Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : ‘My Home India’ – is an initiative for strengthening the unity and integrity of the country.  Since its inception, it has been actively working with a special focus on the North East.

             The main objective of My Home India is to bridge the gap between people of the North East and the rest of India. With this aim in mind, the O.N.E. (Our North East) India Award was constituted in 2010 to recognize individuals working towards a national cause for the region.

            This year O.N.E. India Award will be presented to Shri Nabam Atum, a great social worker from Arunachal Pradesh. This Award will be given at a grand function at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai on 4th June, 2012 at 6.00 p.m. at the hands of Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modiji,  Chief Minister of Gujarat. The Award has been sponsored from the beginning by Saraswat Bank. Before the Award function, Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modiji will visit the Saraswat Bank Bhavan, Prabhadevi at the express invitation of Shri Ekanath K. Thakur, Chairman, Saraswat Bank. His visit will be very special for the Bank and Shri Modiji will be accorded a special and affectionate welcome at the Bank.
            The Bank has received PAN India license from the Reserve Bank of India and now intends to have a strong presence in the North East. The O.N.E. India Award function has been sponsored by Saraswat Bank since its inception in 2010, which would help the Bank in building further relations in the North East.
          Arunachal Pradesh’s Shri Nabam Atum has served the State Government in various capacities with unmatched integrity and has had an unblemished career. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission. He was appointed to the same post twice owing to his affable nature and incessant hard work.
          He was the President of the ‘Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh’. He also played an important role in the Vivekananda Kendra and Ramakrishna Mission. He has selflessly worked to awaken people against China’s aggression and evil cross-border designs in the North East. He also undertook a padayatra to Tibet by uniting several youngsters. He has been doing selfless philanthropic service in the North East region for the past 15 years, in spite of being afflicted from the dreaded disease of cancer, he has remained devoted to the social cause.
          This is the first time that Shri Nabam Atum will be acknowledged and awarded for his selfless service in the North East.
          This Award Function will be presided by Hon’ble Shri Ekanath Thakur (Former M.P. Rajya Sabha, National President, ‘My Home India’, Chairman Saraswat Bank).

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a ‘Navratna’ Company and the ‘Central Transmission Utility (CTU)’ of the country, has posted a net profit of  Rs 1032 crore for the fourth quarter of FY 2011-12 (January-March, 2012), an increase of 37% against  Rs 751 crore reported during the corresponding quarter ended March 31, 2011.

         The Company CMD Mr R N Nayak told mediapersons here today., “Total Income (turnover) for fourth quarter (January-March, 2012), rose to  Rs 3409 crore, up 32 % from  Rs 2580 crore in the corresponding year-ago period. POWERGRID had registered a net profit of  Rs 3255 crore over a turnover of  Rs 10785 crore in the FY 2011-12, registering a growth of about 19 % in Turnover and 21 % in Net Profit compared to FY 2010-11. The Company had declared interim dividend of 8 % and has now proposed a final dividend of 13.1 % for the financial year 2011-12 against 17.5 % total dividend paid in the last financial year. At present, POWERGRID is operating about 93,000 ckt. kms. of transmission lines along with 151 Sub-stations with transformation capacity of more than 1,24,500 MVA. With the use of state-of-the- art preventive maintenance techniques, average availability of transmission system during the year 2011-12 was maintained at 99.94%.

              Mr Nayak further stated, ” The Company commissioned assets about  Rs 14,100 crore upto March 2012. Inter-regional power transmission capacity of 5600 MW was added during FY 12 enhancing the total Inter-regional transmission capacity of National Grid to about 28,000 MW. POWERGRID is the only Company in the Power Sector which has exceeded their XI plan investment target of  Rs 55,000 crore. Further, POWERGRID has also planned  Rs 1,00,000 crore capital expenditure in XII plan including  Rs 20,000 crore in FY 2012-13.

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) :  CITIZEN WATCHES India announced the launch of CITIZEN L collection for the vibrant and lively women in Mumbai today. The core philosophy of elegance; sophistication and technological mastery which are the pillars of the brand CITIZEN are present in CITIZEN L collection.

                Gorgeous actor Prachi Desai launched the Citizen L collection and was gifted the first limited edition 19 Diamonds mother-of-pearl watch. The watches are retailed at multi-brand outlets and the exclusive stores across the country.
                 Katsusuke Tokura, Managing Director, CITIZEN WATCHES India  told mediapersons here today, “Our new launch Citizen L for the active Indian women embodies CITIZEN’s innovation and progressive technology, under the product policy ‘Fusion of Technology and Beauty’ and with it we expect to bring a wave of excitement and modernization around the brand name and  enter the women’s luxury watch segment in India.”Citizen L is the latest series from CITIZEN Eco- Drive collection which is the perfect blend of beauty and technology. The Citizen L is a worry-free watch, never requiring battery replacement that brings added confidence to daily living and complements the feminine radiance of an active woman’s life. The outer ring of the Citizen L timepiece encircles the flower bud-shaped crown and the case as if protecting something of great value. The gentle slant of the ring represents the gradual changes of nature. Like pearly morning dew on a leaf, variously sized 19 diamonds set in the ring to make for a sense of glistening movement.  The time can be adjusted by loosening the outer ring and turning the crown. Tighten it back up, and set the world tickling again. 10 SKU’s of the Citizen L collection are available in India.”
         Flagship Model Price: Rs 78,000
              Visibly excited Prachi Desai who will soon be promoting her movie ‘Bol Bachchan’ said, “CITIZEN WATCHES has always been a wonderful and inspiring brand known for its quality and design. With the launch of the unique Eco-Drive Citizen L range, I am delighted to be gifted the first watch and will forever cherish this as prized possession.” 
           While unveiling the New Radio Controlled Watch, Mr.Katsusuke Tokura said “CITIZEN Eco-Drive Radio Controlled Watch is pegged as the Next Generation Revolutionary Watch as it receives standard time radio wave which can automatically correct the date & time and with the added benefit of world time function, it’s the ultimate companion for the jetsetters and frequent flyers or for those looking for the next generation in the timepiece technology.”
                      The price of the Radio Controlled watch is Rs 89,000.
             More than being a functional time keeper, watches have become fashion accessories for today’s men and women. The current size of the Indian watch market is approximately Rs. 4000 crore. Based on a recent study by Technopak the watch market in India is expected to grow between 10-15 per cent annually to become around Rs 8,500 crore in the next five years.Commenting on Prachi’s association with the brand, Mr. Takeshi Okada, General Manager, CITIZEN WATCHES India Pvt Ltd said, “Prachi Desai is a quintessential Indian woman –a blend of chic, class and beauty. We see a strong synergy between Citizen L collection brand values and Prachi Desai.”

Honor Marks TCS’ 2ndPremier Supplier Award from Recognized Leader in Global Power Management 

 Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, today announced that it received the 2011 Eaton Premier Supplier Award for the Indirect Supplier in Information Technology Services category.

              Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation honored 33 of its best suppliers at its seventh Supplier Awards Program in April at the downtown Cleveland Marriott.

           “We are proud to honor this elite group of suppliers for their outstanding service and commitment to excellence. The Premier Supplier awards are reserved for Eaton’s best suppliers across the enterprise,” said Craig Reed, Eaton senior vice president, Supply Chain Management.

             “We congratulate each of our suppliers for their efforts in establishing Eaton as a global power management company and look forward to their continuing contributions in 2012.” The award winners fall within one of two supplier categories: Direct or Indirect Materials and Services. Direct Materials suppliers are those which provide goods used directly in the making of products (e.g. steel, bearings, seals, castings); Indirect Materials and Services suppliers provide goods or services to support plant production and maintenance or office services (e.g. cutting fluid, maintenance repair, office supplies, travel services).

            “TCS is delighted to be honored with the Eaton Premier Supplier Award in the Indirect Supplier for Information Technology Services,” said Milind Lakkad, TCS’ Global Head of manufacturing.  TCS and Eaton have had a long and very productive relationship and as this valuable partnership continues to grow, TCS remains committed to providing Eaton with the capabilities and support it needs to be successful in all its endeavors.”

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : Ms. Virginia Casale – International President, Union Internationale des Concierge d’Hôtels & Chief Concierge of Sofitel, Montreal Canada visit to the 6 thAnnual General Meeting, Pinning Ceremony of the Golden Keys & Networking Eve of the Les Clefs d’Or India being held in Mumbai on 18th& 19th May 2012.

         The aim of this Annual General Meeting & Networking Evening is to globalize
through the network of our organization. Ms. Virginia Casale was the guest of
honour for the event accompanied by Mr. Simon Thomas – 3rd Vice President, Union
Internationale des Concierge d’Hôtels & Chief Concierge of Brown hotel, London UK.

        The inauguration and General Assembly was hosted by The Taj Mahal Palace,
Mumbai on the 18th May, 2012. The same evening we had the Pinning Ceremony
for our new Full & Adherent Members along with our networking evening for our
Associate Members and Managements of our Member Hotels across the country which was hosted by Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

Following are the General Managers who were felicitated by Les Clefs d’Or India with Certificate of Appreciation.

1) Ms Birgit Zorniger GM Taj Lands End, Mumbai

2) Mr Sanju Soni GM Trident Nariman Point, Mumbai

3) Mr Romil Ratra GM InterContinental Marine Drive, Mumbai

4) Mr Gaurav Pokhriyal GM Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

5) Mr Biswajit Chakraborty GM The Leela, Mumbai

6) Mr David Hopcroft GM Shangrila Eros, New Delhi

7) Mr Digvijay Singh GM Taj Mahal, New Delhi

8) Mr Taljinder Singh GM Taj Palace, New Delhi

9) Mr Kapil Chopra EVP Oberoi, Gurgaon

& for the UICH Honorary Member was awarded to Mr. Devendra Bharma (Executive Vice President of The Oberoi Group)

            The Bengaluru region, since its inception has strongly believed in creating awareness about Les Clefs d’Or and also has continuously strived to upgrade the Concierge services we offer to enhance the overall experience to our guests. We currently have 19 active members from various star hotels of the city like The Oberoi, Taj Westend, ITC Windsor, ITC Gardenia, Movenpick Hotel & Spa, Vivanta by Taj, The Leela Palace, Sheraton, The Lalit Ashok, Novotel, Chancery pavilion and many more. With two members being inducted to the society of Golden Keys as Adherent & full members at the recently concluded AGM in Mumbai; Bengaluru now has six adherent members and one full key member. The members of the association meet once a month to share and discuss about all the activities of the other regions
and also is involved in planning the growth and development of the association in South. With the rapid infrastructural development happening in the city; the city will soon play host to several new five star brands such as Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, JW Marriot, Shangri La, Hilton, Courtyard and many more. And these new properties opening in the coming years, we plan to strengthen our presence by having more members from all these upcoming hotels in the city.

              The region is slowly gaining momentum day by day and is now following the footsteps of the Western &  Northern region by moving one step ahead & deciding to launch the city map of Bengaluru region soon. There has also been no compromise on our efforts to expand the Les Clefs d’Or presence in the country by fostering and motivating some of the budding Concierges from our city and also the neighbouring
cities like Mysore & Chennai, by urging each one of them to be a part of this growing association.

            I have been deeply inspired and motivated by the fabulous job done by all our seniors and fellow colleagues from the Western & Northern region in the past by bringing our association to this level today. I would to take this opportunity to thank Mr Steve Fernandez, Mr Rajesh Yadav, Mr Albert John, Mr Michael Fernandez, Mr Shaunak Vengurlekar, Mr Satish Gaikwad, Ms Delna Karbhari and many others who have constantly supported me in each and every step I have taken in the past. I consider myself fortunate and it is with great appreciation I would like to personally thank our president Mr Edwin Saldana and Mr Albert Amanna who have been my motivator, guide and mentor throughout. Personally Mr Edwin Saldana has been a great source of inspiration to me. With continued support & guidance from all the members, I hope the Bengaluru region grows in the field of Concierge as an
association of leading Concierges in the country like other regions already have.

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd, world’s largest integrated manufacturer of food antioxidants, today said that its net profit on audited standalone basis increased to Rs 10.14 crore in FY 12 as compared to Rs 6.66 crore in the same period last year.
              The company’s net sales also increased to Rs 251.75 crore in FY 12 as against Rs 161.62 crore in FY 11, a company statement said here. The company said that it has posted profit before tax of Rs 16.44 crore, EBIDTA of Rs. 39.13 crore and its sales/income from operations have grown by 56.31 percent in FY 12.
            The company posted net sales of Rs 74.06 crore in Q4 FY 12 as against Rs 51.98 crore in Q4 FY 11. However, the net profit declined to Rs 1.27 crore in the quarter ended March 2012 as against Rs 2.73 crore in the corresponding same period last year.
           The year under review for food antioxidants TBHQ and BHA was a challenging one due to the pricing volatility of key raw material; hydroquinone, the release said.
           The company has registered a high growth in extremely volatile market situation and increased its market share of food antioxidants in FY 12. This was possible by the focused approach on the stability of supplies and prices to the customers. The backward integration due to acquisition of an Italian company Borregaard Italia S.p.A. helped the company to ensure competitive pricing of key raw material, it said.
            The company’s business strategy was focused on developing down- stream products from HQ and Catechol having applications in the food and industrial segments. 
            Camlin Fine Sciences created two major business divisions, namely, food and industrial products. These divisions were created to bring a sharper focus on developing diphenol down stream products. This strategic change has resulted in significant increase in market share of both food and industrial products.
            The company also in the year under review, developed four new Diphenol down- stream products namely Vanillin, a flavor and aroma chemical having applications in the food industry.
             The company’s future plans include building upon its core strength in the food segment by expanding its basket of products and to emerge as a leading food ingredient and solution providing company to the food industry in the coming years.
            The company is also in the process of setting up additional distillation facility for enhancing its capacity of its existing and new products. This facility is expected to be commissioned in the first half of the financial year 2012-13.
            The company is also developing a basket of new ingredients to be added in the areas of bakery, confectionery, dairy and beverages industry, the release said.

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : In a First of its kind, Sankalp group has launched India’s First Zero Carbon Village – CORAL VILLAGE with Ultra-Luxurious Villas at Malvan, Sidhudurg district of Maharashtra.
            Spread over 47 acres, the First phase of 80 Villas spread over 10 Acres will be priced over Rs 2 crore each will be ready by 2014 while the total project of 180 Villas will be ready for occupancy by 2016.
            Appraised by Bank of India, the pre-rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum green project has already fully developed Two Villas and Four more are under construction while the rest will be developed in cluster of 4-10 villas.
             CORAL VILLAGE, Sankalp Group Chairman and Managing Director Bhushan Satam told mediapersons here today,  “ The project is being constructed with 6% cement contribution compared to the conventional 22% and we are generating our own power of 4 MW through non-conventional resources to keep the construction methodology totally green.”
             The construction is being undertaken in such a way that the internal temperature and humidity is kept at bay by the porosity of the clay block walls crafted from the nearest mines. The plaster is imported from Istanbul, made from 100% recycled glass fibre granules which offers a beautiful white texture, Satam said.
              Awarded the most innovative Eco-Friendly Project in India at the prestigious property awards 2011 organised by the UBM group, the project in 510 km away from Mumbai in Sidhudurg district, which shares its border with Goa state.
            “In India there is no concept of Zero Carbon Village yet. However, with our Coral project at Wayri Village, near Tarkarli Beach in Malvan, Sidhudurg, we are committed to make it completely carbon emission free through our policies and initiatives,” Satam added.
 
All the villas are available on outright sale with an option of renting it back to the company.
 
The project will provide an impetus to the local economy through employment of around 300 persons, which will be highest by a private firm in the district, Satam said.
 
The Sankalp Group is exploring similar land parcels in prominent and upcoming destinations in Maharashtra in particular and other destinations across the country in general to replicate the success story of Zero – Carbon Village.

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : Indians now have an ally in the fight against painful and unsightly varicose veins, with a new minimally invasive medical technology called the VNUS Closure™ procedure.

          The procedure offers patients fewer side effects and a faster recovery when compared to certain alternative treatments[1],2.The VNUS Closure procedure is a clinically proven, minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous reflux, with little or no pain. It requires a small incision at the insertion site and the vein is sealed with radiofrequency heat.

        Dr. Sriram Narayanan, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, told mediapersons here today, “Varicose veins are a common problem in India and are on the rise due to less active lifestyles. Minimally invasive surgery, such as the VNUS Closure procedure, offers a fast, safe and effective way of treating varicose veins. It combines the speed of laser treatments with the favorable treatment profile of radiofrequency heat. Not only have we seen patients benefit from a better cosmetic outcome, which includes minimal bruising, but they can also typically resume normal activities within one day.”

   Dr. Paresh R. Pai, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, also stated, “Patient care is our highest priority.  Procedures such as the VNUS Closure are instrumental in helping us fulfill our goal of offering patients the latest advancements in medical technology. We are proud to offer a new kind of surgery that continues to transform the minimally invasive arena, resulting in even better experiences for patients.”

           Varicose veins are most often swollen, protruding veins that occur in the legs, ankles and feet. Venous reflux disease is the underlying cause of varicose veins, and develops when the valves that keep blood flowing out of the legs and back to the heart become damaged or diseased. This may cause varicose veins as well as pain, swollen limbs and leg heaviness. Numerous factors can increase the risk for developing varicose veins, including family history, age, gender, obesity, multiple pregnancies or long periods of standing.In a randomized clinical trial, radiofrequency ablation, used in the VNUS Closure procedure, was proven to be as effective as vein stripping but with fewer side effects and faster recovery[2]. Vein stripping has been the traditional treatment for venous reflux disease and is an open surgical procedure that requires multiple incisions and the diseased vein to be pulled out of the leg.

 Mobile Phones favorite device, followed by Gaming Consoles, Tablets

Mumbai, (Ajay Rawal) : India’s “Generation Y” is fast changing the communication paradigm by quickly adopting new modes of networking using social platforms like Facebook, Twitter as well as tools like instant messaging and chat, according to the findings of The TCS GenY survey 2011-12 which was released today.

              The findings of India’s largest survey of over 12,300 high school students across 12 Indian cities reveals that smart devices and online access are making GenY “instant connectors”. This is transforming the way tomorrow’s professionals are conducting their academic and social lives.  THE TOP 10 YOUTH I.T. TRENDS IN 2011 Top 10 Trends  % Use Facebook 85 Accesses Net from Home 84 Own Mobiles 79 Uses Internet for school related Research 74 Owns and Access Net through PC 68 Uses internet for Chat /connect  68 Makes  voice calls to communicate 59 Respondents using Emails as tools of communication 45 Prefers IT as first option as a career 34 Spends more than an hour on Internet everyday 33 

          Commenting on the TCS Survey, N Chandrasekaran, CEO and MD said: “Combination of more bandwidth, availability of smart devices and the surging popularity of social networks is changing the way India’s high school students conduct their academic and social lives. As significant employers of India’s talented youth, we need to understand how to leverage these social trends to create engaging careers for tomorrow’s professionals.” Releasing the survey, Ajoy Mukherjee, Executive Vice President and Global Head HR said: “The survey highlights the increasing relevance of concepts like social networks and gaming can be used to drive collaboration, creativity and productivity among young employees inside the enterprise. This can help keep GenY professionals engaged and energized through their careers.”

Announces offer for guests to commemorate airline’s birthday  Fly to SpiceJet network @ just Rs 777

New Delhi, (Ajay Rawal) :  SpiceJet Ltd, India’s most preferred budget airline, today announces an offer for all its guests buying tickets on May 23, 2012, marking the completion of 7 successful years of operation.To celebrate its Birthday, SpiceJet is offering a special base fare of just Rs 777 (excluding govt. taxes) for booking tickets on any of its network. On this special fare, fuel surcharge will not be charged. The bookings for these special fares will be open on 23rd May 2012 at 7am and last till 77 minutes.

             These can be booked through our website www.spicejet.com, our Toll Free Reservation at 1800 180 3333 / 0987 180 3333 or our ticketing counters at the airport.Reiterating SpiceJet’s mission, Chief Executive Officer Neil Mills said, “Our mission is to become India’s preferred low-cost airline, delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value, to price sensitive consumers. We hope to fulfill everyone’s dream of flying. We are thankful to all the thousands of flyers, who prefer SpiceJet as their airline of choice and invite them to enjoy this special offer on our 7th birthday.”SpiceJet Ltd began its commercial operations on May 23rd 2005 and has become people’s choice of airline during this journey. 

            Today, the airline has over 17% of market share in the domestic market. On an average over 36,000 guests prefer to fly and enjoy the hospitability of SpiceJet everyday.With India’s economic and business growth, the percentage of traveling population is burgeoning. More and more Indians are traveling for both business and pleasure and everyone needs to save both time and money. SpiceJet’s vision is to address that and ensure that flying is for everyone.