On World Heritage Day, Vedanta Aluminium launches online gallery to promote local handicrafts

New Delhi; 21 April 2023: On World Heritage Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, launched an online gallery on its own website to promote handicrafts made by local artists from communities in its operational areas. To begin with, the online gallery showcases beautiful pieces of Dhokra metal work and Saura paintings for purchase, based on popular demand. Through this initiative, Vedanta Aluminium aims to widen the reach of the unique art and culture that the company nurtures in its vicinity, across the world. The gallery will thus provide artisans in remote areas the opportunity to increase their earnings. The online gallery, which can be accessed at https://vedantaaluminium.com/sustainability/social-impact/promoting-art-culture/, will be a virtual extension of Vedanta Aluminium’s on-ground initiatives to foster the legacy art forms of India.

Dhokra is an exquisite metalworking art form that dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization and has been a part of India’s rich handicraft legacy for nearly 5000 years. However, it was becoming a fading art in Kankeri village (Kalahandi district, Odisha) where the skill of the craft was passed down through the generations and was limited to making rudimentary trinkets, which fetched the artisans’ measly earnings. This had forced many artisans to give up Dhokra craft and migrate to other states to work as construction labourers. To revive this craft in Kankeri village, close to its plant, Vedanta Aluminium facilitated training programs in contemporary designs using traditional techniques, provided the initial seed capital for procuring metal and raw materials, and organised exhibitions and art shows to create market linkage opportunities, enabling artisans to sell their art pieces at a better price.

Akin to this, Vedanta Aluminium has also paved the way for the revival of the indigenous tribal artform of ‘Saura’ people from Odisha, who draw inspiration for the art from nature and their own way of life. The exquisite art form was first painted on the walls of homes, showcasing unique motifs depicting daily life, celebrations, animals, farmers, elements of nature, gods, natural spirits, and their ancestors. To preserve this ancient art form, which had begun fading in the face of modernity, Vedanta Aluminium is working with local artists to hone their skills, scale up their work, tap into new markets and carve a remunerative livelihood model. Going a step forward, the company is also generating interest amongst the youth and has started a training program for school students in Saura art. At the Make In Odisha Conclave 2022, Vedanta Aluminium arranged for the Saura artists to showcase their skills, which became a resounding success attracting thousands of people to see their art, thus forming the genesis for this gallery.

Working with the state government through the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), Vedanta Aluminium is helping Dhokra & Saura artists in the physical display of their products in government-run physical galleries and exhibitions. This partnership is also helping the artists access monetary grants given by the government to support artisans. This has also improved their quality of life by bringing their plight to the notice of the district administration, who then invested in infrastructure development and making available required amenities for the people.

Speaking on the occasion of World Heritage Day, Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd., said, “Legacy art forms such as Dhokra sculptures and Saura paintings are a testimony to our country’s rich cultural heritage. We take pride in nurturing an ecosystem that promotes, preserves, and celebrates these beautiful cultural embodiments. On World Heritage Day, we recommit to enabling the artisans from our local communities empower themselves with modern skills and financial know-how, while we work towards increasing their visibility in national and international arenas.”

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com

Jlr to Invest £15 Billion Over Next Five Years as Its Modern Luxury Electric-first Future Accelerates

Bengaluru, Wednesday, 21 April 2023: JLR today announced exciting plans to accelerate its transition to become the world’s leading modern luxury car manufacturer revealing its Halewood plant, in the UK, will become an all-electric production facility and its next generation medium-size SUV architecture, electrified modular architecture (EMA), will now be pure-electric.

In an update to global media at JLR’s centre in Gaydon, Chief Executive Adrian Mardell reaffirmed the business’s commitment to its Reimagine strategy, which will reposition the company as an electric-first, modern luxury carmaker by 2030, as JLR makes strides towards its financial goals of achieving a net cash positive position by FY25 and double-digit EBIT by 2026.

JLR CEO Adrian Mardell said: “Two years ago, we launched our Reimagine strategy and since then we have made great progress, including launching two new critically acclaimed modern luxury Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models, joining the Defender family, for which there is record demand. We achieved this while navigating the headwinds of the pandemic and chip shortages, and successfully ramping up production of our most profitable models to deliver profit in Q3.

“Today I am proud to announce we are accelerating our electrification path, making one of our UK plants and our next-generation medium-size luxury SUV architecture fully electric. This investment enables us to deliver our modern luxury electric future, developing new skills, and reaffirming our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2039.”

Investing in next generation electric models

Announcing news of its next generation electrification roadmap, JLR confirmed it will start to invite applications for client orders for the modern luxury all-electric Range Rover from later this year. The first of its next generation medium-size modern luxury SUVs will be an all-electric model from the Range Rover family, launching in 2025 and built at Halewood in Merseyside, in a move that further affirms JLR’s commitment to the future of the UK car industry.

And while EMA will now be electric only, as the trend to electrification in certain markets increases, JLR will retain the flexible modular longitudinal architecture (MLA) on which Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are built offering internal combustion engine (ICE), HYBRID and battery electric vehicle (BEV) options. This gives JLR uncompromised flexibility to adapt its vehicle line up to meet the needs of different markets around the world, that are moving at different speeds towards net zero carbon targets.

House of Brands

As a next step within the Reimagine strategy, it was revealed JLR will move to a House of Brands approach, to amplify the unique character of each of its brands – Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar – and accelerate the delivery of the company’s vision, to become proud creators of the world’s most desirable modern luxury automotive brands for the most discerning clients.

Commenting on the House of Brands approach, JLR’s Chief Creative Officer, Professor Gerry McGovern OBE said: “Pivotal to our Reimagine strategy is the formation of the House of Brands, which is a natural evolution, with a purpose of elevating and amplifying the uniqueness of our characterful British marques. Our ultimate ambition is to build truly emotionally engaging experiences for our clients that, overtime, will build long-term high equity for our brands and long-term sustainability for JLR.”

JLR also announced that the first of three reimagined modern luxury Jaguars will be a 4-door GT built in Solihull in the West Midlands, UK. With power output more than any previous Jaguar, a range up to 700 kms (430 miles), and with indicative pricing from £100,000, new Jaguar will be built on its own unique architecture, named JEA. More details of the new 4-door GT Jaguar will be released later this year, before going on sale in selected markets in 2024, for client deliveries in 2025.

“We have radically reimagined Jaguar as a modern luxury brand. The key to Jaguar’s transformation is that the designs convey that they are a copy of nothing,” said Professor Gerry McGovern OBE.

JLR CEO Adrian Mardell said: “With Range Rover, the original luxury SUV, available for pre-order in pure electric form later this year, and the first of three breath-taking electric reimagined Jaguar models to be launched in 2025, we are stepping into an incredibly exciting new electric era for JLR as a modern luxury business.”

Investing in JLR’s UK industrial footprint

In addition to the news that its Halewood plant in Merseyside, UK, will become an all-electric production facility and its next generation medium-size SUV architecture, electrified modular architecture (EMA), will now be pure-electric. JLR also revealed its Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton, UK, currently producing Ingenium internal combustion engines for its vehicles, will have an electric future producing electric drive units and battery packs for JLR’s next generation vehicles. It will be renamed the Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre to reflect the move.

In positive news for the future of the historic Castle Bromwich site, JLR confirmed that its stamping facilities that prepare pressed body metalwork for JLR’s vehicles will be expanded to play a key role in the company’s electric future, by providing body work for next generation electric vehicles. JLR continues to explore options for other parts of the Castle Bromwich site.

Grameen Foundation India paves the way for driving financial Inclusion in India’s hinterland

New Delhi, April 21, 2023: Mobile connectivity, internet banking, gender issues, and empowering women were debated threadbare at a conference hosted by Grameen Foundation India (GFI) here on April 19.

The conference, themed “Driving Financial Inclusion in India’s Hinterland”, was organized in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The conference promoted collaborative innovation to empower communities, particularly women, for a sustainable financial future in India’s hinterland.

Grameen also presented four knowledge products to the audience based on their previous work and future recommendations for the industry, namely, Gender Mainstreaming in BC Networks: Grameen’s I-CARE Framework, Exploring the effectiveness of low-cost marketing strategies in BC Networks, Assisted e-commerce and ONDC: A new revenue source for BC Agents in India, and Women Friendly Micro Saving Products.

Purna Roy Chowdhury, Associate Director – Gender and Women’s Economic Empowerment, Grameen Foundation India, said: “Grameen’s innovative approach dismantles gender barriers, ensuring women’s equal access and participation in BC networks, as highlighted in the released today titled ‘Gender Mainstreaming in BC Networks: Grameen’s I-CARE Framework and ‘Women Friendly Micro Saving Products’.

“Grameen is revolutionizing financial inclusion by bridging the gap with last-mile delivery services, empowering BC networks to thrive, following the ecosystem-based approach,” added Piyush Singh, Director – Innovations in Digital Finance, Grameen Foundation India.

The conference featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, fireside chats, and exhibitions focused on the role of digital innovation, gender sensitivity, and scalable solutions in driving financial inclusion.

Speakers included Jayshree Vyas, Managing Director, Shree Mahila Sewa Sahakari Bank; Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder, Mann Deshi; Pawan Bakhshi, India Lead for Financial Services for the Poor at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Jiji Mammen, Executive Director, and CEO, Sa-Dhan; and Sunil Kulkarni, CEO, BCFI.

Jiji Mammen, Executive Director & CEO of Sa-Dhan, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to financial health. “Financial inclusion is not just about access to financial services. It’s about empowering individuals and communities to make informed financial decisions and achieve economic stability. This conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to come together and work towards this common goal.”

Jayshree Vyas, Managing Director of Sewa Bank, delivered the keynote speech on Innovations in Financial Inclusion: India’s Financial Inclusion Story. Vyas said, “The progress made in financial inclusion in India is commendable, but there is still much work to be done. This conference shed light on the innovations and interventions that can revolutionize financial access and empower the unbanked population.”

Elevate Your Creativity With the Nikkor Z Dx 12-28mm F/3.5-5.6 Pz Vr

New Delhi, 20 April ’2023 – Nikon India Private Ltd introduces the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR, the everyday lens partner that is new to the ever-expanding NIKKOR Z line-up. Designed to inspire a diverse range of creative expressions, the latest APS-C size/DX-format lens is optimised to capture both stills and video in a compact design.

“The NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR is the first lens equipped with power zoom with linear drive. Compact size and comprehensive features allow Photographers/Vloggers to capture multitude of subjects ranging from expressive selfies, dynamic landscapes to everyday magical moments in both stills and video,” said Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India Pvt. Ltd

Superb photos and videos made simple Go from ideation to creation in a snap with the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR. It is the first NIKKOR Z lens equipped with power zoom with linear drive – supporting a remote-control operation, minimal operational sound disruption, and features an internal zoom mechanism that does not shift its center of gravity. Users can maintain a stable balance even when shooting with a camera attached to a compatible tripod grip or a gimbal. In addition, enjoy shooting videos with silent operation, a plus in quiet locations or when befriending a famous street cat.

Customize the shooting experience by choosing preferred zoom options without having to touch the lens itself. Activate power zoom directly from the dedicated button on the camera body, or with the ML-L7 Remote Control enabled with Bluetooth connection. Users can also remotely activate power zoom with Nikon’s PC software and compatible smart devices app .

For a more tactile yet smooth experience, rotate the zoom ring to enable power zooming automatically and adjust the zoom position according to its rotation angle. Zooming in and out is made easy with the zoom speed setting in 11 steps. In addition, power zoom works well even when shooting with the MC-N10 remote grip and gimbal.

Focus on nailing consistent footage while the lens takes care of accidental shaking and vibration. Enjoy the freedom to capture sharp and clear stills and videos, even in low-light situations such as during sunsets, with a Vibration Reduction (VR) effect of up to 4.5 stops . Take the stress out of capturing fast-moving subjects when you pair the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR with the Z 30, Z fc or Z 50, and use SPORT mode to enhance VR effect and achieve stable footage.

Wider, brighter, better

Whether capturing the everyday magic of moments, expressive selfies, or dynamic landscapes, the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR lets you go wide and get creative with ease, thanks to its focal length range of 12-28 mm (equivalent to 18-42 mm when converted to 35mm format). Users won’t have to worry about carrying multiple lenses as this lens allows for various expressions, from ultrawide shots emphasising perspective to portraits with dreamy bokeh. Produce brighter stills and videos with its wide zoom range as the high flexibility of the Z system’s design allows the lens to capture more light.

Users who enjoy capturing close-up shots of nature such as flowers and insects, and tabletop photos featuring food, products, or jewelry, can get close to their subjects with the lens’ maximum reproduction ratio of 0.21x and a minimum reproduction ratio of 0.19m.

Lighter weight, better grip

Small in size but comprehensive in features, the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR weighs approximately 205g, an ideal everyday companion for users. Compact enough to fit in a purse or bag and easy to carry around, it is ready to capture whenever inspiration strikes.

Furthermore, its dust-and-drip-resistant design helps to prevent dust and liquid from entering the lens. Users can also focus on their subject in the frame and quickly adjust to their preferred setting with the lens control ring to set frequently used functions such as focus (M/A), ISO sensitivity, aperture, or exposure compensation. Rounding off the elegant look of the lens is the distinctive design of the zoom ring and control ring thereby setting them apart to enable smooth operation. The Product would be available by the third week of May’23 and at INR 32,995.00

The Great Eastern Home Portuguese Furniture

20 Apr 2023  The Great Eastern Home, a store of many heritage and vintage furniture pieces from different eras has unique period styles. One such heritage style of furniture is Portuguese Furniture. Portuguese furniture has been quite distinctive from other contemporary European styles, especially from the 17th century onwards. Legendary mariners from the Iberian Peninsula had been the vanguards of sea explorations from the 15th century onwards, discovering sea routes to Africa, Asia, and also the Americas. Having established themselves across four continents they could not but be influenced by the other cultures that they encountered.

The Portuguese period style is extremely collectible and varies from the most decorative and intricately carved tables and chairs to the more substantial cupboards featuring fielded panels and large brass hinges. The chair became the focus of the artistic experiment. These pieces are usually vigorously carved with barley twists being a much preferred decorative motif and used extensively. Native woods like walnut and oak were spurned in favor of foreign exotic woods, especially ebony. The use of tooled leather held with metal studs became a singular characteristic for many pieces. The embossed leather would be worked over with shell motifs, foliates, and decorative designs. Sometimes the Iberian style is unique with unpredictable combinations inspired by the contact with the rest of the world. Along with the types of chairs, products such as the Baroque sideboard, Walnut wood bar cabinet, Portuguese Chest, Portugal writing desk, and Portuguese cabinet are available at The Great Eastern Home.

Portuguese or Iberian furniture of the pre-modern period is quite singular and is thus much coveted as luxury items across the world.

Jakson Green to develop India’s first urban-centric green hydrogen refuelling station in New Delhi

New Delhi, April 20, 2023: Jakson Green, endorsed by India’s leading energy & Infrastructure conglomerate, Jakson Group, announced today that the company is developing a Green Hydrogen fuelling station at Badarpur, New Delhi for a major power company in India. Set to be built in record time, the project is expected to offset 3.7 tons of CO2 per day once operational.

The green hydrogen fuelling station involves the establishment of a specialized and dedicated facility that will use the green energy generated on-site by a renewable hybrid to generate, compress, store, and dispense GH, utilizing a hydrogen purification system. As a part of the project, the company will also incorporate a battery energy storage system (BESS) backed renewable hybrid power plant within the station, making it a completely self-sustained facility. Overseeing the entire facility, an advanced integrated control system using cutting-edge digital technology will also be put in place to supervise and monitor the fuelling station’s operations. The fuelling station is expected to produce 260 kg of green hydrogen per day at a pressure of 350 bar that will be utilized to fuel up to five intercity FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) buses.

Speaking on the occasion, Bikesh Ogra, CEO and Managing Director of Jackson Green Private Limited, said, “Our endeavor to establish India’s largest urban-centric green hydrogen refueling station is another push to steer the nation’s sustainability initiatives. The project is expected to aid the recently launched National Hydrogen Mission & significantly contribute towards propelling India’s low carbon quotient/journey. Our project reinforces hydrogen’s crucial role as a new energy transition fuel, reducing India’s dependence on imported crude oil and minimizing pollution. This sets us apart as a pioneering player in green hydrogen, and we remain committed to building infrastructure that promotes hydrogen-fueled vehicles”

Jackson Green has recently announced its global ambitions to be a leading developer and integrator of green hydrogen and green ammonia assets across select geographies and is eyeing a play in the independent hydrogen and ammonia production and electrolyzer manufacturing space in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The firm is actively developing a pipeline of renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects, both in India and abroad.

Svitch Bike launches new Exclusive Experience Centre in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, 20 April 2023: Svitch Bike, an Industry Leader in environment-friendly premium electric foldable bicycles has launched its new Exclusive Experience Centre – MV Automobiles: Svitch Bike Exclusive Dealership in Hyderabad. MV Automobiles will be headed by Mr. Mahesh & Mr. Sai Vineeth Nalam Rohit who are renowned names in the diamond & jewelry industry.

The EV Scenario in Hyderabad has been ever-expanding as the market is open & accepting to multiple companies dealing in different sectors of the EV Industry. Hyderabad being an IT Hub enjoys the privilege of more than 300+ charging stations & multiple brands for consumers to choose from.

The Experience Showroom has been curated & executed by Izia Branding Pvt. Ltd. The key USP of the Experience Showroom is it will appeal to all 5 of the human senses communicating the Svitch Bike Brand identity & language offering a complete experience.

Mr. Rajkumar Patel, Founder & MD of Svitch Bike & Switch Motocorp quotes,

“The Showroom will display the much-awaited CSR762 for the public to experience along with Svitch Bike. Hyderabad being a metro city already boasts a vast EV infrastructure that will be healthy for the entire EV ecosystem. We’ve many of these Experience Showrooms in the pipeline in India & overseas! A big shout out to the friends we’ve made along the way.”

Switch Motocorp, the parent company for CSR762 EV Motorbike also roped in Mr. Salman Yusuff Khan as the official brand ambassador kicking off a Summer Campaign.

Mr. Chintan Khatri, CEO & Co-Founder of Svitch Bike & Svitch Motorcorp, shares his two cents on the recent diversification:

“With Svitch Electric Cycles we catered to the premium segment. After acquiring a considerable stronghold over the market, we’ve diversified our operations moving to Electric Motorbikes now with CSR762. It will be for the mass segment so we will be able to serve the entire EV ecosystem of Hyderabad starting from the IT Hub & so on.”

Switch Electric Cycles & CSR762 will be available for people to experience in Hyderabad through an authorized exclusive dealer near you: MV Automobiles.

Switch Bike envisions adding an Exclusive Experience Centre in every area of Hyderabad & the southern market to push forth the footprint of EVs & to empower people to commute sustainability. After acquiring the premium electric foldable cycle market, Svitch Bike is actively establishing global touchpoints.

Switch Bike & CSR762, a bootstrap startup turned into a company, officially opened up the gates for Dealerships, Distributorships & Channel Partnerships. The store is situated at Plot no. 6, Sardar Patel Road, Next to Anand Theater, adjacent to Mochi Showroom, Begumpet Road, Paigah Colony, Hyderabad, Telangana.

Tyresnmore Revolutionizes Tyre Buying Experience with Doorstep Fitment in New Ad Campaign

Bangalore, India – 20 April 2023: Tyresnmore, an investment company of the CEAT group, is excited to announce the launch of their new ad campaign, “Tyresnmore – Right at your Door!” The campaign aims to address the common pain points that customers face when buying tyres and showcase how Tyresnmore is the perfect solution with their doorstep fitment service.

Tyre purchases can often be a time-consuming and overwhelming process for customers, with numerous brands, price points, and service options to choose from. Tyresnmore aims to simplify this process and become the go-to brand for customers’ tyre, battery, and alloy changing needs now and in the future all with the click of a button right at their doorstep.

Mr Rajeshwar Wadhera, Chief Executive Officer – of Tyresnmore said, “We are thrilled to launch our new ad campaign, ‘Tyresnmore – Right at your Door!’ With these ads, we aim to increase awareness about Tyresnmore and highlight our convenient and hassle-free concept for doorstep fitment. We want to be the go-to brand for customers when it comes to buying wide range of tyres, batteries, and alloy wheels changing needs, providing them with a seamless and enjoyable experience all at the comfort and safety of their home.”

Mr. Ashish Tambe, Executive Creative Director- Kinnect said, “It was important that the visuals captured Tyresnmore’s vision to transform the tyre buying experience for customers while showcasing their commitment to convenience, expertise, and customer-centricity. The ad campaign was crafted to showcase the essence of Tyresnmore’s innovative doorstep fitment service. We believe that these ad films will resonate with customers, showcasing the convenience and expertise that Tyresnmore brings to the table. We are confident that the campaign will drive awareness, engagement, and ultimately, customer satisfaction.”

The ad films feature two friends, one smart and the other meek, who encounter typical situations where they need to change their tyres. In the first film set in an office, the meek guy struggles to find a tyre shop that meets all his requirements. His friend suggests calling Tyresnmore for expert advice and scheduling an appointment. The ad showcases Tyresnmore’s van arriving at the customer’s doorstep as per the scheduled appointment time and completing the fitment process within 45 minutes, including tyre removal, changing, wheel balancing, and alignment, leaving the customer pleasantly surprised and happy.

In the second film, set in a gym, the smart guy suggests to the meek guy that he can get his tyres changed at home without taking leave from work, by simply calling Tyresnmore. The ad follows a similar storyline, showcasing the convenience and efficiency of Tyresnmore’s doorstep fitment service.

The ad films can be viewed on Tyresnmore’s social media channels. Customers can also visit the website www.tyresnmore.com or call Tyresnmore’s customer service helpline (+91- 92 1275 1275 to schedule an appointment or get expert advice on their tyres, batteries & alloy wheels requirements.

Campaign Credits:

Creative Agency: Kinnect

Creative: Ashish Tambe, Ritika GIrath, Priya Baldwa, Ananya Singh

Production House: Kinnect Productions x Veda Media House

Producer: Manan Gala, Kosha Deliwala

Servicing: Sachi Pandya, Disha Shah

Director & DOP: Jay Bhansali

Associate Director: Raaz