ACK pays tribute to the man who played an invaluable role as naturalist & ornithologist

 Mumbai, (GNS) : ‘Salim Ali – The Bird Man of India’ is the new title from Amar Chitra Katha’s bag to salute Dr Salim Ali, the man who brought the natural world closer to people. Dr. Asad Rahmani, Director of Bombay Natural History society launched the new title at Hornbill house in the presence of other wildlife enthusiasts. 
            For ACK Media, the leading Education and Entertainment Company for children, this has been an opportunity to acquaint young readers with a man who is an icon for all those who believe in the protection and conservation of the natural world.

          According to Ms. Reena Puri, Editor- Amar Chitra Katha, “ACK Media is proud to associate with Bombay Natural History society in launching this title. She further adds, “Amar Chitra Katha has had stories from mythology, history and literature. We have not done anything on natural history. Wildlife and its conservation are a very important part of contemporary thought. With Salim Ali we make a beginning and hope to write more about people and movements associated with this subject.”
        While launching the book, Dr. Asad Rahmani, Director of Bombay Natural History Society said, “We are very proud to launch the Amar Chitra Katha title on Salim Ali and thank ACK Media for this initiative. Salim Ali is one of the early conservationists, whom we associate most with  conservation and the environment in India. When Salim Ali was only a child, he got his first lesson in ornithology from WS Millard, then the secretary of the BNHS. Millard helped him identify a Yellow-throated sparrow. Over the years, Salim Ali’s interest in birds led to his close association with the BNHS. After Independence, he was among those who wrote to the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru asking for financial assistance  to support BNHS. He conducted surveys, and studied birds across the country, providing the foundation upon which a lot of today’s naturalists work,” 
                The new Amar Chitra Katha title, Salim Ali – The Bird Man of India portrays the noted  ornithologist as someone completely passionate about birds and nature. It narrates the story of the man who had no thought for money, fame, comfort or even safety, as he went about single-mindedly trying to learn as much about the birds of India as he could. Salim Ali’s systematic surveys and fascinating books on Indian birds introduced thousands of people to the wealth of the natural world around them. He demonstrated that one doesn’t need to have any expensive equipment to learn about a bird — just time, patience, and a willingness to listen, observe and think.
 
            It took 8 months to complete the new title on Dr. Salim Ali. Speaking about her extensive research scriptwriter, Shalini Srinivasan highlights, “I referred to his autobiography, The fall of a sparrow and other books like Salim Ali for Schools — by Zai Whittaker; Salim Ali- India’s Birdman — by Reena Dutta Gupta. Thorough discussions with his relatives Laeeq and Zafar Futehally who have also worked with him and the BNHS and environmentalists Vijayan and Gadgil also helped me a lot in knowing about him. We also referred to BNHS archival material from the library for our research for the script”.
 
             The Amar Chitra Katha title on Salim Ali – The Bird Man of India will be available at all book stores and stands from 26th April  @ Rs.50/-. Also available on the app store.

Globally acclaimed brand now set to launch their collection in association with Twenty One Forever Studio Pvt. Ltd.

Mumbai (Ajay Rawal) : Sanrio Co., Ltd., headquartered in South San Francisco, CA. world-wide designer and distributor of character-branded stationery, school supplies, gifts, and accessories and also the creators of Hello Kitty, have now ventured in to the apparels market in India. Sanrio Co., Ltd., will be launching ‘Hello Kitty Apparel’ in association with Twenty One Fashion Studio Pvt Ltd, as their sole licensee and distributors.

       Hello Kitty had entered India in 2011 with Twenty One Fashion Studio Pvt Ltd, the sole licensee and distributor for Sanrio products. Sanrio’s best known character is Hello Kitty, one of the most successful marketing brands in the world.

           Twenty One Fashion Studio Pvt Ltd, a Sharaf Group venture is the holder of Hello Kitty Licence for Apparels, Accessories, Toys and Games, Footwear, Watches, Health and Beauty, Bed and Bath, Food and Beverages, and Furniture for the territory of India.  Muthukumar the CEO of the company has recently taken over. They have launched the Autumn Winter collections 2012 for Indian and overseas market.

        Hello Kitty is one of Japan’s unique cultural exports, and one of the ultimate symbols of Kawaii, meaning cute in Japanese. Three decades since she made her debut on a small coin purse in Japan, her popularity has multiplied exponentially from Japan to the world. This character has relied solely on her charms to build herself into global phenomenon she is today.

          From stationery and toys, Hello Kitty has extended her collection and taken to a very fashionable level by introducing the new apparel collection. Hello Kitty apparel collection in India will add a little magic to the young one’s wardrobe with vast range of Hello kitty collections which will definitely make you say, “Fashion is fun with Hello Kitty”.

          Hello Kitty apparel consists of various themes to choose from. Wall of fame, L’amour vintage, Arctic fever.L’il wild things &‘Ethnicity’. The super cute collection of Hello Kitty includes tops, t-shirts, short and long sleeve tees, hoodies, sweatshirts and much more.  ‘Wall of Fame’ collection is for typical Hello Kitty junkies with shorts, hoodies and jumpsuits and skirts. ‘L’amour vintage’ is full of check prints, frilly skirts for girls and light denim washes. ‘Artic fever’ defines cuteness, the collection has synthetic fur hoodies, puffy jackets and draw string pants. ‘L’il wild things’ as the name suggests has lots of colors and edgy styles for the wild little ones. ‘Ethnicity’ is for good children, as we say it! It has lot of matching color combinations sticking to the pinks and purples for the princesses and classic blues for the brat and are introducing Premium party collections.  To give local flavor for an international character, they have introduced Hello Kitty lehanga sets. The company also plans to introduce international hello kitty licensees products on various segments covering the lifestyle for a girl.  For any distribution related inquires you could contact at sanrioindia@sharafretail.com

         Hello Kitty was born in London in 1974. Through these years, she has become one of the most unique and interesting icon ever created – a worldwide social icon with relevance to women of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds as well as an inspiration to artists and designers. Her motto says: You can never have too many friends.

Mumbai, (GNS) : Tata Group Innovation Forum (TGIF) announced the winners of the Tata Innovista 2012, at an awards ceremony held in Mumbai, last evening.

      Tata Innovista is a Group-wide programme held annually to encourage, recognise and showcase outstanding innovations done by Tata companies across the globe. From 282 entries from 44 Tata companies in 2008 to 2,852 entries from 71 Tata companies in 2012, Tata Innovista has grown exponentially, signifying a growing culture of innovation and risk-taking in the Tata Group.

     59 Tata companies from India and 12 from overseas participated in the regional rounds of Tata Innovista 2012, to qualify for the global round. The entries at the regional rounds, held in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, London, New Jersey, Thailand and Shanghai, were reviewed by eminent external experts. 94 teams from 28 Tata companies were shortlisted for the global round. The finalists were judged by a panel of internal and external jury, comprising of distinguished personalities.

 In the finals, awards were given under three categories:

·         Promising Innovations – Most successfully implemented innovations during the year with sub-categories of Product innovations, Service innovations, Core Process innovations and Support Process innovations. 1060 entries were received under this category. The awards went to:

o    Product innovations: Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel Europe

o    Service innovations: Tata Technologies

o    Core Process innovations: Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel Europe

o    Support Process innovations: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited

·         The Leading Edge – Most promising business ideas for the future with sub-categories of most innovative Unproven Idea which has potential for the future and, a new sub category, most innovative Proven Technology that is developed and piloted, but is yet to be commercialised.1705 entries were received under the category. The awards went to:

o    Unproven Idea – Two entries from Tata Chemicals won in this category

o    Proven Technology – Tata Steel Europe, Tata Steel and Jaguar Land Rover

·         Dare To Try – Most novel, daring and seriously attempted ideas that did not achieve the desired results. This award is given to encourage a culture of risk-taking, perseverance and sharing openly. The 2012 edition received 87 entries under this category. The award went to:

o    Rallis India

          In 2006, the Tata Group started the process of capturing & celebrating innovations of Tata companies through Tata Innovista. The objective of this programme is to capture innovations in Tata companies, encourage innovators and innovations in Tata companies, share the levers used by them to identify and execute innovation projects, and to create a culture of risk-taking. In order to support Tata companies in their journey of innovation, TQMS, a division of Tata Sons, formed the Tata Group Innovation Forum (TGIF) in 2007. The objective of TGIF is to encourage, inspire and help create a culture that promotes innovation in Tata companies. Over the past five years, TQMS, under the guidance of TGIF, has been connecting Tata companies all over the world, stimulating innovative thinking and encouraging collaborative research.

Announces the future plans towards achieving the Motto of “Educating The Girl Child” ~

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), an exclusive women’s wing of the prestigious national organization FICCI, today announced Ms Renu Kathuria, Managing Director, Carl F International, world leaders in handrail and balustrade systems, as the Chairperson of FLO, Mumbai Chapter, for the
year 2012 – 13  at a ‘Change of Guard’ event held on April 26,2012 at Mumbai.

Present at the event were known figures from across different strata of Indian society along with the noted actors, Ms Lillete Dubey & Mr. Sachin Khedekar, an Indian actor and director, best known for his role as Subhash Chandra Bose in Shyam Benegal’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero and the latest in the list being Chhodo
Kal ki Baatein.

The event started with the welcome note followed by the Lighting of the Lamp by the key members. A musical ballet was presented by “ Dhawal Doshi -The dans skool ” depicting women’s life followed by a speech from Ms. Kiran Gera – Founder of FLO Bombay and a word from Ms Sucheta Shah, Past Chairperson 2011-12, FICCI FLO Bombay Chapter. With this the Change of Guard Ceremony took place presenting medals to the new executive team.

Speaking on the occasion of the ‘Change of Guard’ event Ms Kathuria said “Am honored at being conferred a position of such stature. Following on lines of FICCI FLO’s goal of women empowerment at various levels, across different strata of Indian society, I will try and mobilize women power at FLO this year and garner more visibility for our organization so as to increase the manpower support in the
causes that we truly believe in and stand for.”

Ms Renu Kathuria is also a member of other renowned organizations like Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Indo Danish Business Association, EEPC (Engineering Export Promotion Council), and CSR- Jury member on awards for CSR.

The event also felicitated “High Places Management” for supporting the cause of FICCI FLO to build toilets for girls in Tamhini School at Tamhini Village, Mulshi Taluka, and Pune District & Adarwadi – Zilla Parishad School in Raigad District. Also Felicitated Ms. Sneha Pandit from Bharatiya Stree Shakti & Superior Sister Magdalita from Ashadaan – Mother Teresa’s Home for their work and commitment
towards the underprivileged and concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms Parvathy Ramaswamy, Sr .Vice Chairperson, 2012-13.

  Samsung  bags the award for the second consecutive year

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) :  Digital Technology Leader, Samsung Electronics, was awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock Award 2012 for its CSR program, Samsung Hope Project for the second consecutive year.

         The Golden Peacock Award was given away by H.E. Humaid Mohamed Obaid Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Education and Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Chairman, Institute of Directors and former Chief Justice of India to Ms. Ruchika Batra, GM-Corporate Communications, Samsung South West Asia HQ in the presence of eminent leaders from the industry. The Award recognizes the Company’s CSR initiatives in the areas of Education, Sports, Arts & Culture. 

     Mr. B D Park, President & CEO, South West Asia HQ, Samsung Electronics and MD,  Samsung India stated, “We are proud to receive the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for our CSR  program, Samsung Hope Project for the second consecutive year. At Samsung, we are committed to giving back to the community and our projects in the areas of education, culture, sports and community development are aimed at making a positive difference in the lives of the beneficiaries.” 

       Samsung Hope Project represents Samsung Corporate Social responsibility initiatives in the area of Education, Culture, Community Development and Sports. Some of the Company’s initiatives in the area of education include running e-learning centers in different parts of the country; Samsung Wheels of Hope, a mobile computer lab that gives children studying in government and government aided schools access to internet and Notebooks/tablets and Scholarship programs. Samsung is also running the Samsung Innovation Award with IITs in Delhi, Mumbai, Roorkee and Kanpur.  Samsung has recently partnered with two NGOs – Smile Foundation in Delhi and AID India in Tamil Nadu to provide quality education to underprivileged kids. Under the ‘Samsung SuperKidz Program’ children from 100 villages in Tamil Nadu will benefit from AID India’s vast experience and will learn Tamil, English, Math and Science through innovative teaching techniques. Mission Education, established in the year 2003, is the flag ship programme of Smile Foundation.

             The programme reaches out to more than 12000 children across 19 states in India. Through Samsung’s support, Smile Foundation will reach out to children at two centres in New Delhi and Noida. The program will enroll children in the age group of 6-16 years in bridge courses and enable them to get mainstreamed in formal schools. Samsung Hope for Children Project: Since our founding in 1969, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has worked with passion and purpose to actively serve as a generous and ethical corporate citizen everywhere we operate. Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare. By supplying Samsung products, lending our expertise and providing financial support, we’re able to give thousands of children in communities around the world access to education, mentorship, leadership skills and life-saving medical treatment. It is one of the ways in which Samsung uses our innovation to create a better world.

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : New Silk Route (NSR), today, announced an investment of Rs. 175 crore in Hubli-based logistics company VRL Logistics Ltd. Out of the total capital infusion, Rs. 125 Crores will be utilized by VRL to expedite its growth plan and expand its businesses to reach out to millions of people across the country and balance Rs. 50 Crores towards the stake dilution of the existing shareholders of the Company. This is the maiden fund raise in the company’s 35 year history.

           “We see a tremendous potential for growth and have complete faith in VRL’s differentiated operating model, which has helped it in maintaining a constant track record under the leadership of Vijay Sankeshwar and Anand Sankeshwar, the promoters of the company.  In addition, we believe that the infrastructure and logistics segment in India will grow exponentially in the next couple of years and this partnership helps us to further strengthen our infrastructure portfolio”, says Darius Pandole, Partner at New Silk Route who would be joining VRL Logistics as a Director on their Board.

          “We were in talks with other PE firms as well, however, we chose to partner with New Silk Route as it brought strong industry expertise with experienced partners who have led other companies in this sector. NSR has track record of working with management teams of various companies to successfully deliver results. The investment is not only about raising capital, which would help us meet our growth needs, but also build the foundation of a lasting partnership,” says Vijay Sankeshwar, the Chairman and Managing Director, VRL Logistics Ltd.

          NSR has a history of investment in consumer consumption driven sectors like healthcare, education, retail and infrastructure and has invested in 14 portfolio companies including 9X Media, Ascend Telecom, Destimoney, Nectar Lifesciences among others. VRL Logistics is listed in the Limca Book of Records as the largest single owner of commercial vehicles in the private sector in India. For the fiscal 2011, the Company clocked a total income of ` Rs. 893 crores and recorded industry leading profits.  SMC Capitals was the sole financial advisor to VRL Logistics on the transaction.

MUMBAI,(Ajay Rawal) : The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) today posted a 16 percent rise in its net profit to Rs 675 crore in the last financial year up from Rs 582 crore previous fiscal.  Total business crossed Rs 1 trillion during the reporting year.
       Exim Bank CMD TCA Ranganathan told mediapersons here today, “We have seen sound growth in our net profit and loan assets in the last financial year despite a difficult economic conditions. The Exim Bank saw an 18 percent growth in its loan assets to Rs 54,530 crore in FY12. “We expect to continue this momentum in the current financial year as far as our loan growth is concerned.Net interest margin (NIM) improved to 2.17 percent in FY12 up from 2.07 percent.”

Capital to risk asset ratio was at Rs 16.44 percent in FY12.

According to the bank, the bank has extended line of credit (LoC) aggregating USD 1,499 million (around Rs 7,500 crore) in FY12 and project export contracts of Rs 22,975 crore during this period.

The bank has also extended assistance of Rs 4,178 crore to 54 corporates as part of the overseas investment financing in 23 countries during the last fiscal.

Referring to borrowing programme in the current fiscal, Ranganathan said the bank will borrow around USD 3-4 billion in foreign currency and the similar amount in the domestic currency.

The bank raised borrowings of varying maturities aggregating Rs 27,630 crore in FY12, out of which foreign currency loans stood at Rs 13,333 crore.

“I don’t think cost of borrowing is going to be higher after yesterday’s S&P rating update. Also, it is too premature to gauge an impact due to such development at this point of time,” he said.

Singapore, (Ajay Rawal) : Taking Indian Cinema to glorious pinnacles beyond national shores, and across four continents and 10 countries, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) today announced that the 13th IIFA Weekend and Awards will be held in Singapore from 7th – 9th June 2012. 

          Having left an indelible footprint in China, Europe, the Middle East, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Canada over the last 12 years, the Videocon IIFA Weekend 2012 is gearing up for three days of action-packed,  celebrations in the Lion City. Presented by Videocon Industries and Wizcraft International Entertainment and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, the much-anticipated IIFA celebrations were heralded in Singapore today by superstars Anil Kapoor and Bipasha Basu. Over the years, IIFA has emerged as the most prestigious platform recognizing excellence in the Indian film industry. Year on year, the biggest names of Indian cinema congregate at the IIFA Weekend and Awards to celebrate the best contribution made to the world of films in the previous year. IIFA is a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories. It also establishes a symbiotic relationship between India and the host country in areas such as tourism, culture and trade. 

               Friend of IIFA, Mr. Anil Kapoor said, “With the promise of bringing the best and the biggest of events to its viewers in a manner that’s unique and entertaining, the IIFA Weekend and Awards have today become an iconic platform that the world respects. It has been my pleasure to be associated with IIFA for over a decade and once again, on behalf of IIFA and the Indian film industry, we commit to give our audience in Singapore the opportunity to witness one of the finest celebrations of culture and cinema ever held.”

            Mr. Pradeep Dhoot, Director – Videocon Group says “Videocon and IIFA share a common vision to showcase India across the globe. Videocon is a household name and India’s No. 1 brand of Consumer Electronics and Home Appliance that iss driven by the philosophy of innovation and customer centricity. Our brand is trusted by millions on our ability to improve their quality of life, through our wide range of products and highly-efficient customer service. Videocon is delighted to be associated with the Videocon IIFA Weekend for the fourth year in a row.”

           After its successful staging in 2004, IIFA returns for the second time to the island nation, making it only the third nation to host the IIFA celebrations twice. IIFA 2004 witnessed a contingent of over 450 stars, celebrities, cricketers, industrialists and government leaders over the festive weekend. The impact of IIFA Singapore was experienced across tourism influx, investments into Singapore and closer ties between India and Singapore.

          Long-time IIFA supporter, Ms. Bipasha Basu said, “IIFA is the most respected cinema Awards and something I look forward to every year. Having performed at several IIFAs, I know the Videocon IIFA Weekend celebrations to be simply outstanding. It’s a great opportunity for me to be here in Singapore personally to represent Indian Cinema on such a global platform. I’m sure that this year’s IIFA will be a phenomenal success.”

           Wiz Sabbas Joseph, Director, Wizcraft International Entertainment said, “Our focus is to showcase the best of Indian cinema to the world. With the unparalleled success of IIFA Singapore in 2004 we are back here to relive the magic. We have only just opened the Wizcraft Event Management operations in Singapore and are delighted to showcase our most prestigious creation, IIFA once again in Singapore. We hope that the IIFAs help bring India and Singapore closer together.”

            A destination as colourful and warm as Indian Cinema itself, Singapore has been a popular location for filming and the screening of Indian films. Singapore is multi-cultural and cosmopolitan with stunning architecture, a vibrant arts scene, vast gastronomic draw, strong trade relations and also has a significant population comprising the South Asian diaspora making it an ideal destination to host the IIFA.          

                   Mr. Nitin Vaidya, Business Head, Hindi Channels, STAR India said, “For years, STAR Plus and IIFA have showcased Indian cinema across the global stage. It is with great pride that we announce bringing the Awards to Singapore. There’s a genuine appreciation and huge following for Indian cinema in Singapore and this is complemented by the large Indian-origin population in the city state. We look forward to another magnificent event this year with IIFA 2012.”Come June 7th – 9th, Bollywood fans in Singapore will have a chance to get up close and personal with their favourites from the world of Indian Cinema. The celebrations have only begun at IIFA 2012 and there is a long list of surprises lined up for the audience globally! The IIFA Weekend is presented by Videocon and the prestigious night of nights, the IIFA Awards will be broadcast globally on Star Plus, for the 7th year running.

An online playground aimed at providing an innovative interactive platform for young minds, enabling them to have fun, learn & interact all at the same time

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : Anibrain Studios, a leading Indian VFX facility, unveiled their online children’s platform www.mocomi.com yesterday. With a vision to create an online space for Indian kids, their parents and educators to have fun, learn, and interact, the site aims at cultivating young minds using the power of technology.

          This web portal provides a world class platform that caters to the needs of all kids and families irrespective of their geographical background. Here one can find activity ideas, experience a variety of interactive educational programming ranging from science, culture, history, entertainment, etc and play games. CEO & Founder Jesh Krishna Murthy highlighted, “We wanted to create an ecosystem keeping in mind the interests of Indian kids and families. In a digital age where children have access to content on multiple platforms, it is imperative for them to have an online space focused on fun & self-expression.”

           Mocomi defines itself as a place where your child can experience the joys of growing up, and where parents and educators can find content that enhances their respective experiences of parenting and educating. Mocomi has been overwhelmed with a positive response from children, parents and teachers since they launched their beta version to select focus groups. By word-of-mouth alone, the number of unique visitors rose considerably higher than that of the sample group itself. Their fresh approach and original content has caught the eye of users worldwide including institutions like NGOs, schools and educational associations who have already begun to request collaborative endeavours.

        Speaking about the initial response to Mocomi, Jesh said, “Our team has been working for over a year on piecing together this platform. Getting positive feedback is just an incredible feeling. We are humbled by the response we have received from parents and teachers across India and countries as far as the United States, Japan & Australia. We aim to keep innovating and adding great content for our ever-growing Mocomi family. Our goal is to bring relevant and free programming to every child cutting across social demographics, language & the myriad cultures that exist in this part of the world.”