administration at CCI.

Empowering ASEAN: India’s BPE Rolls Out Advanced Power Solutions in the Region

New Delhi,04 April 2025: India’s pioneering and leading power solutions provider, Best Power Equipments (BPE), has entered into a strategic partnership with TOTALPower, a key player in the Philippines’ energy sector, to deliver advanced power infrastructure solutions. This collaboration will enhance energy reliability across industries, including data centers, commercial establishments, and industrial facilities in the Philippines and the broader ASEAN region.

In a significant step forward, TOTALPower executives visited India and signed the partnership agreement at the BPE Experience Center in Noida, underscoring their commitment to integrating high-quality power solutions. The signing ceremony allowed the teams to explore BPE’s state-of-the-art UPS, power backup, and energy management technologies that will be deployed in the Philippine market.

“Hosting TOTALPower at our Experience Center and showcasing our cutting-edge solutions underscores BPE’s commitment to global expansion and innovation,” said Amitansu Satpathy, Managing Director, BPE. “This partnership will enable us to bring world-class, reliable power solutions to ASEAN markets while furthering India’s position as a global power technology hub.”

TOTALPower, known for its independent power generation capabilities and integrated energy solutions, will bring its expertise in local energy regulations, market dynamics, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Together, BPE and TOTALPower will develop comprehensive power solutions that address the growing need for uninterrupted, efficient, and sustainable power across the region.

The key focus areas of the partnership include the strengthening of power infrastructure through the delivery of high-efficiency power backup and energy solutions. Besides, it marks the expansion of BPE’s footprint across the ASEAN market – Philippines and beyond. It is further a sustainable Energy Initiatives that backs energy-efficient infrastructure with cutting-edge technology.

As power demands continue to rise, the BPE-TOTALPower partnership aims to set new industry benchmarks in energy resilience, efficiency, and sustainability, reinforcing India’s ‘Make in India’ vision while supporting ASEAN’s growing energy sector.

Pocket FM’s New Tagline and Anthem Inspire a Nation to Listen to the Good

India – 4th April, 2025 – We live in a world of relentless noise – be it digital clutter, endless notifications, or the hum of everyday chaos – on the streets, at work, in metro rides, news debates and everything that happens around us.. Amid this constant clutter, Pocket FM, the audio series platform from Pocket Entertainment, unveils its official India tagline: ‘India, Kuch Acha Suno!’ with a call to escape the chaos around us and embrace immersive, meaningful storytelling that resonates, inspires, and entertains.

With this bold tagline, launched with an evocative anthem, Pocket FM offers a refreshing escape—an invitation to immerse in a new era of audio entertainment, turning passive moments into deeply enriching experiences. The powerful anthem captures a fundamental truth: our world is filled with persistent distractions that disrupt our peace. From endless chatter to background commotion and fleeting content, noise is everywhere.

In a time when content is fleeting and distractions are endless, Pocket FM brings a meaningful pause with stories that touch the soul. With a vast library spanning drama, thrillers, fantasy, romance, and more, Pocket FM isn’t just entertainment; it’s an escape- a sanctuary where stories come alive with depth, emotion, and purpose.

Vineet Singh, Head, Brand Marketing & Communications, shared, “This is more than just a campaign. It’s a movement. There is an overwhelming amount of noise in our lives—both online and offline. With ‘India, Kuch Acha Suno!,’ we are not just introducing a tagline; we are championing a movement to transform how people consume content. What we listen to shapes our emotions, thoughts, and well-being. This anthem, built with the power of AI and our in-house creative team, is a testament to how technology and human creativity come together at the core of Pocket FM – delivering immersive, meaningful stories that inspire, entertain, and enrich every moment.”

Crafted by Pocket Entertainment’s in-house creative team in collaboration with its AI-capabilities, the anthem is a celebration of Pocket FM’s innovation-first storytelling approach — fusing human creativity and AI together to create richer, more resonant content.

Public Issue of UGRO Capital’s Secured NCDs Goes Live Today

Hyderabad, April 4, 2025: UGRO Capital Limited, an NBFC focused on MSME lending, today announced the issue of secured, rated, listed, redeemable, non-convertible debentures of the face value of ₹ 1,000 each. The Issue has a base issue size of ₹ 10,000 lakhs with an option to retain oversubscription up to ₹ 10,000 lakh, aggregating up to ₹ 20,000 lakh. The Issue opens on Thursday, April 3, 2025 and closes on Monday, April 21, 2025 with an option of early closure subject to compliance with Regulation 33A of the SEBI NCS Regulations.

 The NCDs are proposed to be listed on the Stock Exchanges and NSE is the Designated Stock Exchange for the Issue. The NCDs have been rated “IND A+/Stable” by India Ratings and Research Private Limited. Securities with this rating are considered to have adequate degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations.

 Tipsons Consultancy Services Private Limited is the sole lead manager to the issue and MUFG Intime India Private Limited (formerly known as Link Intime India Private Limited) is the Registrar to the Issue and MITCON Credentia Trusteeship Services Limited is the debenture trustee to the Issue.

 This issue has tenor of 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, and 42 months for secured NCDs. Effective yield (% per annum) for NCD holders in all Categories ranges from 10.47% to 11.01%. Redemption Amount (₹ / NCD) on maturity for NCD holders in all Categories range is ₹ 1000.

 At least 75% of the Net proceeds of the Issue shall be utilized for the purpose of onward lending and financing business of the company in ordinary course of business (including for repayment / refinance of existing debts of the Company) and Not exceeding 25% shall be used for general corporate purposes.

 As on December 31, 2024 UGRO Capital’s CRAR, in accordance with the Limited Reviewed Financial Results was at 21.52%. Its AUM has grown from ₹2,96,890.60 lakh as of March 31, 2022, to ₹9,04,705.74 lakh as of March 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Company was operating from 23 prime branches and 201 Emerging Market branches with an AUM of ₹ 11,06,656.73 lakh and catering more than 1,35,000 lakh customers. Across the offered products, as on December 31, 2024, the average ticket size stood at ₹ 11.37 lakh and the portfolio yield stood at 16.65%.

Agritech Pavilion Steals the Show on Day One of Startup MahaKumbh, Showcasing India’s Innovation Edge

Delhi, April 4, 2025: Startup MahaKumbh commenced today, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to propel India’s startup ecosystem forward. The opening day featured thought-provoking discussions, insightful masterclasses, and key initiative launches aimed at revolutionizing India’s agritech sector.

A major highlight was the Inaugural Plenary Session: The Future of Agritech & Rural Commerce: Solving Bharat’s $1 Trillion Opportunity, featuring a keynote address by Shaji KV, Chairman, NABARD, and insights from Vikas Bali, CEO, Intellecap. The session set the stage for exploring transformative trends shaping India’s agritech landscape.

During the session, Shaji KV shared, “Overall, if you look at India’s growth story – India’s growing at around 7%. But if you look at the agriculture sector in recent times, you will see the production is higher in both the levy and tariff, and the rural sector growth is catching up with the urban sector growth. That means the fruits of growth also will percolate to the rural sector, so that almost 50% of the population which is dependent on agriculture will be paid. That is what our larger role is, improving the per capita income in a unified manner. We’re taking the farmers also along in India’s growth story.”

The Impromptu Pitch Competition, a key attraction, invited agritech entrepreneurs to present their groundbreaking solutions, offering them a platform to gain investor attention and industry validation. The winners of the Impromptu Pitch Competition were Everge Agroscience Pvt Ltd, which secured the top spot in the Aavishkaar Ultimate Agritech Pitch, winning a cash prize of 3 lakh rupees, while Agrolt Solutions Pvt Ltd emerged as the runner-up, receiving 2 lakh rupees.

Investment trends in agritech were explored in the Investor Pitch sessions – Business Models Investors Are Betting On – featuring leading voices Rema Subramanian (Co-founder & Managing Partner, Ankur Capital) and Arpit Agarwal (Investment Partner, Blume Ventures). The session provided valuable insights into the investment strategies shaping agritech innovation in India.

The Trailblazing Tales – Agri-Innovations from Sector Disruptors sessions featured pioneering entrepreneurs, including Anil Passary, Managing Director, Urvarak Industries Pvt. Ltd., Nidhi Pant (Co-founder, S4S Technologies), Srinivas Karavadi (President, Absolute AG), and Lt Cdr Naveen Nehra (Retd.), Founder, zestleyorganics, who shared their journeys in reshaping Indian agriculture through technology and innovation.

A critical discussion on Tapping the Carbon Markets for Smallholder Farmers was led by Sanchayan Chakraborty (Partner & CEO, Aavishkaar Carbon Platform) and Santosh Kumar Singh (Partner & Managing Director, Intellecap). The session explored the role of carbon markets in creating new revenue opportunities for farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Additionally, the strategic vision of SBI Foundation on supporting startups was outlined in a session titled SBI Foundation’s Strategic Vision on Startups through Innovators for Bharat, featuring Aman Bhaiya (VP & Head of Strategy, SBI Foundation).

Beyond discussions, the Agritech Pavilion showcased a lineup of innovative startups, presenting their cutting-edge solutions to investors, industry experts, and attendees. These startups are driving transformation in areas such as precision agriculture, supply chain optimization, farm mechanization, and climate-smart agriculture. Some of the leading agritech enterprises featured at the Agritech Pavilion included AgroStar, Agrozone Services Pvt. Ltd., AquaExchange Agritech Pvt. Ltd., Compositech Greensol Pvt. Ltd., Dehaat, Edge marketing Pvt Ltd, Heart in Hills Pvt Ltd. (Foreka), Marut Dronetech Pvt. Ltd., Maxgreen Tractors and Agro Equipments Pvt Ltd, and Vattam Health Foods Private Limited.

A Moment of Grace: Most Rev. Udumala Bala from Warangal Assumes Archbishop Role in Visakhapatnam

Hyderabad, April 4: In a solemn and historic ceremony attended by thousands, Warangal, Telangana born Most Rev. Udumala Bala was officially installed as the new Archbishop of Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The installation was led by the Papal Ambassador to India and Nepal, His Excellency Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli, at a grand Eucharistic celebration held at St. Peter’s Cathedral Grounds, Gnanapuram.

The event was marked by the presence of over 25 bishops and archbishops from across the country, including His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, and Bishop Emeritus Gali Bali, who delivered the homily. Also present were outgoing Apostolic Administrator Bishop Jaya Rao, along with more than 500 priests, 500 nuns, and an estimated 10,000 lay faithful who gathered to witness this significant moment for the Catholic Church in Andhra Pradesh.

In his first address as Archbishop, Most Rev. Udumala Bala described the occasion as a spiritual journey from “Dhanya Bhoomi to Punya Bhoomi.”

“While Warangal is my Dhanya Bhoomi, Vizag is now my Punya Bhoomi,” he said. “I express God’s special blessing in choosing me from Warangal—the blessed land of prime missionaries—to Vizag, the holy land of MSFS missionaries. The people here have a heart as vast as the sea, and I am truly excited to serve in this land of superabundant graces.”

Archbishop Bala called for unity, peace, and collaboration across all faiths and communities, emphasizing a shared responsibility in shaping a more harmonious society.

“I thank all the Catholics of Vizag and people of all religions for their love and welcome. Together, let us build a better Vizag, a better Andhra Pradesh, and a better India. This city and its people are blessed, and I pray for God’s grace upon the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam,” he added.

Vatican Ambassador Praises Vizag’s Vibrant Communities, Highlights Pressing Issues

At the solemn and joyous occasion of the Installation of Most Rev. Udumala Bala as the Archbishop of Visakhapatnam, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli addressed the faithful with heartfelt words of encouragement and blessing. He said, “I am pleased to be with all of you on this joyful occasion of the Installation of Most Rev. Udumala Bala as Archbishop of Visakhapatnam, and to give thanks to God for the gift of a new Chief Pastor to the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.”

He warmly congratulated Archbishop Bala on assuming his new pastoral responsibility and expressed confidence in his leadership. Archbishop Girelli reflected on the vibrancy of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam, noting that it has been blessed with a Catholic population of over one lakh, supported by a strong presence of priests, women religious congregations, and active lay participation in parish activities. He praised the involvement of the laity in pastoral work, the role of catechists in youth faith formation, and the vitality of various pious associations such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Youth Association, and the Altar Servers Association. He also observed that the faithful are deeply engaged in sacramental life and devotional practices, especially in Marian shrines, which reflect the spiritual depth of the region.

However, the Papal Nuncio also acknowledged the challenges faced by the Archdiocese, including economic difficulties, unemployment, the condition of migrants, and environmental vulnerabilities. He said these issues, while serious, are also opportunities for the Church to radiate the light of Christ more brightly and meaningfully.

In particular, Archbishop Girelli praised the newly installed Archbishop Bala for his intellectual and pastoral qualities. He highlighted Archbishop Bala’s richness of knowledge in Moral Theology, his pastoral sensitivity, teaching abilities, and his experience as Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Seminarians, Clergy, and Religious from 2015 to 2023. He expressed hope that these gifts would greatly benefit the Archdiocese in its journey ahead.

The Apostolic Nuncio also expressed gratitude to Archbishop Emeritus Prakash Mallavarapu for his long and dedicated service to the Archdiocese and thanked Bishop Jaya Rao for his pastoral leadership during his tenure as Apostolic Administrator.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of several senior Church leaders from across the country, including Archbishop Emeritus Prakash Mallavarapu, Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore who is also the Vice President of the CCBI, and Archbishop Raphy Manjaly of Agra, along with other archbishops and bishops.
The day began with a grand procession from St. Joseph’s College for Women Grounds, Waltair R.S., to St. Peter’s Cathedral. The installation ceremony was followed by a felicitation program and a festive dinner, with clergy and faithful joining in joyful celebration.

Archbishop Bala previously served as the Bishop of Warangal and has held several significant roles within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. A scholar trained in Rome, he brings with him a deep pastoral experience and a vision rooted in compassion and inclusive growth.

His appointment signals a new chapter for the Church in Coastal Andhra, one rooted in service, dialogue, and dedication to the spiritual and social well-being of all people.