Category Archives: World Opinion

‘Entrepreneurs should be dreamers, and they should dream big’

Business & Economy, Nri's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion

FOR MEET-- Gurram Srinivas Reddy, TEA founder. .PHOTO: BY ARRANGMENT
FOR MEET– Gurram Srinivas Reddy, TEA founder. .PHOTO: BY ARRANGMENT

Entrepreneurship is the buzzword now and Indians, unfortunately, have not made much impact on this front despite possessing sufficient knowledge and making huge strides in the IT sector across the world.

Gurram Srinivas Reddy, a first generation entrepreneur who formed Telugu Entrepreneurs’ Association (TEA) in the U.S. to promote entrepreneurs among Telugus, recently received Excellence Award at the North America Telugu Association (NATA), 2014 meet. A Hyderabadi by heart, he tells R. Ravikanth Reddy that its time engineering colleges provide platform to encourage entrepreneurs among students than just churning out degree holders.

How should engineering or management students go about developing entrepreneurship skills while in college?

First they should offer more courses in entrepreneurship and then conduct workshops by inviting industry experts in chosen fields. Invite first generation entrepreneurs as a motivational speakers and role models.

No, there has to be a paradigm shift in the approach of the educational institutions. An institution can create such environment just like Telugu Entrepreneurs’ Association (TEA) does by inviting open competition for students to prepare business plans, preparing best business practices, inviting bankers and venture capitalists to institutions as judges of those business plans. This will give an opportunity for students to interact with experts. TEA does all these activities as part of fostering entrepreneurship among Telugus around the world on a regular basis.

Entrepreneurs have to be a dreamers and when they dream, they have to dream big. There a big difference between businessmen and entrepreneurs. A businessman always thinks of profit. Most of them are not dreamers and there won’t be much of innovation in what they do. On the other hand, entrepreneurs always come up with new ideas and their approach always deals with improving peoples’ or end users’ lives.

If you take last 20 years, new innovations in Information Technology have helped in improving productivity and changing the loves of end users or customers. There is so much productivity growth in many industry sectors and all this was possible because of the entrepreneurs.

For example, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple, Micheal Dell of Dell computers, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook have several things in common, they all are young and they wanted to change the world using technology to help all the human beings. They also started their entrepreneurial activity at a very young age. They had some idea about their products and they worked on it day and night without giving up. Also, they never lost focus or hope and started developing their products from their garages and they did whatever it took. None of these people have rich background.

All the students must do internship in their chosen industry as part of their course. By doing this, students will have firsthand experience out there in the real world and they will know dos and don’ts of the entrepreneurship.

There is no instant success to anything that we do. One should have a complete belief and trust in himself no matter what they go through. They should just move on. One should have the tenacity, perseverance and stubbornness to make it happen.

The mistake is to not dream, to not have self confidence, discipline, self control, developing skills, and to not have proper role models as they do not read bios of some of these successful entrepreneurs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / August 17th, 2014

Indian doctors to open hospital in Guinea

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Uday Rachakonda and A.M.V. Sai Kumar feel that a fool-proof screening programme for Ebola virus is vital at entry points. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
Uday Rachakonda and A.M.V. Sai Kumar feel that a fool-proof screening programme for Ebola virus is vital at entry points. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu

Owners of Livewell Healthcare struck PPP deal with Conakry to revive govt. medical centre

Even amid the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, two Hyderabad-based doctors plan to open a hospital in the Guinean capital of Conakry, where the first case of the virus was reported in February. In a public-private partnership, A.M.V. Sai Kumar and Uday Rachakonda have entered into an agreement with the Government of Guinea to revive, operate and manage the local government hospital Jean Paul II.

The doctors, who have floated Livewell Healthcare, have obtained Private Equity funding from Exhilway Global Opportunities Private Equity Fund and would be spending close to Rs. 30 crore to set up a 250-bed hospital.

“We are doctors with a dream to have our own hospital. There is a need for quality healthcare in Guinea and we want to provide it. It’s our duty to serve and we are not worried about any outbreak or health emergency. We are in the process of recruiting nurses, paramedics and experienced doctors from India. Healthcare workers in India do not have any reservations to work in West Africa,” says Dr. Sai Kumar. Outpatient services at Livewell Jean Paul Hospitals are slated to be launched by the month-end. “The Government of Guinea has trust in us and gave us this opportunity. We have already shipped close to Rs. 3 crore worth of medical equipment from India. Till July, we were in Conakry and nothing happened to us. In another four to five months, we will offer all multi-specialities in Conakry,” said Dr. Uday Rachakonda.

Conakry receives a lot of visitors from neighbouring countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the countries identified by WHO as the worst hit by the Ebola outbreak. Doctors pointed out that the reason for so many fatalities is lack of healthcare infrastructure and Ebola awareness among the locals.

“There is only one CT scan machine in Guinea and it costs around $250 for a single scan. There are only two private hospitals with combined bed strength of 35 and only three government hospitals. They are definitely 15 to 20 years behind us in medical infrastructure. We have also taken up the responsibility to train the local population in our hospital,” said the doctors, both of whom will fly to West Africain a week’s time.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – August 15th, 2014

No cash incentive for international hockey player

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

File Photo of Yendala Soundarya, international hockey player. Photo: K.V. Ramana / The Hindu
File Photo of Yendala Soundarya, international hockey player. Photo: K.V. Ramana / The Hindu

“Can anyone help me please?” This exasperated appeal from international hockey player Yendala Soundarya might well sum up how the less privileged and those not good at projecting themselves suffer for want of help from the powers-that-be.

The 25-year-old hockey player, silver medallist in the 2009 Senior Asia Cup, is the only international women’s hockey player now from Telangana, hailing from Nizamabad. She also won a silver in the Asian championship, representing India in the Women’s World Cup.

Her fervent appeal came on a day when Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced a cash incentive of Rs. 50 lakh for the World women’s junior boxing champion, Nikhat Zareen, also from Nizamabad. Apparently, he was not briefed about this outstanding hockey player!

The failure of Soundarya’s parents, who happen to be daily wage earners, to project their daughter’s achievements, is proving costly.

“Please tell me how I can get some help from the government. It has been a struggle right through and it really hurts that no one is there to take up my cause,” said Soundarya from the national camp in an exclusive chat with The Hindu.

Soundarya, gold medallist in the 2008 Japan international tournament (under-18), is not bothered as to what others got. “I am more concerned about myself. Will I get any incentive at all is the big question,” says the star forward, who is preparing for next month’s Asian Games.

“It makes me wonder as to why I pursued the sport when there is no system in place to get due recognition,” she complains. When contacted, a senior sports authority official, wishing to remain anonymous, said the gaffe was the result of the lack of a clear-cut sports policy especially with regard to cash incentives.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 08th, 2014

Time to get Nizam’s jewels to Hyderabad?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

A decade after a strong pitch was made to shift the Nizam's jewels worth millions of dollars to Hyderabad, they are still in the custody of the National Museum, Delhi and safe in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India.
A decade after a strong pitch was made to shift the Nizam’s jewels worth millions of dollars to Hyderabad, they are still in the custody of the National Museum, Delhi and safe in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India.

Hyderabad :

A decade after a strong pitch was made to shift the Nizam’s jewels worth millions of dollars to Hyderabad, they are still in the custody of the National Museum, Delhi and safe in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India.

From 12 April to 27 July 2014, some of the jewels were displayed for the first time outside the country at the State Museum of Moscow, Kremlin.

For permanent display of the jewellery in Hyderabad, the state government even offered to look at different places in the city for a decision to be taken on where the permanent museum could be located. One was a building at the public gardens, another place that was considered was said to be on Road no. 3, Banjara Hills which was, however, ruled out due to security considerations, and another proposal was to buy land behind the museum where a building could be constructed for the permanent display of the jewels.

One location that was felt appropriate was the Dewan Devdi, where the Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) office is located. Sources said there was, however, one hitch. The state government wanted the centre to pay for the land and premises. The union ministry of culture outrightly dismissed the idea. Since then, the proposal, which was at least being considered, has been in a limbo.

Some of the Nizam’s jewels were displayed for the first time outside the country last month in the State Museum of Moscow, Kremlin. The centre had acquired the famed jewellery in 1995 after a protracted legal battle with the heirs of the Nizams. For the first time, the dazzling jewellery was displayed at the National Museum in 2001. The 173 set collection comprising 348 pieces was brought to Hyderabad and displayed at the Salar Jung Museum the same year. Subsequently, for the second time, the exhibition was organized from December 31, 2005 to October 2006. This exhibition was followed by another exhibition at the National Museum, Delhi.

In 1991, the entire jewellery was valued at $ 162 million by Sotheby’s. The jewellery included the third largest diamond in the world — the Jacob diamond.

When contacted, Salar Jung Museum director A Nagendar Reddy said the state government would have to take the initiative to bring the jewels to Hyderabad and talk to the centre about it. “Even if we had to organize an exhibition like we did two times in the past, it may not be possible at the Salar Jung Musem. The Eastern block where the jewellery exhibition was conducted now has many galleries where several artefacts are on display,” he said.

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who is showing interest in organizing the Independence Day celebrations at the centuries old Golconda fort may also have to think of bringing the Nizams jewels back to Hyderabad for permanent display.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / August 06th, 2014

Suven Life secures two product patents

Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Hyderabad-based biopharmaceutical company Suven Life Sciences Ltd on Wednesday said it has secured one patent each from Australia and Eurasia for its new chemical entities (NCEs). The NCEs will be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and these patents are valid through 2030 and 2029.

“The granted claims of the patents include the class of selective 5-HT compounds discovered by Suven that are being developed as therapeutic agents and are useful in the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntington’s disease, Parkinson and Schizophrenia,” the company informed the bourses.

Commenting on the development, Suven chief executive officer Venkat Jasti, said, “We are very pleased by the grant of these patents to Suven for our pipeline of molecules in CNS arena that are being developed for cognitive disorders with high unmet medical need with huge market potential globally.”

With these new patents, Suven has a total of 18 granted patents from Australia and 12 product patents from Eurasia. “These granted patents are exclusive intellectual property of Suven and are achieved through the internal discovery research efforts. Products out of these inventions may be out-licensed at various phases of clinical development like at phase-I or phase-II,” the company statement said.

The company has twelve internally-discovered therapeutic drug candidates currently in pre-clinical stage of development targeting conditions such as ADHD, dementia, depression, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and obesity.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / Swati Rathor, TNN / August 06th, 2014

India’s first eyeball implant surgery at Hyderabad’s L.V. Prasad

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Picture for representational purpose
Picture for representational purpose

Hyderabad:

A one-year-old child, born with only one eye, was implanted with an artificial eyeball in the second eye socket. This procedure made L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital the first in the country to implant an “Inflatable Orbital Tissue Expander.”

The implant allows the proper growth of skull bones around the eyeball and keeps the face from becoming distorted. Most of the children born with only one eye have asymmetrical facial bone growth.

This child was lucky as the mother was insistent and despite resistance from the family opted for the implant. This technology has been developed recently and 13 children in the US have got this implant.

Dr Tarjani Dave, consultant at L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital, said, “It’s an inflated silicon implant, which is filled with saline and as the child grows, the saline needs to refilled from time to time. So far, the reports from the US have been positive.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / August 06th, 2014

It’s a ‘golden’ moment for us, say Kashyap’s parents

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

India's Kashyap Parupalli holds the National Flag as he celebrates beating Singapore's Derek Wong in the men's singles badminton for gold medal in 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
India’s Kashyap Parupalli holds the National Flag as he celebrates beating Singapore’s Derek Wong in the men’s singles badminton for gold medal in 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Parupalli Kashyap achieved what his coach and mentor Pullela Gopichand could not do – win the men’s singles badminton gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Sunday. And, quite predictably, this fantastic achievement proved to be a “huge relief” for his parents, Parupalli Uday Shankar and Subadhra.

Immediately after this feat, Telangana State Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao sent him a congratulatory message. “We hope this Hyderabad-born player will win many more medals in future,” Mr. Rao said in the message.

Kashyap’s parents’ anxiety, especially in the decider of the men’s final when he warded off a spirited challenge from Derek Wong of Singapore, was understandable. “Yes, we were all waiting for this ‘golden’ moment. It is a huge relief that finally Kashyap is the gold medallist in a major event,” exclaimed a beaming Uday in a chat with The Hindu.

“We know how much pain and suffering he had to undergo because of the asthma problem. There was a phase when that threatened his career. But sheer grit, support from everyone and by God’s grace, Kashyap overcame all that and is now a champion player,” pointed out the proud father, who is scheduled to leave for Nigeria for a long assignment as the CEO of a company.

File photo of India's best men's singles badminton player Parupalli Kashyap sharing a few moments with his parents Uday Shankar and Subadhra after winning the Arjuna Award at his residence in Hyderabad. PHOTO: V. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
File photo of India’s best men’s singles badminton player Parupalli Kashyap sharing a few moments with his parents Uday Shankar and Subadhra after winning the Arjuna Award at his residence in Hyderabad. PHOTO: V. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Interestingly, though the 27-year-old champion shuttler did try to speak to his mother after the marathon semi-final on Saturday evening, he could not because she was indisposed. “He was a bit disappointed but I just told him that you should win the gold,” reveals Uday Shankar. What has apparently delighted the proud parents is that now Kashyap is the proud owner of a gold in a major event of this magnitude beating his previous best performances of a bronze (men’s singles) and a silver (mixed team event)in the 2010 CWG and a quarter-final appearance in the 2012 London Olympics.

“Yes, we are all proud of his achievement,” his elated parents commented.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 04th, 2014

Hyderabad to host meet on business women

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC archives)
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC archives)

Hyderabad:

Confederation of Women’s Entreprenuers (COWE), one of the leading women business associations, would organise a three-day international conference on women entreprenuership in Hyderabad from October 18 to 20.

“It would be an opportunity to promote Indian women entreprenuers globally and showcase our infrastructure facilities to the world. We are expecting atleast 1,500 women entreprenuers to particiapate in the upcoming conference,” said COWE president Soudhamini.

She said that COWE has started work on 30 acres of land alloted in Medak district some time back. Already four units have been constructed and 10 more firms showing interest in setting up their units.

Speaking on the sidelines of COWE India’s annual awards ceremony, Soudhamini said, “We have been alloted 30 acres in Medak district where engineering and auto units are running and apart from that, in Pocharam village, we have been alloted 12 acres where we are planning a food park.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Business> Latest / DC Correspondent / July 29th, 2014

Belarus Keen to Partner Telangana in Medical Education

Education, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Belarus has shown keen interest to coordinate efforts with Telangana in the realm of medical education including research, student exchange programmes and also conducting international conferences, the government said.

A delegation from the east European nation comprising Sergei Trotsyuk, First Secretary in the Embassy of Belarus, Alena Beliakova, Vice Dean of Vitebask State of Medical University along with V Rajaram, Authorised Representative of Medical University of Belarus today called on the Telangana Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah at the Secretariat here, an official release said.

During the discussions, the delegates expressed keen interest on student exchange programmes besides research and coordination in academic programmes in medicine with Telangana, it said.

Rajaiah expressed his happiness at the offer made by the delegates and directed State officials to follow up the proposals for the benefit of Telangana students keen to pursue higher studies abroad, the release added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by PTI / July 30th, 2014

Tennis star Sania Mirza appointed brand ambassador of Telangana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, World Opinion

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao with tennis star Sania Mirza at a meeting in Hyderabad. Photo: PTI
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao with tennis star Sania Mirza at a meeting in Hyderabad. Photo: PTI

Hyderabad:

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza was on Tuesday appointed ‘Brand Ambassador’ of Telangana.

She will promote the new “state’s interests” in India and abroad, according to Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Managing Director Jayesh Rajan.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao handed over a letter of appointment and also a cheque of Rs one crore to 27-year-old Sania at an interaction session with industrialists here.

“Telangana is proud of Sania who is a true Hyderabadi. She’s now ranked number five in international tennis and we wish she becomes the number one,” the Chief Minister said on the occasion.

Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Special Chief Secretary (Industries) K Pradeep Chandra and other officials were present.

SaniaTELANGANA22jul2014

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Currrent Affairs / PTI / July 22nd, 2014