Infosys Joins Open Invention Network Community

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- Open Invention Network (OIN), the largest patent non-aggression community in history with well over 2000 members, announced today that Infosys has joined OIN as a community member.  As a leading IT services provider, and one of the most admired companies in India, Infosys believes that open source software (OSS) is a necessary enabler as enterprises worldwide use the Internet to build new consumer-centric and connected applications. 

Keith Bergelt, CEO of Open Invention Network, said that we are pleased to have a premier global IT services firm, like Infosys, join the OIN community. “We appreciate Infosys’s leadership in joining OIN, and believe that those that look to the company for inspiration, both in and outside of India, will see the wisdom it has demonstrated by supporting patent non-aggression in Linux and adjacent open source technologies.

Navin Budhiraja, SVP-Head–Architecture & Technology, Infosys said that open source software has become the primary engine of innovation, and should now be viewed as the key building block of all modern enterprise architectures. Innovation in areas like cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, DevOps and modern web frameworks are all happening in the open source ecosystem, and the adoption of these technologies in enterprises is benefiting from the foundation of Linux that enterprise IT departments have already invested in.  Infosys is actively taking open source, and open source based products, to all our enterprise customers, and so we are extremely excited to become part of OIN, and we encourage others to join OIN as well to support this very important initiative.

Equity Funds Across Categories and Composite Bond Funds Underperform Their Respective Benchmark

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- The latest SPIVA India (S&P Indices Versus Active Funds) Scorecard reveals that over a one-year period, ending December, 2016, 66.29% of Large-Cap Equity funds, 64.29% of ELSS funds and 71.11% of Mid/Small-Cap Equity funds underperformed their respective benchmark indices. Produced by Asia Index Private Limited, an equal joint-venture between BSE and S&P Dow Jones Indices.  The SPIVA Scorecard also shows that the majority of the Composite Bond funds underperformed S&P BSE India Bond Index over 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10- year periods, whereas the majority of Government Bond funds underperformed S&P BSE India Government Bond Index over three, five and ten year periods.

The SPIVA India Scorecard has evolved with new features being added every year. This year, apart from extending the history to ten years, SPIVA India also introduced style consistency which aims to capture the percentage of funds that have diverged from their initial investment categorization. Globally, style classification is an important metric that guide investors in their asset allocation decisions. 

Akash Jain, Associate Director, Global Research & Design, Asia Index Private Limited said that studies reveal that over the 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods ending December 2016, only Indian ELSS funds maintained 100% style consistency.  Over the 10-year period, only 30.63% of Indian Equity Large-Cap funds and 28.57% of Indian Equity Mid-/Small-Cap funds preserved their style.

To evaluate how the largest funds by AUM have performed against their peers, the report compares asset-weighted returns to equal-weighted returns and highlights that, over the ten-year horizon, maximum divergence (of nearly 99 bps) in any category has been observed in the Mid/Small-Cap space. Also, over the same period, the report notes a wide divergence between best performing funds against the laggards and observed that 1^st quartile outperforms the 3^rd quartile by 3.55%, 3.56% and 4.33% in the Large-Cap, ELSS and Mid/Small-Cap categories respectively. In the case of Government Bond Funds and Composite Bond Funds the divergence is 1.61% and 1.53% respectively. 

JSW Infrastructure Strengthens Last Mile Connectivity, Enhances Capacity at Jaigarh Port

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- JSW Infrastructure Limited (JSWIL), one of the nation’s leading private-sector infrastructure companies, has taken multiple steps to enhance western coastal connectivity by strengthening last mile access through road and railways, mechanizing coastal berth to enhance handling capacity and by increasing draft depth to accept larger vessels at its Jaigarh port.

The event witnessed the august presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping–GoI, Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways –GoI, and Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas–GoI.

Jaigarh Port has commissioned the new Mechanized Berths to serve coastal cargo for Capesize vessels and transform it to a transhipment hub. Furthermore, JSW Infrastructure is developing Jaigarh Port to handle LNG, LPG, Liquid cargo and Container Berths for diversified and specialized cargo handling operations.

A 42 km road construction plan was inaugurated by the hands of honorable Devendra Fadnavis, an initiative by JSW Group, to create linkage between Jaigarh Port and Nivali on national highway NH 66 (earlier NH 17). This two-lane road was widened to a 4-lane highway in 2014, and now further upgraded into six-lane highway.

In conjunction with Indian railways, JSW Group also laid the foundation stone for Jaigarh Digni Railway Line on the Konkan Railway network providing additional connectivity options. On completion, this railway line will assist in improving the current connectivity situation wherein the nearest railway link is at Ratnagiri a distance of 55 km on the Konkan Railway network.

On this momentous occasion, Jaigarh port also earns the distinction of having received the nation’s largest dry bulk parcel ever at an Indian port. The bulk cargo vessel ‘MV China Enterprise’ is carrying over 2, 00,000 MT Coking Coal from Australia to India. It is the largest dry bulk parcel ever serviced by an Indian Port, making this achievement a significant milestone in India’s maritime history.

This unique distinction could be achieved by increasing the Jaigarh Port’s draft depth to accommodate Capsize vessels of higher deadweight (DWT).

This green-field multi-cargo deep water port in Jaigarh currently has a capacity of 15 MTPA which it is now expanding to 80 MTPA by building additional capability. In the near future, Jaigarh Port is getting ready for a giant leap to handle 65 MTPA of cargo and aiming for direct berthing of next generation vessels i.e. largest dry bulk carrier (vale max), 

LNG Carrier (Q-Max), largest container vessels (EEE Series) and very large crude carriers.

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group, said that he is delighted to state that JSW Infrastructure is showing appropriate concern in the development of the nation and that the Jaigarh Port showcases our commitment to the nation. We definitely need to create more infrastructures to meet the growing demands from our stakeholders. We have a responsibility to develop them for the coming industrial growth.

Capt BVJK Sharma, JMD & CEO at JSW Infrastructure Ltd, said that we have unwavering faith in the ‘Make in India’ ideology and remain committed towards developing world-class port and port connectivity infrastructure, in order to serve the rising business requirements of the nation. India’s manufacturing prowess cannot be unleashed unless the nation has modern port infrastructure to adequately support its logistics operations. While receiving of India’s largest dry bulk parcel is indeed momentous, there is a need to continuously strive towards achieving even greater heights.     

Jaigarh Port is strategically located between the two major port cities of Mumbai and Goa in the western part of India. The port’s location means it has the advantage of servicing cargo from Maharashtra as well as Karnataka.

Dr. Fixit Recommends Timely Diagnosis and Expert Solutions For Building a Healthy Society

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- There are more than 50,000 cooperative societies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The alarming issue is that currently out of these old buildings, not even 10 per cent structures undergo structural audit although strict municipal regulations exists in this regard. Out of these Co-operative Housing Society (CHS) in Mumbai, around 15,000-16,000 urgently need repairs according to CA Ramesh S. Prabhu–Chairman MSWA. In spite of the strict municipal regulations pertaining to structural audits and repairs, the primary challenge remains making citizens aware about the importance of buildings being kept healthy.  

With an endeavor to encourage CHS members into initiating timely structural audits and repairs, Dr. Fixit from the House of Pidilite the Waterproofing Expert has launched an initiative which focuses on “Building a Healthy Society” by raising awareness about the need of timely planning of repairs along with right diagnosis and expert solutions for the surface area.  Dr. Fixit helps to conduct the right diagnosis which helps in building healthy societies and thus solve problems faced by homeowner such as dampness and leakages.

Dr. Fixit uses various State-of-the-Art techniques such as Non-Destructive tests and Concrete Petrography for evaluating existing concrete structures to measure the strength of concrete and if they need be replaced or rehabilitated. The technologies that are used not only detect water leakages in buildings but also provide analysis and interpretation of test results along with recommendations for remedial waterproofing.

Ashish Prasad, Chief Operating Officer -Construction Chemicals, Pidilite Industries Limited, Dr. Fixit, said that sub-standard construction practices, water leakage in homes and over-enthusiastic renovations by society members often lead to structural damages in a building.  Our society needs to be aware that our buildings need maintenance and it is necessary to address the early signs of deterioration to the structures. Water seepage causes corrosion, distress, breaks the marriage of the concrete to the steel and that weakens the structure.

He added that Dr. Fixit, being a waterproofing expert provides end to end repairs and waterproofing solutions along with the right diagnosis of the problem. Building maintenance requires the right diagnostic tools and the right technical knowhow. We provide unique specialized solutions for each surface area as one solution cannot fit all of them.

With technology driving innovation, each day brings new products and systems which can alter the conventional systems completely and bring about a revolutionary change in current practices. Through creating awareness about the importance of modern construction techniques and materials and using expert remedial measures, mental agony and financial loss can be avoided in the long term. It could be one of the effective pathways to alleviate India of building collapses – a problem that has plagued the nation since quite a few years.

Dr. Fixit provides innovative surface wise waterproofing solutions that not only offer the benefits of good aesthetics but also keep the building safe from any possible leakage and offer a respite from the heat in summers as well. The innovative products that assist in perfect waterproofing for a long lasting structure includes Dr. Fixit Newcoat, Dampguard, Raincoat & its specialist range of Structural Repair products.

MCM Celebrates Best in Sports at Annual Athletic Meet

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- In celebration of the spirit of sportsmanship, MCM DAV College for Women held its' 39th Annual Athletic Meet here today. Edifying the audience with his inspiring words on the importance of sports, Chief Guest Maj. Gen. I. P. Singh, Director, Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, (Govt. of Punjab) Mohali declared the meet open.

The meet began with the ceremonial torch-lighting followed by March Past. The march past was lead by Priya Paudyal a 2017 All-India Naval Best Cadet awardee. A total of 100 outstanding sports-persons of the college were given cash prizes for garnering accolades and carving a niche for themselves in various sports events at international, national, inter-zonal, zonal, university and inter-college levels. The college sports ground resonated with energetic vibes of sportsmanship and teamwork as students competed in 200m, 200m relay, Long jump, Shot Put, 3 legged race, Tug-of-War and 1500m. The sight of faculty members exhibiting their sports acumen in the events-100m, 3 legged race and Tug-of-Chair drew huge applause from the students as they got to witness another facet of their talented teachers.

Highlighting the importance of sports meets, MCM Principal Dr. Nisha Bhargava said that they not only commemorate victories but also impart lessons in sportsman spirit and camaraderie to students. She also congratulated the Sports Department of the college for keeping alive the MCM tradition of excellence by winning medals and nurturing sports-persons par excellence.

ICICI Bank Partners with Truecaller to Launch UPI Based Mobile Payment Service

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank by consolidated assets today announced its partnership with Truecaller, a leading Swedish communication company and India’s third most used app to power a new UPI based mobile payment service. Christened ‘Truecaller Pay’, it will allow millions of users of the app in the country to instantly create a UPI id, send money to any UPI id or a mobile number registered with the BHIM app. It will also enable users to recharge their mobile number from within the Truecaller app itself.  

This partnership makes the Truecaller-ICICI Bank platform among India’s largest mobile payment platform with 150 million customers of the app gaining access for UPI based payments. Any user of Truecaller app, including non-ICICI Bank customers can link their bank account of any bank (participating in UPI) to create a UPI id and instantly make payments in a safe and secure manner. 

 ICICI Bank is the first bank globally to partner with Truecaller in their maiden foray into the financial payments services space.

Abonty Banerjee, Senior General Manager & Head–Digital Channels, ICICI Bank said that at ICICI Bank, we always aim to be at the fore-front of creating path-breaking solutions to leverage on emerging technologies. In keeping with this legacy, the Bank played a pivotal role in conceptualizing UPI as an initiative along with NPCI and was the first bank to introduce UPI in its mobile app. He added that we are delighted to offer our UPI platform to Truecaller which is one of India’s most widely used mobile application. With this new service, users will get the benefit of making quick and easy payments to any mobile number registered with the BHIM app, thereby enabling them to reach out to a wider section of people. Additionally, users can also undertake payments for utility services such as pre-paid recharges and post-paid mobile bills at the click of a button. We believe this association shall make UPI payments seamless for a larger audience and will also play a crucial role in strengthening the Government's 'Digital India' mission.

Nami Zarringhalam, CSO and Co-founder Truecaller said that we are very excited to launch Truecaller Pay together with ICICI Bank and as a first stop we will offer peer-to-peer solutions right from your contacts as well as recharge happening naturally from your dialer and SMS app. For close to a decade now, we have reiterated the immense benefits of mobile identity and how it really opens the world of opportunities. Our focus throughout has been to solve daily life problems of our users and in current context, it has been our users’ expectation for us to bring forth a secure and easy to use payment option that could be integrated within their most used app. As our users in India on board digitally and benefit from our platform, we also want to contribute to the country’s mission of going cashless.

Dilip Asbe, Chief Operating Officer, NPCI said that NPCI would like to appreciate ICICI Bank and Truecaller for leveraging state-of-the-art UPI technology for enabling secure payments and brining out innovative solution for customers. This remarkable development will encourage more large players in the ecosystem to adopt UPI faster.

‘Truecaller Pay’ can be accessed conveniently via the ‘Send money through UPI’ tab on Truecaller app’s profile page. The service comes with best-in-class security features from ICICI Bank. All transactions of ‘Truecaller Pay’ powered by ICICI Bank follow two factor authentication as per RBI guidelines for secure transfer of money. All sensitive data relating to account details, card details information of users as well as transfer of monies will be securely handled and stored in the state-of-the-art servers of ICICI Bank in line with NPCI and RBI guidelines.

Usha Strengthens its Air Cooler Range by Introducing Twelve New Models

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- Usha International, one of India’s leading consumer durables company, strengthens its product range with the launch of twelve new air coolers this season. True to its tagline, ‘They keep you cool and look cool too’, this new range is aesthetically appealing and has a taller body that ensures effective air flow. The Usha air cooler range comes with attractive features like honeycomb cooling pads that have a higher water absorption capacity and a dust filter to ensure healthy air flow in the room. 

Commenting on the new launch, Harvinder Singh, President-Appliances, Usha International said that we are all set to introduce new air coolers that are high on thestyle quotient and on operational performance. With the growing demand for products that support healthy living, we continue to strengthen our product range across price points.”

Two new coolers have been added to the desert cooler range. The Usha Prizm Xis designed inatrapezoid shape and provides a better cooling experience.  The Usha Air Kinghas an anti –bacterial tank that helps in reducing bacteria and limits algae growth in the tank. It comes with a digital panel and a remote control with a smart sleep function.

Usha Atom and Usha Slender are the new additions to the personal cooler range. The Usha Atom has been designed with a 9 liters tank capacity and has an easy to carry handle. This compact cooler is fitted with an ice compartment to further lower the temperature and can be operated on an inverter during power cuts.

Additionally, the company offers a premium range of Usha Honeywell air coolers. These coolers come with a copper wound motor that provides longevity and durability. Apart from this, the inbuilt oscillating louvers ensure even distribution of cool air throughout the room.

The Usha Air Cooler range starts from INR4190/- onwards and the Usha Honeywell range starts from INR 10990/- onwards. These air coolers are available at all leading stores across India.

Health & Family Welfare Deptt. Hosts Media Collaboration Meet on Routine Immunization programme

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 28^th March:- Department of Health & Family Welfare U,T Chandigarh hosted a Media Collaboration Meet on Routine Immunization programme under the Chairmanship of  Dr. Rakesh Kashyap , Director Health & Family Welfare cum Mission Director-National Health Mission, U.T, Chandigarh. He briefed the press regarding Routine Immunization activity being carried out in all the health facilities of Chandigarh. While interacting the Media, he highlighted the role of Vaccines being provided under Universal Immunization Programme to prevent and control the Vaccine Preventable Diseases which include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, severe form of Tuberculosis, Influenza and Hepatitis-B.

In this meet, a presentation on overview of Immunization Programme in Chandigarh was given by Dr. Anu Chopra Dosajh, District Immunization Officer, U.T., Chandigarh. In addition to this, the information regarding the Pulse Polio Round and Measles – Rubella Campaign was also disseminated.

Dr. Rakesh Kashyap interacted with media person for creating maximum awareness to motivate the parents to bring their children up to the age of 5 years for Pulse Polio Immunization during booth activity on 2^nd April 2017. He stressed that more and more people should bring their children to the booth setup near their locations to give them the benefit of Oral Polio Drops.

The information regarding the upcoming Measles- Rubella Campaign was shared with Media Persons. Answering to one of the queries, District Immunization Officer further told that this Campaign will start in April 2017 and the children from 9 months to 15 years will be given Measles Rubella Vaccine to protect the children from measles and rubella.

According to Dr. Rakesh Kashyap, the preparation for this campaign has already been started by health workers by preparing the list of children in this age group with the help of Aanganwari Workers. For successful implementation of this campaign, the handholding with the Education Department and Department of Social Welfare is being initiated. All the stakeholders will be taken into confidence through several activities ahead of the campaign and their doubts will be cleared for the smooth conduct of the campaign.

Dr. Rakesh Kashyap further shared the information about Cold Chain which is being maintained through ILRs and deep freezers for maintenance of the vaccine. It was emphasized that all the vaccine are provided free of cost to the children and the vaccines are same throughout India.

By concluding the conference, Director Health & Family Welfare thanked all the representatives of various Media Houses for their presence and asked for the support in terms of awareness generation.