QNET Continues its On-ground CSR Initiatives with Government School, Hyderabad

~Partners with Lions Club to Provide Water Storage Facility at the Government Primary School, Sriram Nagar, Hyderabad

Hyderabad, April 02, 2016: QNET, one of Asia’s direct selling leaders and pioneers in e-commerce based direct selling, continued its humanitarian efforts under the CSR banner of We Care providing water storage facility for Government Primary School, Sriram Nagar, Hyderabad. In partnership with Lions Club of Hyderabad, Swarnapuri, Dist. 316 F, QNET will help to deliver safe drinking water for more than 800 students.

The main objective of this project is to ensure that the school has a set of functioning and well maintained water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. This initiative compliments well with the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya campaign of the Government to promote awareness on the hygiene. With its partnership with Lions Club, QNET will continue doing such programs on a regular basis to present best CSR practices in the industry and help in the betterment of society and the environment.

QNET is driven by two important philosophies – Raise Yourself to Help Mankind - RYTHM and InService which encourages selfless service. QNET works with credible NGOs and associations like Lions Club, so as to encourage active involvement of all its employees and independent representatives, on ground. QNET is inspired by the example of selfless service set forth by Mahatma Gandhi.

The QI Group of Companies, the parent company of QNET, is a proud member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Network – the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.

QNET internationally has been working extensively to cater to the needs of homeless and destitute as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. It has been sustaining a health check drive at the Home of Hope, Bangalore, where more than 200 Destitute Adults have undergone a 2 month intense health program through the consumption of NUTRIPLUSTM Protein Power – health supplement from QNET, India. In India, through its Indian operations, QNET is also a member of Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA).

Zee Tamil’s Popular Parambariya Maruthuvam Program Crosses 1000 Episodes

Chennai, April 2016: Being at the forefront of catering to the varied tastes of audiences, Zee Tamil lays a lot of emphasis to its prime time content. Standing testimony to this, in the morning prime time slot, is a series of spiritual and devotional programs like Olimayamaana Edhirkalam and Arputhangal Tharum Aalaiyangal. But the jewel in the crown happens to be Parambariya Maruthuvam at 8:00 am slot which crossed 1000 episodes recently.

Keeping in line with the ancient proverb in Tamil “Food is medicine, medicine is food”, Parambariya Maruthuvam is a show that explores simple homemade remedies for illnesses and ailments with ingredients from one’s kitchen. Dr. Murugan, a renowned Siddha practitioner & Astrologer practically demonstrates and comes up with remedies for diseases using natural products & items that are readily available at home.

Each day he takes up a specific ailment/disease and discusses the related medicine and its preparation. Little known to us is the fact that all these ingredients used have natural and proven properties as they are extracted from a variety of plants and herbs that are rare and have a particular healing value as revealed by our forefathers.

Dr. Murugan demonstrates traditional recipes in a simple easy-to-do method on the show every day for the benefit of the viewer. The show which recently touched the landmark milestone of 1000 episodes on April 2nd looks all set for greater milestones.

Mon - Sun 8.00 – 8.30 am, only on Zee Tamil. Don’t miss it.

Anchors again from 4th April

Chennai, April 2016: Zee Tamizh’s popular reality talk show “Solvathellam Unmai” plays a crucial role in resetting the moral compass of the nation. The show deals with genuine life stories of people and portrays positive societal values for building a tolerant and harmonious India. The show educates and makes people to be a part in reversing the erosion of values in the society, thereby making the society a happier and safer place to live in.

The show in the past had paved way to solve many murder mysteries, had unveiled the issues on hidden cameras and had also stumbled upon a startling revelation of prostitution racket in Tamil Nadu by many victims who happened to be the young female college students.

The show well received across the length and breadth of the state, will now have actor-director Ms. Lakshmy Ramakrishnan back on its sets. Ms. Lakshmy Ramakrishnan after a respite of around 9 months is hosting the show from 4th April 2016.

Solvathellam Unmai, with Ms. Lakshmy Ramakrishnan as anchor, will be on air from Monday to Friday between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm. Stay tuned!!

GLO Bagged "Best App for Hair & Makeup Services" by Ravishing Wedding Awards 2015

New Delhi, 2016: GLO, one of its kind app for booking makeup and hairstyling on the go has been honored with "Best App for Hair & Makeup Services" by Ravishing Wedding Awards 2015 on 19^th March 2016. GLO has been acknowledged and praised by its users in very less time and has been getting a fabulous response from its customers in a short span of time.

On the occasion, Sugandh Jolly, Co-Founder, GLO said we are very excited and honored and express our gratitude for getting acknowledgement for our work. It is a great encouragement for us to be rewarded by Ravishing Wedding group” 

Further adding to the excitement Garima Bhandari, Co-Founder GLO added we are proud to be to be associated with Ravishing Wedding awards, and strives to excel the expectation of our well wishers and customers. It is a big platform for us to get recognition and we are highly grateful to Jury and other members who supported us.

Increase in the urge to urinate

An average human urinates 4 to 7 times in a day, Diabetes causes you to urinate much often than the average, diabetes makes your body less efficient at breaking foods down into sugar, causing your body to have more sugar in the blood stream. Your body gets rid of the excess sugar in the body in the form of urine. If you are waking up in the night to visit the loo multiple times then this is one of the early signs of diabetes.

Excessive thirst even while sleeping

An increase in the blood sugar levels increases the urge to urinate more often. Which causes you to lose a lot of your body fluids and make you feel dehydrated.Drinking more water than usual and more often is also one of the early signs of diabetes.

Feeling Hungry even after meals

The body of the diabetic cannot use insulin properly to get the glucose into the cells of the body, hence your pancreas start to over produce insulin which increases the insulin levels in the blood. This increase in insulin levels in your blood stream send signal to your brain that you are hungry even after you have just had a heavy meal. Feeling hungry even after meals is one of the prominent early signs of diabetes.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision is a common sign of diabetes. when there is a spike in the blood glucose levels in the body, the excess glucose pulls out the fluids from tissues and cells. When this happens the lens of the eye which is a tissue also swells which alters its ability and causes blurry vision.

Numbness in feet and hands

A feeling of numbness in feet and hands is a common early sign of diabetes. The excess sugar in the blood starts to damage the nerve endings which causes numbness in feet and hands.

Courtesy: Pocketnewsalert.com

(Every Sunday @ 1:00 pm)

The legends of cinema are honoured in this one of a kind show that traces their lives right from their early days to the legend they are today. It focuses on their journey from their early struggles, their highs’ and lows, memorable films and many other personal aspects of their lives are brought on screen.

In Vendhar TV this Sunday watch comedy actor Vaigai Puyal Vadivelu episode that comes to a conclusion featuring some of the finest works on the silver screen.

Thadampathitavargal airs every Sunday @ 1:00 PM in Vendhar TV.

(Monday to Saturday 7.05 am to 7.15 am)

Vendhar TV telecast's a devotional segment named "ABHIRAMI ANTHADHI" this is a show which has been in the bunch of segments which is alignment in morning breakfast show named "PUTHAM PUDHU KAALAI". In this we have align set of segments including medicinal, horoscope, motivational, devotional even a lifestyle segments.

In this combo, here comes a devotional segment "Abhirami Anthadhi" this segment is presented by ILLAYKIYAMEGAM Mr. SRINIVASAN, he have been explaining the hymns called abhirami anathadhi which had written by famous Hindu saint ABHIRAMI PATTAR.

By chanting those hymns all goodness, prosperous, health and wealth will be blessed by LORD ABHIRAMI is a widely believing proven belief.

Total Visitor Volume Tops 24.6 Million; Visitor Spending Exceeds $9.3 Billion

April 04, 2016 – The San Francisco Travel Association reported today that San Francisco welcomed a total of 24.6 million visitors in 2015, an increase of 2.7 percent from 2014. This included 18.9 leisure visitors (up 2.7 percent from 2014) and 5.8 million business travelers in 2015 (also up 2.7% from 2014).

In 2015, the 24.6 million visitors brought $9.3 billion in spending to San Francisco. Visitors directly spent $8.5 billion in the city, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. An additional $723 million was spent by meeting planners and exhibitors for goods and services for their meetings. For the year, total spending in San Francisco related to meetings and conventions reached $2 billion.

The number of jobs supported by tourism rose 1 percent to 76,520 jobs in 2015, with an annual payroll of $2.3 billion.

The tourism industry generated $738 million in taxes and fees for the City of San Francisco, up 12.8 percent from the previous year. Major contributors to that figure include hotel tax (54.7 percent) and property tax (23.4 percent)

Visitor spending equated to $25.4 million daily or $1.1 million per hour.

On a per capita basis, visitors spent $10,951 per San Franciscan. Visitors generated $2,025 in taxes per San Francisco household.

Of the 24.6 million people who visited the city last year, 10.183 million were overnight visitors and spent $7.4 billion dollars. International overnight visitors totaled 2.85 million and spent $4.65 billion, which represented 63 percent of all overnight spending. Overnight visitors from the United States totaled 7.33 million and spent $2.76 billion, representing 37 percent of all overnight guest spending. Sixty two percent of all overnight guests stayed in hotels in the San Francisco.

San Francisco Travel has developed a new research model using internal data and curated research in conjunction with Tourism Economics. Several years of lodging data was curated by San Francisco Travel using research from STR (formerly Smith Travel Research) and PKF Consulting. Data for flight volume was provided by OAG (formerly Official Aviation Guide) and San Francisco International Airport. Domestic visitor data was collected by Longwoods.

International visitor data by country came from Tourism Economics’ Global City Travel database and global visitor surveys by Destination Analysts as well as tax and household data. Group sales statistics were drawn from USI, San Francisco Travel’s CRM (customer relationship management) platform.

San Francisco Travel used their new model to revise data going back to 2008 to ensure consistency going forward.

The above data pertains only to visitors to San Francisco. For the first time, San Francisco Travel’s research also includes the city of San Francisco and Bay Area regional markets including Marin County, the Peninsula and San Francisco International Airport.

The Port of San Francisco hosted 82 ship calls and 297,504 passengers in 2015. In addition to passengers, each ship has approximately 1,000 crew members. This is a record number of passengers, breaking the previous high mark of 256,410 set in 2014. Based on passenger, crew, and ship expenditures, the overall economic impact to the Bay Area of a cruise ship call in San Francisco is approximately $1 million.

In 2015, San Francisco Travel booked 44 conventions at Moscone Center, which will fill 1,153,258 hotel room nights between 2015 and 2032. Their attendees and exhibitors will spend an estimated $1,001,190,532.

“These record-breaking numbers once again prove that tourism is the most important industry in San Francisco. The 24.6 million visitors and $9.3 billion in spending create jobs and support services for people throughout the city and the entire Bay Area,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “We are experiencing sustained growth in all market segments – domestic, international, leisure and business – as a result of our highly professional and sophisticated community of hotels, restaurants, cultural organizations and SFO, one of the finest airports in the world,” he added.

The San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the city as a leisure, convention and business travel destination. With more than 1,500 partner businesses, San Francisco Travel is one of the largest membership-based tourism promotion agencies in the country.

The San Francisco Travel business offices are located at One Front St., Suite 2900, San Francisco, CA 94111.

San Francisco Travel also operates Visitor Information Centers at Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market Street at the corner of Powell and Market streets and on the lower level of Macy’s Union Square. For more information, visit www.sanfrancisco.travel.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 39 international cities on 33 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 77 cities in the U.S. on 14 domestic airlines. SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.

American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.

Blue Light Hazard: Not Just UV Radiation, Eyes Face Threat from Blue Violet Light as Well

Dr. Ira Chopra, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Paras Hospitals writes on how our eyes face a rising health threat with an inevitable switch to modern lighting techniques and increased usage of digital devices

The effects of harmful Ultra Violet Radiation on the health of skin and eyes have been well documented and much talked about in recent years. However, researchers today have identified that ultra violet light is not the only harmful component of light when it comes to visual health. The Blue Violet spectrum of visible light is another component that has the potential to cause damage to retinal cells of the eyes. In fact, researchers have coined a new term to describe the danger this light spectrum presents to critical structures within the eye. They call it “blue light hazard”.

Interestingly, blue violet light (wavelengths between 380 and 500 nm) is not just emitted by the sun but also by artificial sources of light such as LEDs, CFLs, and digital devices such as computers and smartphones. Given the increased usage of new age lighting devices and an increasingly ubiquitous existence of smartphones and computers, what we are witnessing today is a much higher exposure to blue violet light than say five years back. 

This development has prompted a new wave of research and studies in the field of ophthalmology as well as ophthalmologic optics. But before moving on to that let’s understand with greater precision the effects of blue violet light on the structures within the eyes.

What is Blue Light?

The small spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation which our human eyes are capable of perceiving is termed ‘visible light’. A human eye typically responds to wavelengths between 390 to 700 nm (nano metre). This entire visible spectrum can further be divided into different bands which includes blue, green and red lights. Blue light has a wavelength of between 380 nm and 500 nm, making it one of the shortest, highest-energy wavelengths. While this range of visible light spectrum plays a generally beneficial role on health, in particular by regulating the internal biological clock, a small but specific section of this band has been found to cause damage to retinal cells.

Because they have shorter wavelengths and higher frequency and higher energy, blue light waves create flickering and glaring effect on the eyes. This is perhaps why prolonged exposure to computers, television and smartphones causes strain to the eyes, headaches or fatigue. Researchers believe that prolonged exposure to blue light may cause retinal damage and contribute to age-related macular degeneration, which can further lead to loss of vision. In most cases, this photochemical damage accumulates over a lifetime.  

Where is Blue Light?

Well, it is everywhere! While sun is the main source of blue light emission, it is certainly not the only source. Today, we are literally surrounded by sources of blue light and therefore continuously exposed to it.

 While solar radiation is considered to have 25% to 30% blue light, the modern, energy efficient light sources such as CFLs and LEDs emit significantly higher amount of harmful blue light (roughly 26% of the light from CFLs is blue while an estimated 35% of light emitted by LEDs lies in the blue portion). On the contrary, the conventional, incandescent lamps which were widely used till a few years back, were noticed to emit very little blue light.

 Besides, our eyes hardly stops working in front of digital screens today. The digital screen technology has evolved radically over the years, and many of today's electronic devices use LED back-light technology. Computers, cell phones, flat-screen televisions and tabs are just among a few of the devices that use this technology.  With their wide-spread use, not only has our cumulative exposure to blue light increased, but the duration of exposure is also radically  higher today.

What are the Solutions & Preventive Mechanisms?

The natural filters of the human eye do not provide sufficient protection against blue light. Therefore, any preventive mechanism has to start with greater awareness and attempts to reduce exposure of harmful blue light. Researchers have also been off late working on mechanisms to help selectively filter the harmful wavelengths of blue light while transmitting the beneficial ones.

In this context, researchers at Essilor and the Paris Vision Institute have succeeded in identifying the very narrow band of blue light that is associated with photo toxic damage of the retinal cells. The culmination of this research has led to the development of lenses that has the ability to selectively filter the narrow but harmful wavelengths of blue light that are damaging to the eyes while allowing the healthy band of blue light to play its normal roles. The technology has been incorporated in the latest spectacle lenses manufactured by Essilor  such as Crizal Prevencia and Eyezen.

Protecting Your Vision

* Limiting the amount of screen time is very important for the generation that lives by digital devices. While one cannot do away with the requirements of work, we can certainly reduce the leisure time spent on digital devices. Reducing time spent on chatting and surfing the Internet can be helpful in reducing eye strain, headaches and digital mental fatigue.

* Using screens and digital devices in a correct posture is also important. Make sure the screen causes minimal glare, reduce brightness and surrounding lights and make sure the screen is always right ahead of your face to ensure least strain on the eyes.

* Take regular breaks from screen time. Stand up from your desk every two hours and just walk around the workplace for five minutes. Blink more often.

* Wearing protective eye wears in front of digital screens has emerged as the most viable preventive option in the face of increasing prevalence and exposure to blue light radiation. Studies have also showed that wearing protective lenses with blue light filters helps reduce symptoms of eye strain and fatigue.

(Monday to Friday @10.30pm)

“Kitchen cabinet”, the political satire show, gets a makeover with a new character Jakkamma.

Jakkamma, the funny but intelligent street side lady astrologer, chooses her client, who are generally news makers of the day. With her satiric remarks, she travels past in to their life and predicts their future. With this character the show attempts to rise above simple comedy, with the aim of exposing an underlying absurd truth or paradox of politicians.

Watch political predictions of Jakkamma in Kitchen Cabinet Monday to Friday @ 10.30pm. The repeats are next day morning 9.30am, in Puthiyathalaimurai TV.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL TO PREMIERE EBAFTA-NOMINATED ‘SHERPA’ ON APRIL 18

THE PROGRAMME OFFERS TRIBUTE TO THE SHERPAS AND THEIR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE WORST TRAGEDY HITTING MOUNT EVEREST

New Delhi, April 04 2016: Marking April 18, 2014 as the darkest day in the history of the Mount Everest, Discovery Channel will broadcast the riveting film SHERPA. Chronicling the reappraisal of the Everest climbing industry in the face of the mountain’s deadliest avalanche, the two-hour programme captures the Sherpa community in their most vulnerable and significant moment.

Premiering on April 18 at 9 PM, SHERPA will recount the harrowing story of the massive avalanche that tore through the Khumbu Icefall killing 16 Sherpas. The 14 million ton avalanche is recognized as the worst tragedy in the history of Everest and sparked a drastic reassessment of the role of Sherpas in the Everest climbing industry. The film captures the story of the Sherpa community, united in grief and anger as they reclaim the respected mountain they call Chomolungma.

The film was originally positioned to showcase the upcoming climbing season from the Sherpas' point of view after a highly-publicized confrontation in 2013 between Western climbers and a group of Sherpas. While capturing the shifting dynamics of Everest climbing culture and legendary Sherpa PhurbaTashi’s world record-breaking 22^ndattempt to summit the mountain, the team witnessed and captured the single deadliest day in the mountain's history after an avalanche that struck just above Mt. Everest base camp.

Through the first-hand live recordings, voices of the guides themselves, their families, and the climbers who were preparing to summit when the disaster struck, SHERPA chronicles the historic moment of tragedy and resistance in which the Sherpas and their families consider the future of Everest climbing. SHERPA will be a global television event that will be broadcasted in more than 220 countries and territories.

In a culture that is dominated by the Everest climbing economy and heavily embedded with religion, tensions rise as Sherpas demand governmental changes to their dangerous line of employment. Ultimately, they must decide whether to continue their climb to provide for their families, or to cancel the season out of respect for themselves and those lost in the avalanche.

SHERPA was produced by Bridget Ikin, co-founder of Felix Media, a leading independent film and television company in Australia, and John Smithson, Joint Creative Director of Arrow Media, one of the UK's top independent creative forces and directed by Jennifer Peedom. For Discovery Channel, John Hoffman serves as Executive Vice President of Documentaries and Specials with Jon Bardin as Director of Development and Production of Documentaries and Specials.

On April 18 2016, get ready to deep dive into the lives of the Sherpas who make Everest's climbing culture possible only on Discovery Channel, Discovery HD World and Discovery Tamil at 9 PM.

First private operator to sign Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement with the state owned telecom operator

New Delhi, April 4, 2016: Aircel and BSNL has signed 2G ICR agreement on PAN India basis. This is a first agreement between a state owned operator and a private telecom player. With this strategic tie up, both organizations will be able to enhance customer experience besides utilizing each other’s assets and network strength.

Philips Lighting India organized the first ever Hackathon in the connected lighting category

* Maiden edition of the hackathon witnesses 125+entries

Bangalore, 4 April 2016: Philips Lighting India, the country’s leading lighting solutions company, organized a 12-hour hackathon at Philips Innovation Campus, Bangalore. The Hackathon was held to code, create and collaborate for Philips Hue Lighting platform. Having pioneered the connected lighting category in India with the launch of Philips Hue -the dynamic app-enabled LED home lighting system, Hackathon engaged with the app development community to come up with new use cases and scenarios around HUE lighting.

In the daylong event, Philips provided the coders and developers with HUE SDK (Software Development Kit), around which software programs were developed on the code fest day. The HUE SDK also used globally, is developed in India at Philips Innovation Campus in Bangalore. The themes around which these apps were developed were: #FunMasti, #TechTrendz, #Jugaad, #Sports, #Festivals, #Family and #Vernacular.The Hackathon witnessed participants being creative with the open HUESDK and developing their own apps. Subsequently, team “Huber” were declared as winners and received the Philips Hue Starter Kits in the form of prizes.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Sameer Sodhi, Business Leader,Senior Director, Home Lighting– Philips India said, “Philips is at the helm of the lighting industry in the country, offering a diverse range of products across categories. Hackathon is our endeavour to develop exciting apps for the HUE platform that connects with our consumers. We are thrilled to witness such a positive response for the first ever Hackathon in the connected lighting space. We further seek to encourage the developer community and leverage coding for HUE systems which can act as an enabler to help them create a business opportunity.”

An intuitive and seamless system, Philips Hue is upgradeable and future-proof, with the potential for more features to be downloaded and enjoyed in the future.While being associated with instinctive moments in a consumer’s day-to-day life, be it relaxation, waking up or partying, HUE is all about delivering experiences in an unimaginable way.Through this Hackathon, web developers came together allowing for a great weekend full of energy, networking and ideation.

The Hackathon was held at Philips Innovation Campus - 3rd Main Road, Bengaluru 560045, India.

British Council launches research on learning of English in Bihar titled ‘English in Education: Bihar Profile’

1st April 2016: The British Council is delighted to announce the publication of ‘English in Education: Bihar Profile’, a comprehensive reference document on the teaching and learning of English within the general picture of education in the state and a ‘snapshot’ of current systems and practices at one specific moment in time, late November 2015.

Part One of the profile presents statistics and other educational data on teaching and learning in the state, including the numbers of schools, teachers and learners, levels of learner performance and school facilities and resources. Educational systems and administrative organisation, the curriculum and coursebook, the place of examinations and the provision of teacher training are all described.

There is a wide range of research on education in Bihar and the profile presents a summary of this research. Topics include the background of parents and learners, the relative effectiveness of teaching and training and the place of private and public education. Links to further reading on these topics are provided throughout.

There are many challenges to effective teaching and learning in Bihar which are examined in the profile including one of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in India (54:1), significant shortage of teachers and a need for at least fourteen thousand new schools.

However, the last decade has seen some dramatic changes in the number of students enrolled in the state(a ten per cent increase since 2006 means almost all children are now enrolled in school), in school infrastructure and in the gender parity index which is now higher than the national average, thanks partly to the Chief Minister’s Bicycle Distribution Scheme which research indicates has led to a thirty per cent increase in the probability of girls’ enrolment.

While there has been plenty of research on education in Bihar, there has been far less on the teaching and learning of English in the state. Part Two of the profile presents data collected and analysed through the BLISS (Bihar Language Initiative for Secondary Schools) project, a collaboration between the British Council, DFID and the government of Bihar which has developed the skills of two hundred teacher educators and supported them in the delivery of training and professional development to over two thousand teachers.

Data gathered through the project provides detail on aspects of English in Bihar which have hitherto been very under-researched such as an analysis of typical class size in Bihar, identification of teacher language proficiency, current teaching practice and the impact of training on this practice and the access to and availability and use of information technology at secondary level in the state.

Data shows that more than eighty per cent of teacher educators trained through the BLISS project have made demonstrable progress in language proficiency and achievements in improving classroom practice are similarly impressive.

The profile has been developed in collaboration with Pratham and the profile incorporates findings from original research by the Pratham team on areas including educational policy, English in higher education and the role of commercial language schools in the delivery of English teaching.

A companion volume which will investigate social attitudes to English in Bihar is also in course of preparation, with research led by Professor David Hayes of Brock University, Canada. 

Through providing the most up to date and reliable data and summaries of research available, the profile will serve as a foundation for decisions by policy makers and as a source of information for researchers, organisations and individuals planning to work in Bihar.

Says Michael Connolly, Assistant Director, English Partnerships, British Council India, “We hope the Bihar Profile will be of use to head teachers, teacher educators and teachers working in the contexts it describes and, indeed, anyone with an interest in the complex, often challenging and rapidly changing picture of English and education in Bihar.”

The ‘English in Education: Bihar Profile’ report is available for free download at www.britishcouncil.in/sites/default/files/bliss_english_profile_report_final_170216.pdf

A summary of the research is also available at www.britishcouncil.in/sites/default/files/bihar_education_summary_report.pdf

To find out more about the BLISS project visit

www.britishcouncil.in/programmes/english-partnerships/english-state-partnership-projects/bihar-language-initiative

Chennai, April 04, 2016: SpiceJet, the country’s favourite low-cost carrier, as a part of its summer schedule has announced more frequencies to its schedule from Chennai.

The airline has augmented its frequencies for its Chennai – Hyderabad (4th non-stop flight added)

The flight on the Chennai – Hyderabad sector effective from 17^th April 2016 will be operational on all days except Saturday.

To cater to the peak summer rush, from March to October, SpiceJet has unleashed a whole new summer schedule wherein apart from equipment upgradation, the airline has added three new flights and six new frequencies, thus offering more seats and connecting key metros and cities.

Ms Shilpa Bhatia, Sr. VP, Commercial, SpiceJet, said, “We would like to thank our customers for their continuous support in helping us achieve the highest load factor consistently for the past ten months. Our new summer schedule is an extension of our existing strategy that will cater to the robust market demand for the coming holiday season."

With the introduction of the summer schedule, the airline will increase its operation to 306 daily flights from 240 flights operated in last summer schedule.

Bookings for tickets are now open on www.spicejet.com, SpiceJet’s mobile apps and through online travel portals and travel agents.

Biggest blockbuster of 2016 – Rajini Murugan premiere’s on Zee Tamil on April 10th

Chennai, Apr 2016: Rajini Murugan one of the mega-hits of the year so far starring Sivakarthikeyan and written & directed by Ponram, will have its World Television Premiere in Zee Tamil on Apr 10th and will be re-aired on Tamil New Year’s day on Apr 14th.

The film known for its good music, vibrant visuals, spontaneity and charm of its lead actor raked in over Rs.20 crore in the opening weekend of its release making it the biggest blockbuster in the year so far. It has Sivakarthikeyan and Soori in the lead roles bringing down the house with their antics and impeccable comic timing, while Keerthi Suresh plays the love interest of Sivakarthikeyan. Veteran Rajkiran and Samuthirakani play supporting roles.

Premiere on April 10th Sunday at 5:00 pm and, repeat on Apr 14th Tamil New Year’s day at 4:30 pm. Only on Zee Tamil, don’t miss it !

L-R Anjani Kumar Gupta, Sanjjanaa Galrani, Pavan Kumar Gupta & Shubham Kumar Gupta at the launch of Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil & Naturralle Sona Masoori Rice

SARL to enhance market presence with the launch of new products under brand “Naturralle”

Introduces Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil & Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice

Hyderabad, 04th April, 2016: Saraiwwalaa Agrr Refineries Limited (SARL) one of the leading edible oil companies as a part of their strategic growth introduced 2 new products under their flagship brand “Naturralle”.SARL further strengthened their portfolio in edible oil sector by introducing “Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil” for the health conscious consumers of today. SARL also launched convenient retail pack of “Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice” for the current generation nuclear families and meet the demand of present day households. The products were unveiled by Famous Tollywood Actress Ms. Sanjjanaa Galrani in the presence of Shri Anjani Kumar Gupta, Director, SARL, Shri Shubham Gupta, Director SARL and the senior management at SARL.

The brand “Naturralle” is completely driven by market research and has always adapted to address the requirements and concerns of the Indian households through innovation. The introduction of Naturralle Health Rice Bran Health is a step towards fortifying the offerings under Brand Naturralle.

The Naturralle Health Rice Bran oil is physically refined to ensure the goodness of rice bran is retained.   The Rice bran oil contains high amount of oryzanol which improves the HDL/LDL ratio making it one of the most heart friendly oil. Rice bran oil is known as healthy oil, as it has the right balance of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats as recommended by the American Heart Association & the World Health Organization. Some of the health benefits of rice bran oil include its ability to lower cholesterol, boost the immune system, help prevent cancer, improve skin health, aid in weight loss, relieve menopausal symptoms, protect your heart, increase cognitive strength and lower allergic reactions. It's the recommended choice for improving serum cholesterol levels and preventing cardiovascular diseases as well.Besides being the healthier oil, Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil makes the food healthier, lighter with enhanced flavors and palatability.

SARL also introduces branded good quality Sona Masuri rice in retail packs at an attractive price point to provide customers with a convenient pack. Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice is introduced to meet the growing need for good quality branded sona masuri rice for  families today.  SARL already is an established exporter of Sona Masuri Rice and the launch of product in retail space is aimed at providing world class rice to the consumers.

Speaking at the launch of the new products Mr. Anjani Kumar Gupta, Director SARL said, “The journey of brand Naturralle has been amazing. It is our constant endeavor to introduce products that are good, convenient and healthier for our customers. According to studies, Indians are more prone to heart ailments. Product like Rice Bran oil with its high oryzanol content improves the HDL/LDL ratio, making it one of the most heart friendly oil. Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil is aimed at the health conscious customer base – not only consumers with medical conditions, but also the health conscious segment which believes in eating right to prevent ailments.”

He further added that “SARL has been into paddy processing for over two decades now. We observed that the customers always struggle to get the same brand for sona masuri rice every time they buy rice as it is available only in bulk packs or sold loose to the end user. Based on the feedback of our customers, we have introduced the retail packs of Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice we plan to address the need of the customers for good quality rice in a convenient pack size for daily consumption. We will be enhancing our team to ensure wide availability of Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice in a phased manner.”

Adding to this Mr. Shubham Gupta, Director, SARL said, “It is our constant endeavor at SARL to innovate and introduce the products that satisfy the needs of the ever evolving customers and make food taste better. With the addition of Naturralle Health Rice Bran Oil and Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice we are augmenting our portfolio with new products to suit the requirements of our customers. We plan innovative campaigns to reach out to the customers and make them aware about our brands. Our efforts have been recognized and World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC) has selected Naturralle as “Asia’s Most Promising Brand” for the second consecutive year. This certification brings to fore Naturralle’s journey as a brand which has shown tremendous growth in the past few years with focused efforts and innovative marketing strategies that have impacted the customers. We are honored to receive this award and hope that the new products Naturralle Rice Bran Oil and the retail packs of Naturralle Sona Masuri Rice are liked and accepted by our customers.”

From L to R: Mr. Suresh Krishn, President, Mr. Ajit Chordia, Past President, CREDAI, Mr. Prakash Challa, MD, SSPDL, Dr. R. Kumar, MD, Navin Housing, Mr. Vijay Sarathi, President, NAR India, along with Mr. Seshadri, Specialist Lawyer in real estate transactions.

CREAA to focus on Education and Training

At a panel discussion organized by the Chennai Real Estate Agents Association - CREAA, to celebrate its 17^th anniversary, the most important message which every speaker touched upon was, “Use digital technology to market and reach the target audience, coupled with automation to ensure success”. “The real estate brokerage business in one of the largest service sector businesses in the world and the consumer is at the centre of the activity. Providing quality and credible service is the hallmark of the profession,” said Mr. Amit Damodar, President, CREAA-NAR India in his welcome address.

Those who participated in this interesting panel discussion were, Mr. Suresh Krishn, President, Mr. Ajit Chordia, Past President, CREDAI, Mr. Prakash Challa, SSPDL, Mr. Vijay Sarathi, President, NAR India, Dr. R. Kumar, FRICS, Navin Homes along with Mr. Seshadri, specialist Lawyer in real estate transactions.

Many leading names in the real estate industry were present like Arun Excello, BBCL, Brigade, CEEBROS, Devi Narayan Housing, KGEYES, SIS, Rajarathnam Constructions, Urban Tree etc along with the broking fraternity. This was a unique program where Builders and Brokers, came together to discuss about RERA – Real Estate Regulatory Act and how they could jointly work together for the benefit of the Industry and the customers.

Among the many suggestions put forward, the important were,

* Correct and focused information in all communication is the key.

* Automated lead management systems to be in place.

* Photos and graphics to be used more extensively.

* Local targeting & Social networking will be a major real estate marketing tool.

* Quick response will spell success.

All the parties concerned were happy that RERA has been passed. This will ensure better compliance by the builders and facilitate the buyers. However, both the sides felt that some points needed clarification and clear guidance but agreed that this was in interest of the buyer. Some of the important features are:

* Better organised real-estate sector

* Timely completion and hand-over

* Accurate information

* Appropriate punishment

* Allottees association and after-sales service

Mr. Amit Damodar, President, CREAA said that the organization has evolved over a period of time, keeping in mind that the customer is king. The new demands have stemmed from the experience of service-quality which these global companies have received overseas. Similarly, the local population has also progressed and look for quality, transparency and above all security in dealing with our members. This factor has played a significant role in our way forward.

Mr. Vijay Sarathi, President, NAR India who has specially come down from Hyderabad for this event said, “NAR-INDIA has grown substantially over the last Six years. Today, spread across 27 member associations in India with an overall reach of over 20,000 brokers, NAR-INDIA is firmly set on its path as the voice of realtors in India.

Each state has some specific problems which are different, but most of them are identical in that deal with the human fabric. It is here that NAR India tries to help its member associations like CREAA Chennai to impart the skill sets which are highly required in today’s demanding and sensitive business environment.

The mission of NAR-INDIA is to promote and develop the highest level of professional conduct in all its connotations within real estate brokerages and amongst brokers. NAR-INDIA has adopted a Code of Ethics, conducts market research and lobbies with the government on Federal and State level.

Sidhanth Mally, Co-founder, Zuver along with Archit Singhal, founder and CEO, Mumbai Cocktail Week and Hemant Pathak, celebrity mixologist at the launch of Zuver - Your Driver on Demand

Zuver, an integrated Driver on Demand App launched at the Mumbai Cocktail Week

Mumbai, 4th April 2016: Zuver, an integrated driver on demand app announced the launch of its operations in Mumbai on Saturday, 2^nd April, 2016, at Trilogy Juhu. Zuver is the title sponsor of the Mumbai Cocktail Week, the first of its kind, a weeklong celebration of cocktail craftsmanship in the city’s most celebrated bars. The application was launched at the inaugural event of the Mumbai Cocktail Week, in presence of Media and the Founders.

Zuver’s unique selling proposition is that it promises a reliable, skilled, well-trained ‘driver on demand’ at your doorstep with just a tap of a button. Based out of Mumbai, the application intends to revolutionize the Driver On Demand segment by simplifying the way customers book drivers. Addressing the acute gap in the market today with regard to skilled drivers, Zuver offers a comprehensive application allowing you to book, track and pay for a premium driver service.

Zuver stands out amongst the other Driver on Demand Service providers through its high standards, convenience, competitive price and accessibility. The service is available on android, iOS and over phone bookings. It offers customers great flexibility enabling them to book a driver in advance or real time, for an hour or a whole day. The technology that powers Zuver allows them to locate and dispatch the driver positioned closest to the customer, within 30 minutes.

Zuver is committed to ensuring the safety of its customers; it goes great lengths to ensure that each driver is skilled, trustworthy and reliable. Each driver undergoes a rigorous screening and verification process which include multiple rounds of interviews, tests and agency checks. Additionally, all selected drivers receive training to enhance soft skills ensuring that they are presentable, well groomed, courteous and polished.

Co-founded by Sovin Hegde, a Harvard alumnus and Sidhanth Mally, an ex-consultant and Kings College London alumnus, Zuver is aimed at a wide range of customer segments.It is unarguably on its way to tapping a market with immense potential and setting new standards for the underserved segment.

Speaking at the launch event, Sovin Hegde, co-founder of Zuver said, “It gives us great pleasure to announce that we are launching our affordable, accessible and simplified driver of demand services through our new venture ‘ZUVER’. We have been working on this project for a while and the product is a ‘dream come true’. ZUVER, your driver on demand is backed with strong technology and we can’t contain our excitement for this platform to go live. Team Zuver has worked relentlessly to acquire sources, bring them together and make it what it is today. We are hoping for a splendid response. ‘Zuver’ is the German term for ‘Reliable’ and we are here to live up to the name.”

Sidhanth Mally, co-founder of Zuver added, “After months of working, reworking and revising, Zuver, your driver on demand is finally here. We are proud to present your ultimate one stop mobile application that would give you reliable, professional drivers at your doorstep. For us, drivers are our brand ambassadors who embody the premium, reliable, trustworthy and professional feel of Zuver. We can’t wait to see the response. Zuver is one of a kind and we believe that we would live up to your expectations.”

New Delhi, 05th April 2016: Global Automotive Component manufacturer ‘Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group’ today announced the acquisition of Panalfa Autoelektrik Limited through its flagship company, Minda Corporation Limited.  The Group has acquired 100% Equity of Panalfa Autoelektrik Limited.

Panalfa Autoelektrik Limited, founded in 2007 and located in Bawal, Haryana. The Company primarily manufactures ‘Reduction Gear Starter Motors’ and ‘Alternators’.

Panalfa Autoelektrik is dealing with end markets of Agriculture Machinery, Stationary Engine, Construction Equipment and Automotive market worldwide and has some of the key companies in India as customers such as Eicher, Escorts, Greaves, HMT, Magneton, New Holland, Polaris, Sonalika and TAFE. Panalfa Autoelektrik Limited has working strength of 410 employees and had Sales of Rs. 72 crores (FY 14-15).

With the acquisition of Panalfa Autoelektrik the Group further strengthens its presence in product portfolio & footprints in Agriculture Machinery, Stationary Engine, Construction Equipment and Automotive market. The Group will leverage on this acquisition to offer a better value proposition to its customers in commercial vehicles and other segments.

Mr. Ashok Minda, Group CEO, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group said, “The acquisition of Panalfa Autoelektrik Limited is a step in our overall strategy to become a leading player in Auto Component and Auto Electricals sector. With the help of this acquisition, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group will be able to add new product in its ambit and helping us to sustain our ongoing growth YoY. Our Group already have presence in After Market business with network of more than 400 dealers. This will further help in increasing our penetration in After Market business of Starter Motors and Alternator. The transaction will also enhance our relationships with OEMs, particularly in the commercial vehicle segment.”

Mr. Pankaj Raghbeer, CMD of Panalfa Group said: “This divestment is part of our overall group strategy to focus on its new ventures.”