Category Archives: Business & Economy

Messiah of Gulf victims

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, World Opinion

He has helped in repatriation of 300 migrant workers languishing there

He is seen by many as messiah of Gulf victims as he has supported them through thick and thin in the last five years, spending his hard-earned money. His tireless efforts and coordination with State and Central Governments brought home about 50 bodies of migrant workers, and 300 migrant workers have been successfully repatriated home.

Born into an agriculture family at model village Manoharabad of Jakranpally mandal, Patkuri Basanth Reddy went to Bahrain as a construction worker after completion of SSC and had lived there for several years. During his stay, he had witnessed labourers being cheated by Gulf agents.

Moved by the plight of Gulf workers, he came back to Hyderabad and established Gulf Telangana Welfare and Cultural Association. Recognising his efforts for the cause of Gulf victims, the Telangana Government honoured him with the best social worker award, which he received from Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Golkonda Fort on August 15.

That apart, he has several awards to his credit for his social work. He had Dr. B. R Ambedkar Vishista Seva Puraskar conferred on him in 2016, Prof. Jayashankar National Award in 2015. He has been selected for Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Award, and he will receive it from Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi on December 10.

According to Basanth Reddy, there are over 6 lakh migrant workers from Telangana in the Gulf. An estimated two lakh workers are from erstwhile undivided district alone. Many workers who went there in search of work on fake or kalivili (in local parlance) visas created by Gulf agents are languishing in jails in Gulf countries.

He says thousands of poor workers who went there, by taking money from moneylenders at a high rate of interest, are living in distress on streets. As they are uncared for by their employers, some are committing suicide and some are dying.

“I believe in social work. When a Gulf worker in distress is restored to his family, I feel immense pleasure. Therefore, along with some like-minded people, I have floated the social service organisation to render service to poor migrant worker families,” said the 42-year-old Basanth Reddy.

In the current month, with the help of the External Affairs Ministry and Telangana Minister K.T. Rama Rao, he ensured safe landing in New Delhi of 30 migrant workers who were stranded in Iraq . He personally goes to the airport to receive bodies from the Gulf and travels in the ambulance along with the bodies to their villages. “I have so far spent ₹ crore for my social service but never expect anything from society. I believe service to man is to service to God,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by P. Ram MOhan / Nizamabad – December 02nd, 2017

When world’s attention was on Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Telangana’s capital gets Metro Rail, even as PM Modi, Ivanka Trump and other delegates arrive for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Colour and light (clockwise from top left) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump, advisor to the US President, shakes hands after inagurating the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad on Tuesday

Hyderabad :

For Hyderabad, November 28 will go down as a historic day, with the launch of an ultra-modern metrorail service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the landing of various dignitaries — including US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, and about 1,500 innovators and investors for the GES event.

If the arrival of Ivanka, Advisor to the US President, entrepreneur and high priestess of fashion, raised a lot of hype and excitement, the rollout of the ₹14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro signified a major milestone for the burgeoning metropolis.

The day ended with a fabulous dinner for 101 at the heritage Falaknuma Palace Hotel, featuring the world’s largest dining table.

Hyderabad is often ranked among the best cities to live in India, and the Metro ride by Modi, Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) promises improved traffic flow and easier commuting for the city’s denizens.

The loco pilot who drove the first official trip of the Metro, from Miyapur to Kukatpally and back, was a young woman, S Supriya, caused much cheer as well.

The 30 km stretch will be open to the public from Wednesday. It is expected to help lakhs of IT employees here.

ICING ON THE CAKE

For Telangana, three years old and brimming with energy in the start-up and innovation spheres, the chance to host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit was the icing on the cake.

The three-day summit, being jointly hosted by India and the US, was inaugurated by Modi and Ivanka.

The even is focused on women entrepreneurs, and Ivanka was the lead speaker. Women constitute approximately 54 per cent of the 1,500 participants from over 150 nations, said the organisers.

Among the ‘who’s who’ of participating women are Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman; Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Cherie Blair, barrister and wife of former British PM Tony Blair; Miss World Manushi Chillar, tennis star Sania Mirza; author Shobhaa De; transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi; and Kuchipudi dancers Bhavna and Yamini Reddy.

A CITY AT WORK

The 426-year-old city has been working hard on summit preparations.

The State government, which has been criticised for a decaying road infrastructure, worked overnight to deck up the important roads and thoroughfares through which the PM, Ivanka and top foreign delegates would pass.

The Metro routes were all painted and ‘greened up’ while the flyovers got some 3-D art, courtesy the creativity of the Cyberabad workforce.

The facelift cost the exchequer nearly ₹100 crore, and came four years after the Biodiversity Convention in 2013, which brought delegates from over 150 countries.

The government also faced much flak as beggars were allegedly rounded up and dogs poisoned as part of the city’s cosmetic change.

T-HUB SUCCESS

Hyderabad’s T-Hub, the country’s largest technology incubator, has emerged as a significant incubator mentor for start-ups, and its success has excited the government enough to plan a mega facility with four towers.

The Summit, is expected to give a further fillip to the start-up ecosystem and entrepreneurship culture in the city.

Further creating a buzz is the special dinner of Hyderabadi cuisine at the Falaknuma Palace (now on long lease with the Tata Group’s Taj).

Top industrialists and foreign delegates will join Modi, Ivanka and KCR at the table for 101.

NITI Aayog is organising the summit. Companies such as Amazon, Amway, CNBC, Cognizant, Dell, Google, Intel, Kauffman Foundation, Salesforce, Silicon Valley Bank and Walmart are supporting the event.

The 2010 edition of the annual GES was hosted by Washington, followed by Istanbul, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Marrakech, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur and Silicon Valley in the subsequent years.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / by M. Somasekhar / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2017

World congress of paediatric ophthalmology from today

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The fourth World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WCPOS) will be held for the first time in India at Hyderabad from December 1 to 3. The three-day World Congress features scientific programmes including scientific symposia, live surgery, free paper sessions, numerous workshops, debates and a mock trial. It will also have exciting new features like the first ever ‘Yoga with the gurus’ session and an adult-paediatric interface day.

Several delegates from over 60 countries are expected to attend the 500-plus speciality lectures and 350 plus posters/papers/videos that are to be presented. Keynote lectures will be delivered by noted doctors Dr Richard Hertle, USA; Dr Harminder Dua, UK; Dr Lea Hyvarinen, Finland; announced local host president Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head of Services, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Adult Strabismus & Neuro-Ophthalmology, Child Sight Institute, Jasti V Ramanamma Children’s Eye Care Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI).

As a prequel to the event, LVPEI is organising ‘Eye on the future’, a day-long academic session featuring a host of international speakers on November 30. Close to 75 international faculty and delegates from India and abroad will participate in this symposium, a press release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 30th, 2017

Young girl pilots PM’s trip on Hyderabad Metro

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel

Loco pilot is an engineer from Nizamabad

Woman power was all visible as the first ride of the Metro Rail with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and other dignitaries sitting in was piloted by a young lady. Supriya Sunam, who stormed yet another male bastion.

It wasn’t a mechanical ride for this Mechanical Engineering graduate from Vignan Bharati Institute of Technology (VBIT) in Aushapur as the Indian Prime Minister was on board along with the Chief Minister. She was also aware of history being recorded but that did not unnerve her and she ensured the ride was smooth.

Surpriya was part of the driving team who had undergone rigorous training for over 18 months before getting the nod. She has clocked over 2,500 Kms of driving experience during the training period, a senior official revealed. M. Rajasekhar Chary was the other local pilot on the inaugural run. Family, near and dear of this 24-year old Nizamabad native are filled with joy and excitement seeing her pictures splashed all over the television. However, her parents Prabhavathi Sanum and Pramod Kumar, who live in the CSI Church Compound in Nizamabad were not aware of her assignment as it was kept secret.

“I have just seen on the television and been thrilled and amazed. Probably it was decided in the last minute and therefore she did not tell us,” said Prabhavathi who retired as office superintendent in the APDDC. “It is a proud moment for us. In fact, in her M.Tech at CBIT she did her project on railways itself. Hence, she got selection in railways with ease,” said Promod Kumar, a retired teacher.

Happily surprised: Parents of Supriya Sanum Promod Kumar and Prabhavathi at their home in Nizamabad. | Photo Credit: K_V_RAMANA

Proud moment

Supriya had her schooling and junior college education at Kakatiya Educational Institutions in Nizamabad.

Her elder brother Prasanna Kumar works with Amazon. “I am proud of my sister,” said her cousin Varun while Sulakshana Rana, a teacher in Nirmala Hruday High School said Supriya’s achievement was inspirational.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy & P. Ram Mohan / Hyderabad – Nizamabad, November 28th, 2017

US-India Business Council programme to support women entrepreneurs

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, World Opinion

The US-India Business Council (USIBC) on Monday launched ‘Women for Women Innovators, Social Leaders and Entrepreneurs (WISE)’ programme to support women entrepreneurs.

The initiative would serve as a platform to engage multiple stakeholders such as the Central and State governments in India, industry bodies, start-ups, and academia to conceptualise and roll out programmes to encourage women professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs.

This apart, WISE would encourage a policy environment conducive to increasing women innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. It would also work for mentoring, training opportunities and career assistance to women towards helping them develop appropriate skills and thrive in a globalised economy.

An announcement on WISE was made during the Council’s Road to GES (Global Entrepreneurship Summit) event here. Country Head of Intel India Nivruti Rai, chairman and MD of Biocon Ltd Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, IBM India Chairman Vanitha Narayanan, Managing director of Kalaari Capital Vani Kola and Producer of Girl Rising Amita Vyas participated in the programme titled ‘Creating the Foundations of Innovation’. Industry and government leaders would spearhead the initiative, a release said.

“We are delighted to work with an esteemed group of women leaders as part this collaborative initiative in equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills and direction they need to drive India’s economy forward,” said Nisha Biswal, president of USIBC. The Council was committed to working with industry partners and the government of India to encourage women entrepreneurship.

EOM
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by NRK Special Correspondent Hyderabad / November 27th, 2017

TASK accomplished: 4 start-ups gain ground

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

TEP at ISB makes it easy for wannabe entrepreneurs

A programme at the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) here costs no less than ₹16 lakh but Telangana students need just ₹16,000, in addition to possessing a burning desire to give wings to their ideas, thanks to an innovative idea of the Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge (TASK).

This path-breaking programme launched two years ago to help engineering students create and launch new business ventures is bearing fruits now with four start-ups gaining ground. And that too from students who seldom heard of entrepreneurship and the path to it.

Thumma Narendra, who never had any exposure to entrepreneurship while studying in his native Warangal district, has now created a platform with an educational website to guide students and schools on various aspects of education. Kausthub Kaundinya of VNR VJIT has designed a safety air-conditioned helmet that can be used in industries including coal mines.

Gurajada Ravitej of Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology and Management (MLRIT) has created a start-up ‘SVS Express Car Sap’ where he provides car and bike washing service using foam wash equipment without the usage of water. His friend Abhiram Itharaju from MLRIT is now the proud owner of Abhi Clicks, a photography company that promises to capture every beautiful moment of life.

All these students are part of the Technology Entrepreneurship Programme (TEP) launched by TASK in association with ISB with a vision to create an entrepreneurial civilisation among engineering students. The programme is rigorous and only 40% crossed the first stage. And even among them only four people could launch their start-ups so far.

The satisfying aspect, however, is that 265 students so far got their TEP degrees from ISB, which was unthinkable for them a couple of years ago. About 100-odd got the participation certificates from ISB, which itself is a major academic achievement.

The final outcome on start-ups is less, as expected in any such ecosystem, but students gained big as 80% of those who enrolled for the programme were placed in top technology companies, says Sujiv Nair, Chief Executive Officer, TASK. The programme starts when they are in the third year of their engineering and is completed as they finish their B.Tech programme simultaneously.

Selection to TEP itself is a rigorous process. But Mr. Nair agrees that it has mainly helped students expand their motivation levels and inculcated the entrepreneurship spirit. But for the programme all these candidates would have earned just a degree rather than emerging as employment creators.

The programme has the support of several blue-chip companies including Google, Microsoft, Tata Motors and Deloitte and senior professionals of these companies mentor the prospective techno-preneurs selected for the programme from various colleges in Telangana.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – November 27th, 2017

Tech-savvy docs strike it rich

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Patients from towns, rural areas opt for online consultation

Lured by an assured 20% to 30% increase in their annual income, a band of tech-savvy doctors from the city now offer online medical consultation. And those opting for their services are patients from towns and rural areas in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who have registered online for family healthcare services.

In the last two months, an Internet-based medical platform — DocOnline — which operates out of Hyderabad, registered 30 doctors from here who are willing to consult via chat, phone call or video call with patients. The platform has also registered doctors from Mumbai and Pune. A similar platform e-Vaidya has been registering physicians who have been practising here for the past one year. Doctors told The Hindu that the pay they got for online consultation was higher than that from hospitals. “The salary structure in most hospitals, be it State or corporate-owned, is not updated regularly,” said Sindhura Rao Akkala, who left a private hospital two years ago to work for e-Vaidya first and now for DocOnline.

Uma Yadagiri, who has been practising for 17 years, 15 of which was in the U.S., said online consultation contributes to 50% of her annual income. “Online medicine here is similar to on-call practice in the U.S. With online medicine, a comprehensive health check-up can be done.After the video calls with patients, if I am not satisfied, I ask them to come and consult me or consult a nearby physician,” she said.

Among the doctors who offer the services are orthopaedics, obstetricians and gynaecologists.

‘Time-effective’

Patients said they found it cost and time-effective. “I paid ₹700 for a monthly package for myself and four family members. The consultations are unlimited and doctors are always available. It worked for me because I get constant migraine attacks for which I used to pay consultancy of ₹500 each time,” said Y. Roopa, 25, who lives in Tirupati.

As the services offered are diverse, the patients get consultation for more than one family member.

Most patients find home delivery of medicine very effective as it helps the elderly. A 62-year-old resident of Mahabubnagar town, C. Tayamma, had taken help online after she suffered hot oil burns on her hand in an accident. “When I video-called, the doctor prescribed an ointment and pills. I live with my daughter and the service proved to be effective. Now I want a bed-ridden relative to opt for online service,” said Ms. Tayamma, whose daughter had listed her as a dependent for the online service.

Speaking to The Hindu, Rahul Paith, COO of DocOnline, said online medicine would grow in the coming years. “India’s telemedicine market is expected to grow from $15 million (₹100 crore) to $32 million (₹210 crore) by 2020. There is much scope here,” he pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Nikhila Henry / Hyderabad – November 25th, 2017

IKEA opens first Hej Home in India at Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

IKEA, the Swedish furnishing retailer, on Wednesday opened its first experiential centre Ikea Hej (Hello) Home close to the IT hub of Hyderabad and their upcoming first store in the country.

The Hej Home provides some insight into Ikea products and solutions which its future customers can actually buy when the store opens in India at Hyderabad early next year.

The Hej Home, designed and set up over a six-month duration, highlights what the retailer stands for and what to expect from an IKEA store.

Potential future IKEA customers can experience its products before they can actually buy it from its stores in spring 2018.

Ikea Hej Home reflects its understanding of life at home in India and its unique home furnishing solutions for homes.

It also gives a peek into IKEA’s long-standing relationship with India, its history and philanthropic activities. It showcases the IKEA food and room settings based on its learnings of Life at Home in Hyderabadi families, especially those living with children.

The display includes the bedroom, living area, kitchen and dining, play area among others. With the launch of IKEA Hej Home, the retailer is getting closer to the first IKEA India store opening.

Ulf Smedberg, Country Marketing Manager, IKEA India, said: “IKEA Hej Home launch in Hyderabad is a great opportunity to meet the many people who share our passion for home, children, family, food and most importantly our strong values of togetherness and love!”

IKEA LOYALTY PROGRAMME

At Ikea Hej Home visitors can connect sign up for its loyalty programme, through which our customers can participate in many activities even before the store opens.

Through this exposition, IKEA also looks forward to connecting with potential future coworkers, especially the women in Hyderabad. IKEA has a commitment to hire 50% women coworkers at all levels in India. As the IKEA experience cannot be complete without food, visitors can also get a glimpse of the IKEA Food and taste Swedish and Indian delicacies that will be sold in the IKEA store’s 1,000 seat restaurant, one of the largest in the world.

Ikea plans to bring Hej Home to other cities as well.

After the Hyderabad store, the second store will open in Mumbai during 2019, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by V. Rishi Kumar / November 22nd, 2017

1,500 entrepreneurs, investors selected for Global Summit

Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinion

US President’s daughter Ivanka Trump to lead the country’s contingent

About 1,500 entrepreneurs, 300 of them being investors and ecosystem supporters, have been selected for the ensuing 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be co-hosted by India and the United States here, from November 28 to 30.

Participants at this year’s GES would represent four key industry sectors – energy and infrastructure, healthcare and life sciences, financial technology and digital economy, media and entertainment.

According to a press release issued by the organisers, about 300 investors and ecosystem supporters, who will form a part of the 1,500 participants, are expected to catalyse investment and networking at the summit. Adviser to the US President Ivanka Trump will lead the U.S. contingent to the summit, highlighting the theme of “Women First, Prosperity for All”, and focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth globally.

Explaining a few key facts on the 1,500 selected participants, the organisers stated that women would represent 52.5% of entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem supporters at the GES 2017 summit. It is the first time women would be a major stakeholder at GES.

Women from 127 countries would be participating in the event with over 10 countries. Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Israel would be represented by all-female delegations. The participants have been selected from 150 countries and territories across the world.

The American entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem supporters come from 38 U.S. States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and the Indian entrepreneurs have been drawn from across the country.

Another interesting fact about the selected participants is that 31.5% of them are young or 30-years-old with the youngest entrepreneur aged 13 and the oldest entrepreneur 84 years age, the press release added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 18th, 2017

Hyderabad: 1,000 kgs of waste recycled to make cube-glass stools, rubber planters

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

After the summit, the street furniture will be shifted to parks or the Necklace Road.
Trash piled up at a collection centre in Hyderabad on Monday. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad:

A tonne of trash, 85 used rubber tyres and four drums disposed of by residents in the west zone have been used to make street furniture for the Global Entrepreneur’s Summit to be held in Hyderabad from November 28.

Two tetra-pack toilets, a cube glass stool, furniture made from rubber tyres and tiles made of plastic will be displayed near HICC, the venue of the summit, from November 26. The trash was collected from the dry waste centre at Serilingampally. After the summit, the street furniture will be shifted to parks or the Necklace Road.

A sculpture made of multicoloured chips packets, polythene covers, plastic bottles, metal wires and old shoes will be placed at the entrance of HICC. The cube-glass stools, currently displayed on Madhapur street, are made of both metal angles and 8 mm toughened glass filled with scrap such as chips packets and soft drink cans.

Some 85 discarded rubber tyres were made into an all-weather sofa set that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The metal drums have been fashioned into chairs and tables.

Prashanth Lingam of Bamboo India, who has worked on these items in coordination with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, said that the scrap was provided free of cost by the GHMC which also paid for the labour.

He said 1,000 kgs of trash was recycled to make the cube-glass stools, rubber planters, rubber based sofa, and tiles made of plastic.

“We are working on a tetra pack toilet and trash man. The idea is to showcase recycling using daily used scrap and put it to functional use in public spaces as a street art form or public utility,” he said.

West Zone Municipal Commissioner Hari Chandana Dasari said, “GHMC is making efforts to promote recycling and reuse waste. The street furniture is all made from waste that people have generated. The wrappers were collected by GHMC teams and the tyres were mostly from heavy duty GHMC vehicles which will be used as planters.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Coreena Suares, Deccan Chronicle / November 14th, 2017