16, Jul 2025
Experience a Day in the Life of a Smurf in the Magical Belgian Woods
Experience a Day in the Life of a Smurf in the Magical Belgian Woods
To celebrate the upcoming release of Paramount Animation’s Smurfs, two families will experience life as a Smurf in the Belgian woods – the origin of the beloved blue characters – bookable as an Airbnb Experience this summer.
Hosted by Nicolas Tytgat, grandson of the legendary Belgian Smurfs creator Peyo, and co-hosted by Papa Smurf, the 4-hour experience at Papa Smurf’s House will see guests take part in a series of Smurf-tastic activities inspired by the new film.Bookings will open on 16 July 2025 at 3:30 PM IST .
16 July 2025, India: This summer, in celebration of the upcoming release of Smurfs, from Paramount Animation, Airbnb is inviting two families to become three apples tall and experience life as a Smurf for the day in the Belgian woods – the origin of the beloved blue characters – bookable as an Airbnb Experience.
The 4-hour experience will see guests embark on a series of delightful Smurf-inspired activities, where they will learn how to live like a Smurf. From decorating your own hat and trying your aim at archery, to busting out the viral dance routine from the new movie, it will be a day of blue magic, where guests don’t have to worry about Gargamel.
With Papa Smurf away on his adventures from the Smurf’s village as seen in the new film, host Nicolas Tytgat – grandson of The Smurfs creator Peyo – will guide guests through these charming activities and immerse them in the enchanting world of the Smurfs.
Taking place on Sunday August 3, 2025, guests will dress, explore, eat and dance like a Smurf for the day:
Welcome: Guests will enter the forest and arrive outside Papa Smurf’s mushroom house – where they will be greeted by the host.
Fuel with a smurfberry drink: To fuel themselves for the day, guests will have the first-ever taste of a Smurfberry drink, a delicious purple berry refreshment beloved by Smurfs and said to be their primary source of energy.
Make your own smurf hat: Stepping inside the home to kick off the day’s activities, guests will gather around Papa Smurf’s table to customise their very own Smurf hats, which they’ll wear throughout the day. Adventurous guests can even get a sneak peek at Papa’s home while he’s away.
Try your hand at archery: Outside the mushroom and through the forest, guests will then explore their beautiful surroundings and practice woodland archery with the host.
A feast fit for a Smurf: Guests will take a break from activities to feast on a wholesome and delicious Smurf-inspired picnic, from blue Smurfberry cakes to french fries – Smurfette’s favourite snack.
Dance like a Smurf star: Once their food has settled, guests will take to an open-air forest stage, where a Smurf-trained choreographer will teach them a dance routine as featured in the new film, worthy of a Smurf Village celebration.
Farewell: The experience ends on a sweet note with Smurfberry ice cream and a heartfelt farewell from the host. Each family will leave with their custom Smurf hats and memories to last a lifetime.
Clement Eulry, General Manager of France and Benelux at Airbnb, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Smurfs back to the Belgian countryside – the place that inspired Peyo all those years ago – as part of our completely reimagined Experiences. The Experience is a unique way to showcase Belgium’s beauty at a time when families are looking to unplug and connect with nature. With over 80% of family travelers¹ choosing destinations based on an experience offered there, Airbnb makes it easy to explore hidden gems — whether living like a Smurf in the Belgian woods or embracing unique and local experiences.”
Nicolas Tytgat, Airbnb host, said: “I grew up surrounded by the magic of the Smurfs, so to bring fans to Belgium, the birthplace of the Smurfs, and into the world that my Grandad created, is something truly special. This is a one-of-a-kind experience, and I cannot wait to share this moment and our family stories with Airbnb guests.”
Irene Trachtenberg, SVP Global Marketing Partnerships, Paramount Pictures, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the blue magic of the Smurfs from the big screen to life in this incredible partnership with Airbnb. The Smurfs are all about celebrating each individual’s uniqueness, blue positivity with a dash of mischief, and we can’t wait for audiences around the world to join us on a Smurf-tastic adventure from the Mushroom House to cinemas this summer!”
How to book The Smurfs Experience
The exclusive Experience will be available for two families, for two separate 4-hour sessions later this summer on Sunday 3 August. Guests can book this Experience on 16 July 2025 at 3:30 PM IST at airbnb.com/smurfsmovie for €0. The Experience is designed for up to 4 guests, is completely free of charge, and includes all activities and treats. Travel to the Experience is not included, and spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
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- By Neel Achary
16, Jul 2025
India’s First Family Mediation Training held
Hyderabad, July 16, 2025 — A landmark initiative in conflict resolution was held successfully recently. It was India’s first-of-its-kind Family Mediation Training Program. The 7-day, 70-hour intensive workshop, held at the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), Gachibowli, was jointly organised by Invisible Scars Foundation and IAMC Hyderabad.
The program was specifically designed for non-legal professionals working in the social or development sector. It was fully funded under the CSR mandate of Centific, a global digital solutions company.
“This marks the beginning of a new era—where family mediators are trained to support survivors of family and domestic violence and restore peace with dignity,” said the organisers.
“Disputes between spouses often arise over trivial matters. If they sit and talk, many issues can be resolved without court intervention, but that is not happening. We need more mediators to prevent the pile-up of family cases in courts.”
Mediation has deep cultural roots in India, where resolving disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding has long been a preferred approach, especially in matters related to family. Across generations, Indian society has placed a strong emphasis on amicable settlement, reflecting a tradition of prioritizing harmony over conflict.
The workshop brought together 32 participants from across India—Ajmer, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Hazaribagh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nalgonda, Pune, and Warangal. The cohort included social workers, psychologists, and law enforcement officers, now certified as Family Mediators.
Upon certification, they are empanelled with IAMC and support conflict resolution across programs in GBV, WASH, education, and health, directly within their communities.
The training was conducted by a nationalreceiving numerous requests for training. According to Ekta Viiveck Verma, she plans to organise more such training programs. The NGO is also looking for philanthropic organisations to join hands with them to train more people in ly respected panel of experts. They include Susheela Sarathi – Senior Trainer, MCPC (Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee) of the Supreme Court of India. She has trained many advocates, Judges of the Lower and Higher Judiciary, and Professionals from various walks of life in Mediation.
Tanu Mehta – Mediator and Trainer, Mumbai; K.S. Sarma, the Founder and Director of HAMPS (Hamps Bio Ltd), with a background in the broadcasting industry, having served as CEO of Prasar Bharati and Director General of Doordarshan; Dr. Varudhini Kankipati – Co-Founder, Inner Connect Psychological Counselling Centre, a professional counselling service provider
The program was inaugurated by Ms. Shikha Goel, IPS, Director General, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, who also shared her personal experience as a trained mediator and urged more professionals to embrace this transformative tool.
Ekta Viiveck Verma, Founder of Invisible Scars Foundation, noted: “Family mediation is not just a legal tool—it’s a healing process. This program equips grassroots professionals with skills to resolve conflicts with empathy and dignity. It is a major step toward building a survivor-first support system.”
AJ Jawad, Lead Faculty and Registrar, IAMC, added: “This program was a national first. For the first time, we are empowering non-legal professionals with real-world mediation tools to address family and domestic disputes.”
The curriculum covered critical modules on trauma, communication, family law, negotiation, and ethics, with both theoretical and practical assessments.
As domestic conflict and abuse rise across India, there is an urgent need for faster, sensitive, and trauma-informed dispute resolution. Family mediation ensures privacy, dignity, and timely outcomes, providing a real alternative to prolonged and painful court cases.
This initiative sets the foundation for an India-wide network of certified family mediators—a vital need in today’s emotionally fractured world.
Invisible Scars has been getting a lot of requests for training. According to Ekta Viiveck Verma, she plans to organise more such training programs. The NGO is also looking for philanthropic organisations to join hands with them to train more people in family mediation.
16, Jul 2025
Kruu, Illinois Tech Launch Global Virtual Innovation Lab for Students
Kruu and Illinois Institute of Technology Launch Global Virtual Innovation Lab for High School Students
Mumbai, July 16, 2025 – Kruu, the pioneering project-based learning platform, has announced a strategic collaboration with the renowned Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) to establish the K2 Virtual Incubation Lab. This global innovation lab is aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial thinking and real-world problem-solving among high school students globally.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions sets the foundation for a bold new direction in global education. This partnership brings together Kruu’s expertise in experiential learning and Illinois Tech’s legacy of experiential learning pedagogy in innovation, engineering, and technology-led entrepreneurship. At the heart of the collaboration is a shared belief in empowering students to think independently, build confidently, and innovate fearlessly.
“Illinois Tech is deeply committed to serving learning from K through Grade 12 by meeting learners where they are by providing them with an in-demand, relevant education. We are honored to be part of an initiative that will connect high school students worldwide with high-impact experiences,” said Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Illinois Tech. “As we prepare to launch our academic campus globally, we are pleased to partner with Kruu to expand our capacity to deliver on Illinois Tech’s commitment to providing learners with an experiences-driven education that uniquely prepares them for the careers of the future.”
The K2 Virtual Incubation Lab will create a structured pathway for students to explore challenges rooted in science, technology, design, and society, while receiving direct mentorship from Illinois Tech’s faculty and experts. Students will be guided from ideation to pitch, with support from the innovation ecosystem of Illinois Tech’s Ed Family Kaplan Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship and the university’s flagship Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) program. The lab will also recognize top student ventures through joint certification and will open long-term pathways for further study and engagement at Illinois Tech and its global campus
This initiative will also support teacher development and training, helping educators bring project-based pedagogies into their classrooms with confidence and creativity. With plans for curated challenges, immersive workshops, and student showcases, the K2 Lab is designed to spark a culture of innovation that is inclusive, globally connected, and future-ready.
“This is more than a partnership. It’s a shared commitment to reimagining what education can and should be,” said Anil Srinivasan, founder and CEO of Kruu. “We are excited to join hands with Illinois Tech to bring the power of structured innovation to students who are ready to make a difference.”
With this collaboration, Kruu continues its mission of building powerful learning ecosystems across the world, where mentorship, access, and imagination converge to prepare the next generation of changemakers.
16, Jul 2025
LT Foods’ Organic Business Arm – Nature Bio Foods (NBF) enters Business-to-Consumer (B2C) segment
New Delhi, (India), 16th July, 2025: LT Foods, the 70-year-old Indian-origin global FMCG Company in the consumer food space, has announced that its organic business arm, Nature Bio Foods Limited, has forayed into the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) segment in Europe with the inauguration of a new facility in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam.
The move is part of LT Foods’ strategic growth roadmap, which aims to diversify its go-to-market approach by entering the Business-To-Consumer (B2C) segment, thereby complementing its strong Business-To-Business (B2B) foundation. This expansion reinforces Nature Bio Foods’ position as one of the leaders of the organic movement globally and deepens its commitment to bridging the gap from ‘Farm to Folk’, bringing sustainably grown organic ingredients from India, Africa, and beyond, directly to consumers and brands in Europe.
The initial Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for this new facility is in the tune of Rs. 20 crores. The company would be investing another Rs. 15 crores over the next 3 years. Spread over 20,000 square meters, the new facility is strategically located at the ‘Port of Rotterdam’, which is widely considered as the “Gateway to Europe” for logistics due to its strategic location, extensive infrastructure, and role as a major hub for maritime and inland transportation.
The new facility boasts of four CO₂ pressure treatment chambers for chemical-free disinfestation. It possesses three cleaning and processing lines with one for seed, one for grains and one for bulk loading for industries. The new facility has advanced retail packaging lines with an annual handling of 15,000 MT. It has a storage capacity for 15,000 pallets and a smart warehouse system aligned with the company’s sustainability goals.
The facility will handle a wide range of dry organic products including Organic rice, pulses, superfoods, oilseeds like flaxseed, sesame, buckwheat, chia, quinoa, sorghum, and cashews, all ready for mainstream consumers across Europe. The company has already attracted interest from major retailers in Germany and the Benelux region. With this new capability, the company will not only continue sourcing from India and Africa but also expand its procurement from over 20 countries worldwide, delivering premium organic ingredients to European shelves.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ashwani Arora, Managing Director and CEO, LT Foods said, “The move is a bold step toward strengthening a traceable, efficient, and climate-conscious organic supply chain in Europe. It is a proactive approach to expand the business and create a replica of the successful India model across geographies. This will further help LT Foods scale up the growth from the organic segment. This expansion not only reinforces LT Foods’ commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship, but also positions us to unlock significant growth potential from the organic segment in key international markets.”
Sharing his views, Mr. Rohan Grover, CEO, Nature Bio Foods Limited, said, “With this expansion, our universe has just become bigger. We’re proud to have built a world-class facility far from home, with the best technology and the right talent to drive our mission forward. We are now poised to make an even bigger contribution to the € 45 billion organic market in the European Union. The company expects to see revenue acceleration beginning FY 2026-27, with an anticipated additional ₹400 crores in revenue over the next five years, driven by this strategic investment.”
16, Jul 2025
Rosatom Presented Its Technologies at the Summer School of the World Nuclear University
Moscow, 16th July 2025 – Rosatom State Corporation took part in the “Summer School” of the World Nuclear University (WNU) – an international educational program aimed at improving the professional qualifications of employees of nuclear industry companies from different Countries. In 2025, the event was held in Shanghai and Xi’an (China). Six employees of industry companies (JSC) completed the training “TECHSNABEXPORT”, TVEL JSC, RASU JSC and others).
As lecturers within the framework of the training Special Representative for the International Projects of Rosatom State Corporation Lyudmila Zalimskaya, Director Regional Center of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom in East Asia Artem Goncharuk, Director of the Center for the Development of Competencies for International Activities “Rosatom Corporate Academy” Ekaterina Khairullina and others. In particular Artem Honcharuk presented innovative reactor technologies of generation IV within the framework of the concept of a closed nuclear fuel cycle (NFC – technological the process of full use of nuclear fuel). The topic of advanced Russian decisions in the final stage of the nuclear fuel cycle has also been touched upon in its lectures by Lyudmila Zalimskaya.
The program of the “Summer School” included technical tours to the facilities of the Chinese nuclear industry. The participants visited the sites of nuclear Qinshan and Fangjiashan Power Plants, a company that produces Shanghai Electric Power Equipment, Separating the Hanzhong plant, as well as the CNNC nuclear fuel plant in Jianzhong.
Grigory Chikantsev, Director of the Product Development Department in the direction of “Electrical Engineering” equipment” of the joint-stock company “RASU”, commented: “Summer School” was a unique opportunity for me to develop key competencies for work in an international format. Especially valuable was the immersion in multicultural environment, rethinking approaches to team management and the opportunity to directly discuss global trends in the nuclear industry with leading international experts. Such a powerful charge of knowledge and motivation, exchange of experience, open up new prospects for the professional growth of specialists and implementation of Rosatom’s large-scale projects on the world stage.”
16, Jul 2025
From Visas to Villages: Indian Leaders Showcase AI’s Expanding Impact
Mr. Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Partner, BLS International
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming visa processing by automating tasks, enhancing and improving efficiency. AI-powered tools handle document verification, data entry, and eligibility checks, significantly reducing processing times. From automating documentation to verifying identity and enhancing user experience, these tools are reducing turnaround times and improving efficiency, thereby helping the visa processing firms to handle the surge in visa applications resulting from the exponential growth in global mobility over the last two decades.
Stakeholders across the ecosystem are embracing innovations such as mobile biometrics, digital appointments, and AI-powered platforms to create more responsive and applicant-centric services.
At BLS International, we see this as more than a technology shift—it’s a redefinition of how governments and citizens connect. AI helps us create seamless, transparent, and scalable solutions for a rapidly evolving global travel environment. We have introduced facial biometric verification and liveness detection at an early stage of the process. This innovation allows us to verify applicants swiftly and accurately, reducing dependency on manual review and mitigating fraud. What sets us apart is our consistent focus on ethical practices and responsible use of technology. Our efforts are centred on building secure, efficient, and applicant-friendly systems that can support the evolving needs of global travel.”
Kishan Sundar, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Maveric Systems
“It is important to recognize that generative AI has advanced from theory to a practical tool for financial institutions. The focus is shifting from basic automation to smart systems that improve decision-making, strengthen risk management, and build trust and transparency into core operations. Banks should find a balance between innovation and governance, ensuring AI is used responsibly while providing measurable benefits across digital, compliance, and customer experience areas”
Raghav Gupta, Founder, Futurense
“If we truly want to appreciate AI, we must look at the impact it will have on humanity. It is already helping doctors save lives through faster diagnosis and personalized treatments, and enabling farmers to increase food production and reduce hunger worldwide. But for this impact to reach every corner of the world, we need countries that can build scalable solutions. India, with its deep tech talent and growing enterprise ecosystem, is uniquely positioned to be that catalyst. By driving real-world AI adoption, India can play a central role in ensuring AI becomes a global force for positive change.”
Nishant Chandra, Co-Founder, Newton School
“AI won’t just reshape jobs, it’s already redefining how we learn and grow. With 90% of coders now using AI tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT, the way we build software has changed forever. For India, this is a once-in-a-century opportunity: by 2030, we’ll have over a billion working-age citizens, while China and the U.S. decline. But talent without skill is a missed opportunity. To lead this AI revolution, we must urgently shift to skill-first, project-based learning by focusing on application-layer innovation, solving real-world problems at scale, and building products that reflect India’s grassroots needs and languages.”
Ranjith Mukundan, CEO, Stellapps Technologies
India is the world’s largest dairy producer with 80 million smallholder farmers & 300 million cattles contributing to it, yet its supply chain remains deeply fragmented and largely unorganized. At Stellapps, we are addressing this challenge through end-to-end digital solutions that bring transparency, efficiency, and traceability from farm to consumer. With 7 patents filed and 4 granted, we’ve built a technology platform that digitizes every stage of the dairy value chain right from herd health monitoring using smart wearables to real-time milk quality assessment and cold chain tracking. Today, over 3.5 million farmers across 17 states supported by 250+ partner organizations benefit from our platform and the platform has digitized 42,000 village level collection centres in India. Our technology helps farmers increase milk productivity, reduce wastage, and improve quality, while also unlocking access to critical value-added services such as veterinary care, cattle insurance, nutrition advisory, digital payments, and formal credit.
At the same time, we enhance the profitability of milk processors through intelligent milk procurement, cold chain monitoring, and data-driven analytics ensuring operational efficiency, transparency, and traceability at scale. What we’re building is not just a tech platform, but a connected ecosystem that benefits everyone: farmers learn more, processors operate smarter, and consumers receive safer, higher-quality milk they can trace back to the source with a simple QR scan.
16, Jul 2025
Blissclub launches AirMelt collection with new fabric engineered for all-day wear
Bengaluru, 16 July 2025: Blissclub, a homegrown movement-first apparel brand for women, has announced the launch of its latest collection – AirMelt™️. Engineered for comfort, flexibility, and all-day wear, the collection introduces a new fabric innovation that supports Indian women through every part of their day, from work to leisure.
Developed using a premium polyester-spandex blend, AirMelt™️ is characterised by its featherlight feel and four-way stretch. The material also offers sweat-wicking capabilities, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor movement. Blissclub has adopted fibre-stage dyeing techniques for this collection, resulting in colours that are long-lasting and resistant to fading.
The inclusive range features silhouettes tailored for Indian body types, including flare pants with invisible pockets, cuffed joggers, shorts, crop tees, apple-hem tees, and zippered jackets. The designs aim to provide functional versatility while offering easy styling options for everyday wardrobes.
“AirMelt™️ is the result of months of research, material testing and design iteration,” said Minu Margeret, Founder and CEO of Blissclub. “Every detail was carefully considered to ensure the garments move with you and feel like second skin. We wanted to create pieces that allow women to go about their day without feeling restricted or uncomfortable. At Blissclub, we have always believed in designing for how Indian women actually live and move, and AirMelt™️ is our response to that. It brings together thoughtful construction, everyday performance and unmatched softness in a way that feels seamless. Our goal is to create clothing that doesn’t just look good but feels effortless to wear and adapts to your day.”
The launch comes at a time when India’s women’s apparel segment is witnessing growing demand for performance-led clothing that caters to both active and casual lifestyles. AirMelt™️ adds to Blissclub’s existing portfolio of proprietary fabric lines such as BareButter and RibSupreme, which combine technical features with flattering silhouettes.
Blissclub’s latest collection is now available on blissclub.com and in retail stores across cities.
16, Jul 2025
SabPaisa Leads with ‘Moneyball AI’ as Non-Tech Teams Embrace Vibe Coding
By – Abhimanyu Jha, Co-Founder, SabPaisa
“I don’t think most people in the business world, even those who use AI tools on a regular basis, have yet realized how powerful these tools are despite their limitations like hallucinations, and are therefore not using the tools to their fullest extent. I keep seeing social media posts from India to Silicon Valley, including research papers from academics, debating whether vibe coding is possible which is where people who haven’t written a line of software in their life before can create useful software applications with help of current AI tools. In SabPaisa, almost 20% of our non-technical people have already vibe coded. How is it that in SabPaisa we are doing things regularly that rest of the world is still debating if it’s possible? We have invented our term for it called ‘Moneyball AI’. In Moneyball AI, you have to do two things: one, you have to let yourself believe in the power of these tools and pick up impossible projects; and two, you have to be able to hold long, very long conversations with these tools till you reach your goals.”
16, Jul 2025
Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd PAT Grows by 48% to Rs. 183 Cr in Q1FY26
Quarterly Highlights of Standalone Financials:
| Particular (in Cr) | Q1FY26 | Q1FY25 | Y-o-Y |
| Sales Volume (MT) | 140,090 | 139,175 | 1% |
| EBITDA | 233.97 | 187.65 | 24.68% |
| PAT | 182.57 | 123.45 | 47.89% |
Commenting on the results and performance, Mr. Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO of Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd said: “We are pleased to report our highest-ever quarterly EBITDA and PAT, underscoring a strong, resilient and sustainable financial performance. For the quarter, EBITDA stood at Rs. 234 Crores while Profit After Tax (PAT) came in at Rs. 183 Crores. This significant growth in profitability was driven by our continued focus on high-value speciality products, operation efficiencies leading to improvement in yields and strengthening of our waste heat recovery systems. While our topline was marginally impacted by the correction in raw material prices, the quarter was marked by notable progress across strategic and operational fronts.
We commenced operations at Birla Tyres and simultaneously unveiled its new brand identity—including a modernized logo and a redesigned corporate website. This rebranding initiative is part of a broader transformation to reposition Birla Tyres as a high- performance, future-ready brand on the global stage. In the coming months, the brand will roll out an integrated marketing campaign across digital, television, print, and outdoor platforms to enhance brand recall and deepen engagement with both new-age and long- standing customers.
This quarter also marked a significant step forward in our vision to become a global leaders in clean-tech and energy materials. We entered into an exclusive technology licensing agreement with Sicona, an Australian next-generation battery materials company. This partnership allows Himadri to localize and commercialize Sicona’s proprietary SiCx® silicon-carbon anode technology in India. SiCx® has shown the potential to boost battery energy density by up to 20% and improve charging speed by 40%—a breakthrough for lithium-ion battery performance, especially in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Further advancing our strategic roadmap, we invested USD 4.43 million to acquire a 16.24% equity stake in International Battery Company (IBC), a U.S. headquartered technology developer and manufacturer of chemistry-agnostic prismatic Lithium-ion cells. This collaboration provides us with access to IBC’s established manufacturing infrastructure in South Korea and its upcoming Gigafactory in Bengaluru, slated to commence operations by Q4 FY26. This is a significant milestone for Himadri, marking the start of the commercial deployment of our LFP Cathode active and anode materials, while enabling access to IBC’s expanding customer base across the U.S., India, and East Asia.
Our performance this quarter reaffirms the strength of Himadri’s foundation and the clarity of our strategic direction. As we scale investments in battery materials, deepen global partnerships, and pursue innovation with sustainability at its core, we remain confident in our ability to generate long-term value for all stakeholders.”
16, Jul 2025
PSIPL’s ‘Spreading Smiles’ Initiative Lights Up Young Lives at Palghar Tribal School
The annual event, now in its fourth year, transformed the school grounds into a vibrant tableau of joy. This initiative unlocked the opportunity for tribal communities in Palghar, where even basic supplies remain out of reach. Since 2021, PSIPL’s employee-driven campaign has bridged this gap:
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₹3.2 lakhs raised to date
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54 children equipped this year (30 girls, 24 boys)
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Zero corporate sponsorships—100% employee-funded and volunteer-led
Spreading Smiles has been a cornerstone of PSIPL’s CSR efforts. Since its inception, PSIPL employees have voluntarily funded, organised, and personally packed kits and engaged with students, witnessing firsthand how something as simple as a raincoat or notebook can transform a child’s ability to learn. The initiative reflects the company’s resolve to address educational inequality at the grassroots level.
“Corporate responsibility starts with individuals,” said Mr. Deepak Shanbhag, CEO, PSIPL. “Our teams prove every year that small, consistent efforts create real change. This isn’t charity—it’s an investment in futures.”
