Ecom Express Limited, a new-age technology-driven full stack logistics solutions provider to the e-commerce industry is Great Place to Work-Certified™ again. The Company has been recognized for its credible management, respect for people, fairness at the workplace, pride and camaraderie between people. The certification is a validation of varied efforts of Ecom Express, channelized in the right direction to create an exceptional working environment and promote a culture that supports employee well-being, safety, and learning. Over the last ten years, Ecom Express has built its diverse and inclusive, talent-focused culture with care and trust for its employees. They are valued and nurtured, making them highly productive and result oriented. Ecom Express truly believes in the voice of its people getting heard, acknowledged, and actioned upon to enhance employee experience and empower them to achieve their business goals. Elated with this accomplishment, K. Satyanarayana, Co-founder & Director, Ecom Express Limited, said, “We strive to make employee experience a priority every day, and it means a lot that our employees have reported a positive experience with the work culture in the company. This is important to us because we know that when our employees have a high trust experience, they are more productive, drive better business results, and make a difference every day. It is indeed gratifying to receive this recognition when we are celebrating a decade of Ecom Express. It shows our commitment to excel.” This recognition is a testament to the employees of Ecom Express who make the company a great place to work every day by embodying its proprietary iCORP value system standing for Integrity, Commitment, Openness, Respect and Passion. In this year’s survey conducted by the institute, 88% employees showed a positive response in terms of work experience and company culture. “We are pleased to receive this recognition for second consecutive year. This recognition is based on rigorous assessment conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute and the survey result showed positive experience for all,” said Prashant Khullar, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ecom Express Limited.  “The accreditation further substantiates our commitment to fostering a culture that provides an exceptional employee experience while delivering Ecom Express’ mission to be the best logistics solutions provider for the e-commerce industry. We strive to ensure that all the policies and procedures in our daily working environment support the development and retention of an inclusive and diverse workforce at all levels.” Added Prashant Khullar. Join the growing family of Ecom Express by sharing your resume at recruitment@ecomexpress.in. About Great Place To Work: Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make strategic people decisions. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades. In India, the institute partners with more than 1400 organizations annually across over 22 industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures™ designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work for all. About Ecom Express: Ecom Express Limited is one of India’s leading end-to-end technology enabled logistics solution providers to the Indian e-commerce industry. Headquartered in Gurugram (NCR), Ecom Express was incorporated in 2012 by T. A. Krishnan, Manju Dhawan, K. Satyanarayana, and Late Sanjeev Saxena with their 100+ years of cumulative experience in the Indian logistics and distribution industry. Ecom Express has PAN India presence with full state coverage in 25 states and operates across 27,000+ PIN codes in India. Through its deep reach strategy, the company has the capability to reach over 95% of India’s population. For more information, please visit: https://ecomexpress.in/

Authored by Dr. Bindumathi P L, Sr. Consultant – Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore Antibiotics are the most common antimicrobial substances that are actively used to fight bacteria by killing or suppressing their growth. However, with the advent of technology and easy access to information, many people are now commonly taking these drugs without a proper prescription, which has led to a rise in the number of cases related to antimicrobial resistance and side effects. Overuse or unnecessary consumption of antibiotics can cause serious health issues such as – Gut flora Upset: Bacteria that help in maintaining a balance in the gut and ensure proper digestion and immunity are known as gut flora. Consumption or overuse of antibiotics can cause an imbalance in the gut and wipe out a significant proportion of these bacteria, which can result in several health issues. Diarrhoea: Many people often resort to antibiotics to treat common colds or flu in children as well as adults, which often results in several unwanted side effects. As per a study by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), children that are administered antibiotics routinely for upper respiratory infections like cough and cold, etc. are more susceptible to bacterial antibiotic-resistant strains known as C. diff. C. diff is found in the human gut and can cause severe diarrhoea. This bacteria has led to thousands of deaths among children and adults every year. Lethal side effects like anaphylaxis, Steven Johnson syndrome, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and arrhythmias can also occur. Fungal infections: While antibiotics are designed to kill harmful bacteria, however, they often kill good bacteria too, which helps protect people from fungal infections. Due to this, people who consume antibiotics often fall prey to fungal infections in certain parts of their bodies, like the mouth, throat, and vagina. Drug interactions: Antibiotics sometimes also interact with other medications and make them less effective against a disease. These combinations can also worsen the side effects of the other drug or antibiotics. Certain antibiotics induce liver enzymes, which increase or decrease the potency of a few antibiotics, cardiac drugs, antiepileptic drugs, and combination drugs. Antimicrobial Resistance: Bacteria try to change their structure or release certain enzymes in order to survive when antibiotics are constantly used, due to which resistance develops to the antibiotics that were previously used to treat patients. For example, the same antibiotic that was previously used for typhoid, fever, and respiratory infections will no longer be effective to treat the same disease. eg- Earlier, diseases like tuberculosis used to require only 3–4 drugs for 6 months, but now that there is resistance, 9–11 drugs are required for 1.5–2 years. What should you keep in mind while consuming antibiotics? There are certain measures that you should keep in mind while consuming antibiotics – The prescribed amount along with appropriate results can lead to better effectiveness of antibiotics and can help one feel better within a few days. It is always advisable to speak to one’s healthcare provider instead of self-medication to ensure proper treatment. All infections do not require antibiotics; they may be self-limiting, such as a mild cold, cough, or fever lasting 1 or 2 days, and should not be treated with antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Antibiotics may not be required for simple diarrhea, stomach upset, or loose stools unless it is complicated by bacterial infection. Dengue is also a viral infection that does not require antibiotics. Only symptomatic treatments necessitate the preceding steps; control of fever and hydration are required. Relevant cultures of blood, stool, urine, or pus, depending on the case, should be sent before starting antibiotics. To reduce the harmful effects of antibiotics, it is advisable that people who are prone to infections, such as the elderly, diabetic patients on immunosuppression, and the general public, should protect themselves by wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, and using hand sanitizer. Vaccination can also prevent infections.

The reliability of Juniper’s AI-driven SD-WAN solution powered by Session Smart™ Routing led to significantly improved uptime for Meesho’s Voice over IP applications across its partner call centres nationwide  Juniper Networks, a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that Meesho, India’s only true e-commerce marketplace, has selected Juniper’s AI-driven SD-WAN solution powered by Session Smart™ Routing (SSR) and the Juniper Mist Cloud to drive the network connectivity of its partner call centers across multiple locations nationwide, leading to significantly improved uptime for Meesho’s voice over IP applications. Across India, Meesho has gained popularity among digital consumers and retailers alike by making online selling and shopping hassle-free and affordable. As the fastest ever e-commerce business to acquire over 100 million users in India, it is critical for Meesho to ensure high service levels and customer satisfaction, as well as to maintain timely responses to all incoming queries from its sellers and end-users in order to remain competitive within the country’s burgeoning e-commerce sector. With the operation of their partner call centers being integral to the business, they required a high-performing SD-WAN solution that could provide greater agility and scalability to support its Voice over IP applications, especially during periods with high call volume. As the only visionary in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SD-WAN, Juniper’s industry leading SD-WAN solution powered by SSR is designed to improve user and application experiences, while enabling more seamless connectivity and security. Through a tunnel-free architecture, Juniper was able to optimize and secure the network performance of Meesho’s outsourced partners across India, who support seven different local languages. With Juniper’s session-smart approach to SD-WAN, calls would seamlessly be routed to the next available connection without any disruption, balancing traffic over the MPLS and broadband internet links based on session policies and network status, to allow IP voice calls priority over other call center applications. The reliability and success of Juniper’s solutions were further validated when Meesho held their biggest yearly online sale, with call volume doubling that of a typical day during this period. Despite an almost 30% increase in overall call volume compared to before, Meesho has witnessed a significant increase in its call retention rate without experiencing any issues. With Juniper’s experience-first approach to networking bringing significantly improved uptime, Meesho is able to transform its service experience to achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction. Supporting Quotes: “With Juniper’s AI-driven SD-WAN solutions, we have not only achieved an overall increase in call volume and retention rates, but we have also managed to build a service-centric network that allows us to unlock new levels of growth while strengthening our customer relationships. Through our partnership with Juniper, we believe we are one step closer to realizing our vision of democratizing internet commerce, all while achieving higher levels of customer satisfaction and business momentum.” Ismail Mohideen, Director of IT, Meesho “Juniper Networks is pleased to play a key role in Meesho’s vision of making e-commerce accessible to all in India and establishing a marketplace for small businesses to succeed in the digital world. With our simplified AI-driven approach to SD-WAN, we are confident of providing high-powered and more reliable call center performance through a seamless and more secure network experience. Our Session Smart routing technology is helping Meesho to harness the power of a cloud delivered call center with superior quality voice capabilities and AI-driven insights. We look forward to our continued partnership, in support of Meesho accelerating the e-commerce industry in India and beyond.” – Sajan Paul, Managing Director & Country Manager, India & SAARC Juniper Networks Additional Resources: Case Study: Meesho Social E-commerce Platform Quadruples Call Center Volume with SD-WAN Product & Solution Pages: o   Juniper Networks AI-driven SD-WAN o   Juniper Networks Juniper Session Smart™ Router o   Juniper Networks Mist AI and Cloud Follow Juniper Networks online: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Juniper Blogs and Community: J-Net  About Juniper Networks  Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security, and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the world’s greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability, and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

On the 10th and 11th of March, the students of Stonehill International School performed The Insect Play at Bangalore International Centre. The satirical play by the Czech brothers Karel and Josef Čapek, features various insects parodying human society and critiquing societal structures through a cycle of power struggles and oppression. The play highlighted the flaws of human society through the lens of insect society. The students depicted a range of insects–butterflies, dung beetles, crickets, ants whose lifestyle and morality are, sadly, all too human. The 1922 original and its keen observations of the life cycle and poignant message of the futility of war remain relevant to this day. The three shows successfully ran to packed audiences including Stonehill International School’s Founder, Mr. Jitu Virwani, Chairman & Managing Director, Embassy Group. The set, costumes, props, lighting, makeup, choreography and music were impeccably done in-house. On directing the play, Ms Jennifer Browne, Drama teacher at Stonehill commented, “It has been a privilege to work with such committed and talented young actors.  The students learnt so much from the experience and developed collaborative skills, confidence and creativity…” Drama/Theatre in the IB curriculum is a multifaceted course of study. It gives students the opportunity to be creators, designers, directors and performers. The Insect Play gave students a bigger platform to showcase their talent outside school. Joe Lumsden, Deputy Head of School and Secondary School Principal commented, “It was so heart-warming to see our students back on stage again this year. They rose to the challenge of putting on a full-scale drama production and I was really impressed with all aspects of the play from the set design to the choreography, and from the acting talent on display to the creativity and expertise of our directors. I’m already looking forward to what our teachers and students can come up with next year!” About Stonehill International School: Spread over 34 acres, nestled 20 minutes away from the Bangalore airport, the Stonehill campus is spacious, purpose-built, safe and highly conducive to learning. The international school is fully accredited by CIS/NEASC and the Australian Boarding Schools Association. Students from age three through secondary school enjoy a state-of-the-art campus that features extensive sports fields and facilities, a swimming pool, an equestrian centre, three boarding houses, two libraries, and a cafeteria. Stonehill offers education in a warm and friendly small school environment, where each student’s quest for individual excellence is a priority. The students and teachers at Stonehill come from India as well as over 35 different countries spanning the globe.

With existing investors like IPV, Roots Ventures and New investors such as Blume Founders Fund , Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Kunal Shah and others The marketplace for Inter City Trucks plans to use these funds to strengthen its Data Science and ML capabilities to further accelerate future expansion Raaho, India’s leading Digital Freight Network, has secured funding worth INR 20 crore in extension to the Pre-Series A round at a valuation of 4X over the last year. The round was led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), Roots Ventures, Blume Founders Fund and prominent Angels like Vijay Shekhar Sharma , Kunal Shah, K Krishna Kumar, Venkatesh Vijayaraghavan , Aseem Khurana amongst others. The fresh capital infused will be used to increase Raaho’s geographical presence across the country and strengthen its Data Science and ML capabilities to automate Freight matching. Imthiaz, Co-Founder & CEO, Raaho, said, “We are delighted to continue our mission of making lives better for Truckers and Drivers of India. With this fund raise , we plan to expand our reach to more geographies in India, while also strengthening our data science and machine learning capabilities to enhance our freight matching efficiency. At Raaho, we’re committed to building a better tomorrow for all. Vinay Bansal , Founder & CEO, IPV said  “We are thrilled to continue our investment in Raaho, as we see enormous potential for growth in the largely untapped market of digitized trucking. The Raaho team has shown exceptional dedication in building a sustainable business model with strong fundamentals, and we are excited to be a part of their journey towards success.” Vijay Shekhar Sharma,  “I’ve known Imthiaz for over 15 years, and I’m excited to personally invest in Raaho’s mission to enhance the well-being of truckers and drivers. As we see more industries impacted by digitisation, the potential to improve the efficiency of the trucking market is immense and I look forward to this ride with Raaho” The Gurgaon-based company has operations across 15+ cities in India with presence in major cities like NCR, Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad , Kanpur, Karnal and more. With the fresh funds, the startup aims to expand their network further and build efficiency in the trucking space to reduce empty miles. About Raaho: Established in 2017 and founded by Imthiaz (Co-founder and CEO) along with his colleagues Muralidharan C. (Technology), Vipul Sharma (Product), Fahad (Operations) and Joshua Jebakumar (HR & Customer Experience), RAAHO is India’s most reliable and fastest growing marketplace connecting shippers and truckers nationwide. Headquartered in Gurgaon, it has marked its presence across India in 15+ cities including NCR, Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad , Kanpur, Karnal and more. Raaho is successfully combining tech and data science to create operational and cost efficiencies for the Indian trucking industry that is traditionally unorganised, opaque and highly complex to navigate. Raaho offers its on-demand trucking solution through its complete suite of apps (Shipper App, Trucker App, and Driver App) to offer closeby discovery, verified vehicles, credible shippers, real-time tracking of freight-loaded vehicles and instant digital payments. Asset-light and capital-efficient Raaho aims to level-up the current freight marketplace with better processes, consistency and transparency.

It was a clean sweep for Samsung India and Apple at the third edition of the ‘Times of India Gadgets Now Awards 2022’, with four of their products being recognized as industry best by the jury and by popular choice. Samsung’s flagship smartphone, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 with a sleek design, bagged the Jury Choice Award for Smartphone of the Year while Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max won the People’s Choice Award in the same category. Samsung Galaxy M53 5G emerged as a customer favorite as it bagged the Best Mid-Range Smartphone of the year award in both Jury and Popular Choice categories. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was not far behind as it picked up the Best Camera Smartphone of the year award in both the categories as well. Google Pixel 6A also found place as a fan favorite as it won the Best Affordable camera phone of the year award in both categories. Apple and Samsung both proved their mettle as powerhouses of features as Apple iPad Pro (2022) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra bagged Best Premium tablet of the year award in Jury and Popular Choice, respectively. For the Best Laptop of the year category, Apple’s Macbook Air M2 was chosen as a Jury favorite while Samsung’s Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 picked up the Popular Choice award. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5 further went on to win Best Premium smartwatch of the year in the Popular Choice category while Apple’s Watch Ultra remained a Jury favorite for the same category. Besides, Samsung’s QN95B also found place as Best Premium TV of the year in the Popular Choice category. The awards, a celebration of the best tech gadgets over the past year,  were presented across 17 categories such as smartphones, laptops, cameras, and other consumer electronics. For each category, there were two sets of awards – Jury Awards, selected by an eminent panel of experts, and ‘People’s Choice Awards’, selected through online voting. This edition of The Times of India Gadgets Now Awards was powered by: Airtel 5G plus, Associate sponsors: AMD and Norton, and Partners: Livpure, Crucial by Micron, OneAssist, and TECNO. The awards ceremony will soon be telecast on TimesNow. Check out the full winners list here – GN Awards 2022 | Winner List About The Gadgets Now Gadgets Now, powered by The Times of India group, is a leader in unbiased tech and gadgets news. With the aim of providing quick updates, insightful opinions, and detailed reviews on all things tech, Gadgets Now has established itself as the most credible source of news and updates. With the 3rd edition of The Times of India Gadgets Now Awards looks to honor, celebrate and recognise the top gadgets launched in India in the past year.

Dr. Sunil Eshwar, Lead Consultant – Laparoscopic Surgeon, Aster RV Hospital Cervical cancer is the 2nd most leading prevalent cancer in India. There are an estimated 123,000 new cases of cervical cancer in India every year with 67,000 deaths in women in India alone. Hence cervical health awareness is at most important. January of every year is marked as the month of cervical cancer awareness month. Recent studies shows that screening of cervical cancer reduces the disease incidence and disease mortality by 50% .Cervical Cancers can be prevented at the earliest by detecting the presence of HPV .Regular population based Screening is done using Pap smear cytology and it is accepted as the international screening Programmed .PAP smear screening helps in detecting the precancerous stages such as Low grade intraepithelial neoplasia, High grade Squamous intraepithelial neoplasia prevents from Cervical Cancer. Cervical cancer usually takes many years to develop into an invasive disease and the mortality rate is low when it is detected in early stages. With the discovery of HPV infections and prophylactic vaccinations it is now possible to prevent cervical cancer in much earlier stages. Simple ways to maintain cervical health- Regular testing –ACOG recommends all women at the least age of 21 should start with cervical cancer screening (even if they aren’t sexually active), if age is less than 30yrs then likely to be tested for cervical cancer every alternative year, if aged more than 30yrs with 3 normal consecutive pap smear reports then testing every 3 yrs. is recommended, If age is above 65yrs no further pap smear testing is required when there is more than 3 consecutive normal pap smear or 2 and more consecutive negative HPV tests and PAP tests in last 10yrs with the most recent pap occurring within the last 5yrs, or women who have had hysterectomies for benign disease. Types of cervical screening includes – Conventional Pap—In a conventional Pap smear, samples are smeared directly onto a microscope slide after collection. Liquid based cytology—The sample of (epithelial) cells is taken from the Transitional Zone, the squamo-columnar junction of the cervix, between the ecto and endocervix. Liquid-based cytology uses an arrow-shaped brush, rather than the conventional spatula. The cells taken are suspended in a bottle of preservative for transport to the laboratory, where using Pap stains it is analysed PAP smear test- It is a cervical screening test which collects cells from the surface of the cervix and looks for any abnormalities. Pap smear can also detect the earlier stages of cervical cancer. A speculum is inserted into the vagina to visualize the cervix. Then a brush is inserted into the vagina to collect cells from the cervix, cells from inside the cervix(endocervix) and outside the cervix(ectocervix) is taken on the slides and checked under the microscope. Any abnormal PAP smear findings require Colposcopy with directed biopsy. “Co-testing” combines cytology and HPV testing for high-risk types, but is still considered screening. The diagnosis ultimately requires tissue sampling. Any abnormal PAP smear findings require Colposcopy with directed biopsy. “Co-testing” combines cytology and HPV testing for high-risk types, but is still considered screening. The diagnosis ultimately requires tissue sampling. There are few high-risk conditions which require more often screening which includes- women who are sexually active at a younger age (less than 16yrs old), women with multiple sexual partners, having one partner who is considered as high risk (HPV infected/STI), alcohol and smoking habits, weakened immunity power, low socioeconomic status, long term use of OCP’s Prevention of HPV infection Major cause of cervical cancer is HPV infection especially HPV-16 and hpv-18. HPV vaccine helps in preventing most cases of cervical cancers, and protects women who are already exposed to HPV infection. CDC recommends HPV vaccination from 9-45yrs of age, and 2 doses of vaccines for full protection. HPV vaccination prevents new exposure to HPV infections and doesn’t treat the existing HPV infections. Safe sex practices -like usage of condoms helps prevent STI and HPV infections. Reducing smoking and alcohol habits Diet and lifestyle changes to improve overall immunity. Studies suggest that including foods rich in carotenoids, vegetables and fruits, high intake of Vit C and E may reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

 Stonehill International School’s Grade 12 Visual Arts students exhibited their eclectic collection of work at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath on the 9th and 10th of March 2023. For the past one and a half years, these talented artists have worked on perfecting their art, putting together their curatorial statements and working on display techniques. Visitors to the exhibition were inspired by the students’ work. This year’s exhibition was titled, ‘The Three Fates’, derived from Greek Mythology.  The artists worked on a wide range of media which included painting, drawing, digital work, woodwork, and photography. Hugo examined the metaphorical meaning of art.  In his words, “most people perceive furniture as solely serving a functional purpose. It is used to support various human activities such as sitting, eating, storing items, working, and sleeping. However, my art work aims to challenge the above mentioned notion and force viewers to think beyond their preconceived notions of the functionality of furniture. This collection of work is meant to be a metaphor of human society and explores how furniture can be thought provoking and can take on a whole new meaning. My work is inspired by the works of Van Gogh, Garrett Rietveld and Allen Jones.” Lila’s body of work is a reflection on the different aspects of human existence.  “A reflection on how our subconscious and our emotions manifest into our lives. I examined the role of art in our everyday lives and I explored the issue of consumerism and the negative effects it has on both our environment and our lives. My art also talks about our perception of success in the corporate world contrasted with the simple mundane moments of intimacy which make us human.  My art style is Pop Art which incidentally is from the same time period that consumerism in food culture began to take rise in America.” Vanessa’s art focused heavily on the horrors of the human mind; horrors relating to the extremely isolating and stigmatised nature of mental illnesses, and its impact on our worldview, identities and relationships.  She feels, “This subject was realised through my own personal experiences, as well as through further research for my comparative study which focused on portrayals of extreme states of mind—all of which culminated in my objective to depict specific struggles that are often spoken of less than the topic of mental health as a whole, and are often not as easy to digest and comprehend.” About Stonehill International School: Spread over 34 acres, nestled 20 minutes away from the Bangalore airport, the Stonehill campus is spacious, purpose-built, safe and highly conducive to learning. The international school is fully accredited by CIS/NEASC and the Australian Boarding Schools Association. Students from age three through secondary school enjoy a state-of-the-art campus that features extensive sports fields and facilities, a swimming pool, an equestrian centre, three boarding houses, two libraries, and a cafeteria. Stonehill offers education in a warm and friendly small school environment, where each student’s quest for individual excellence is a priority. The students and teachers at Stonehill come from India as well as over 35 different countries spanning the globe.

In an effort to promote fitness and environmental consciousness among school children, Ekya Schools, as a part of the second edition of the Winter Trek Chapter organized a plogging and trekking activity for its students.  A total of 750 students participated from grade 1 to PUC 2 during both the winter trek chapters. It was a fun, fitness and awareness activity which was designed to teach children the responsibility of conserving nature. The trekking cum plogging drive was conducted under the guidance of experts at a popular picnic spot Shivagange, a few kilometres away from namma Bengaluru. The Plogging trek saw a total of 140 students from grades 5 to 8 participate in the second edition of the winter trek chapter. With 40 extra large and 5 XXL bags, children collected 235 to 250 kg of single-use plastic bottles with bottle caps. The initiative left Shivagange 5% cleaner than what it was before. The event began with a brief introduction to the concept of plogging and trekking, followed by warm-up exercises to prepare the students for the activity. The students were then divided into groups and were given gloves and garbage bags to collect litter while trekking. The route of the trek was carefully selected to ensure that it was challenging enough for the students but not too difficult. The entire outbound learning trip was a huge success, with the students thoroughly enjoying the experience. They not only got to exercise and explore the outdoors but also learnt the importance of keeping their surroundings clean. The main highlight was the children giving a strong message to the tourists and locals of Shivagange and surrounding places of taking responsibility for their actions and doing their bit of keeping the environment clean. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder of Ekya Schools and Provost, CMR University said, “We aspire to make our children aware, compassionate and engaged. The Plogging trek gave them the right opportunity to become aware of their surroundings and engage in sustainability and conservation along with inculcating values such as teamwork, responsibility, and respect for the environment. We encourage our students to continue such activities with their family and peers to help spread awareness about the importance of keeping our surroundings clean and become responsible citizens.” The activity of plogging involves picking up litter while jogging or walking. Trekking, on the other hand, is a form of hiking that involves walking through natural terrain. The combination of these two activities not only promotes physical fitness but also instils in children the importance of taking care of the environment and doing their bit to conserve nature. This activity not only helps promote physical fitness and environmental consciousness but also teaches children the value of teamwork, as they worked together to collect the litter. The event was organized in collaboration with plogging experts, who provided guidance and support throughout the planning process.  It is so alarming to see this much plastic waste despite a ban imposed on plastic. The activity has helped us to create and spread awareness about the importance of protecting our environment and saving our planet from manmade destruction.

Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai today organized a Human chain to raise awareness on Glaucoma disease and treatment as a part of World Glaucoma Week (March 12-18, 2023). More than 150 members belonging to different age groups comprising staff of Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital and the general public held placards participated in the walkathon and human chain which created a public awareness about the importance of Glaucoma disease and treatment. Mr. Hitler, Assistant Commissioner of Police – Traffic, South Chennai was the chief guest for this awareness event. Dr. Srinivasa Rao, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital said, “ India can easily be the world’s capital of glaucoma, a group of eye disorders that leads to irreversible blindness. In India 12 million are affected and 1.2 million are blind due to glaucoma. Prevalence of primary angle closure disease in south India is 1.58%. Prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in rural south India population 1.62% and 98.5% were not aware of the disease, in urban population the prevalence was 3.51% higher and more than 90% were not aware of the disease.” He added that there are no known measures to prevent glaucoma. The only way to prevent blindness from glaucoma, which shows no symptoms in the early stage, is early diagnosis and treatment that could halt the progression of this silent thief of sight. Dr. Sugepriya K, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital said “Glaucoma can strike one at any age. However, those who are over 40 years, and who have a family history of glaucoma, and diabetics, and people with high refractive errors and those who take steroid containing eye drops, pills, inhalers, and skin creams are considered at risk populations. They should screen for glaucoma, every year”. Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, through its network of hospitals, is creating awareness among the public that clinical examination is the only way to catch glaucoma and early detection and treatment will prevent vision loss. And with prompt attention from the patients and with contribution from the primary care physicians and prompt referrals to the ophthalmologist, glaucoma can be controlled and kept in check.

Ravi Kumar joins Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall as the Director of Finance with over 27 years of experience in the industry. In his capacity, Ravi will lead the accounting & financing operations of 212 key hotel with over 10 meeting spaces.  Ravi began his journey in 1995 with Taj group and joined Accor in 2007 as the credit manager at Novotel Hyderabad Airport. During the course of his career, he has been part of many pre-opening teams including Novotel Hyderabad Airport, ibis Navi Mumbai and Novotel Kochi Infopark, resulting in great expertise in the setting up of financial policies and departmental SOPs.  In his role, he will identify and monitor the financial objectives of the unit and guide the other members of the leadership in formulating business plans and annual budgets. He is also proficient in liaising with government regulatory authorities to keep compliance with statutory obligations & obtaining necessary sanctions/clearances and is highly skilled in monitoring & implementing internal control systems for all financial and statutory matters. Ravi is an effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills. “Having begun his journey at Accor and being committed to the group for more than 15 years, Ravi Kumar brings a wealth of knowledge of processes and deep insights about the company. He has created a mark for himself with his diligence and dedication. It is a pleasure to have him on board” says Sachin Maheshwary, General Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall.  On a personal note, Ravi is an ardent fan of Roger Federer and enjoys playing tennis himself. About Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall  Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall features 212 spacious rooms including one- & two-bedroom suites with elegant interiors and modern guest amenities. The hotel is located opposite RMZ Infinity and in close proximity to Bagmane Techpark, Bagmane World Technology Center, RMZ Millennia, Manyata Techpark and Indiranagar. The metro station is a short walk and the adjoining Gopalan Signature Mall offers multiple lifestyle options. La Utsav, the all-day dining restaurant, offers an array of local flavours and global delicacies. 1026 AD, the Bar & Alfresco is the perfect place to unwind after a busy day; featuring an array of speciality coffees and short eats. The hotel features eight elegant meeting spaces which can cater from 20 to 400 delegates, a fitness centre, salon and spa, swimming pool, a dedicated entertainment zone, Executive Lounge & library and business centre.  HOTEL COORDINATES – 12.992640, 77.660644 HOTEL ADDRESS – Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall, Opp RMZ Infinity Techpark, Swamy Vivekananda Road, Bengaluru – 560093 HOTEL CONTACT: Meera Anil -+91 95132 89977 Hashtags: #grandmercuregopalanmall #grandmercure #bringingstoriestolife  Media contact: Sridevi Rao 9844167547/9448701953/9886673090

~ Mia x RCB is ready to roar with #SheGotGame ~ Mia by Tanishq, one of India's most fashionable fine jewelry brands, is excited to partner with the celebrated cricket franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore's first all-women team as their principal sponsor. The partnership reveres these remarkable players' grit, perseverance, sweat, and struggle for creating a space and a legacy for women in cricket nationwide. After a successful collaboration with Indian Olympic women athletes last season, the new-age jewelry brand is strengthening its long-standing commitment to encourage and support women in sports with cricket, the sport that resides in every Indian’s heart. Mia makes a bold move by associating with the first women’s team from RCB, which marks a milestone in the history of Indian women’s sports, to champion and celebrate women in sports. The brand has always been at the forefront of building a symbiotic relationship with a culture of acknowledging, embracing, and supporting, women from various walks of life. This collaboration with RCB is a step ahead in making Mia more inclusive and diverse. Mia’s association with the unrivaled players of the RCB team is the perfect match as each of these players is a true Mia woman who has a unique sense of style, which is not only powerful but also a true reflection of their indomitable spirit and can inspire the women of today. Speaking about the association, Ms. Shyamala Ramanan, Business Head, Mia by Tanishq said, "Our association with RCB women's team is a matter of great pride. Mia celebrates the modern woman achiever, who is fiercely independent, liberated, unapologetic about her choices, exuberates confidence, is a go-getter, and whose aura lights up everyone's lives. All the women players are trailblazers and each one of them is independent, a dreamer, an achiever, and self-expressive – they espouse everything that a Mia woman is. The association has brought in perfect synergy as Mia is a brand for the contemporary Indian woman who believes in realizing her dreams and that she is limited only by her vision which is exactly what our athletes believe in." Speaking on the occasion Rajesh Menon, Head & Vice President of RCB, said, “RCB is thrilled to partner with Mia by Tanishq, a brand that fits perfectly with our vision on the WPL franchise and how we wish to scale our marketing program with the help of likeminded partners. We look to build on the integrated marketing & communication plan from this season to a longer-term partnership.” Keeping in tune with the team members’ lively personalities and vivacious attitude the brand is super thrilled to present to you a short film. Watch it and give these women in red and gold the loudest cheer, because #SheGotGame. Join the brand in celebrating them and every other woman out there who shows up, and owns her day! Watch the film here – https://www.instagram.com/reel/CphONLTAQJr/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D Mia by Tanishq urges everyone to tune into the upcoming RCB matches and show support for women breaking boundaries and leveling up the playing field. About Mia by Tanishq Born with the heritage and the legacy of Tanishq, Mia is a brand of bold, modern, and chic jewellery. For the young and the young at heart and the stylish, Mia crafts gold jewellery in unique, minimal, and extremely versatile designs. Featuring a wide range, the collections from Mia are designed to accessorize you for every moment and every occasion effortlessly. Crafted in 18kt & 14kt gold the Mia line of jewellery has over 1500 designs starting at Rs.2999/-. Mia is a network of more than 100 standalone stores and is present in leading Tanishq stores. It has a presence from our home page https://www.miabytanishq.com/ and across other online platforms, https://www.amazon.com/, https://www.tatacliq.com/, and https://www.flipkart.com/. About Royal Challengers Bangalore The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is owned by Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo India. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (often abbreviated as RCB) are a franchise cricket team based in Bangalore, Karnataka, that plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the original ten teams, the team has made three final appearances in the IPL and reached the Playoffs for three consecutive years in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The squad consists of a fine blend of proven stars of the international arena and emerging talent. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the rights to own and operate a team in Women’s Premier League with a bid of 901 Crores in January 2023. RCB shaped a bold squad in the auction with the buy of distinguished Indian opener Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.40 CR), who also happened to become the most expensive buy not only at WPL but among all other women’s cricket leagues in the world. RCB has evolved in their journey of brand building with multiple business ventures like RCB Hustle (a fitness product by RCB), Dash of RCB, a premium line of non-alcoholic mixer which is launched as an extension to already successful venture, RCB Bar & Café. Dash of RCB is the first of other Fast-Moving Consumer Goods options that the cricket brand has launched. The next in line is Dash of RCB – Bar Snacks, Uncut by RCB – a plant-based meat product, soon to be launched. RCB has adopted the philosophy #PlayBold which resonates both on and off the field – Defeats don’t defeat us, the Challenger Spirit keeps us alive'. Download RCB Mobile Application to know more.