SBI Foundation announces slew of measures to fight COVID-19 battle

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh– April 30, 2020: As the Nation faces an unprecedented challenge, true to its vision and mission SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India, has committed Rs.30 cr to implement various COVID relief programmes all across India. SBI Foundation has geared up to assist in the war against COVID and has planned the following interventions:

As the Nation faces an unprecedented challenge, true to its vision and mission SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India, has committed Rs.30 cr to implement various COVID relief programmes all across India. SBI Foundation has geared up to assist in the war against COVID and has planned the following interventions:

· Food relief support

· Strengthening healthcare infrastructure

· Capacity building of healthcare workers

· Research on COVID related projects in tie up with IISc.

To implement these initiatives, SBI Foundation has set up a new flagship program on Health theme. Distribution of ventilators, PPEs etc to critical hospitals and supply of 10000 freshly cooked meals daily in 4 centres of India have already been initiated. SBI Launching of Project Echo India in partnership with ECHO India and MoHFW to provide training and mentoring to 50000 healthcare professionals across various states, has been another achievement by SBI Foundation. Another program launched is the India COVID-19 Healthcare Alliance (ICHA) with USAID, a health care initiative to supplement the efforts of the State and Central Governments.

Shri Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI stated, “We, at SBI, have always believed in giving back to the society and the nation. Today, when the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for the Country, we hope our humble initiatives would make a difference in our collective fight against COVID-19. SBI is constructively engaging in collaborative and proactive action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Our pensioners have gone the extra mile by contributing generously to the COVID relief fund in response to my appeal and have become a true force for good at this time of national crisis. We would like to extend a personal thank you to all of them, our partners for their added support and encourage more corporates and public sector enterprises to join us in our war against COVID-19,”

A COVID-19 relief fund was also launched by SBI Foundation to mobilise funds for fighting COVID-19 pandemic. SBI Mahila Samiti President Smt. Reeta Agarwal exhorted the wives of employees to donate for the cause and there was overwhelming response resulting in huge collection. The funds will be used to supply ventilators to critical hospitals all across India and in providing food kits to the needy.

Smt Reeta Agarwal said, “This contribution signifies that the ladies club members all over India vigorously rallied and united to mobilize funds to support those suffering from the effects of COVID-19. I believe it is our duty as relatively more fortunate citizens of India, to rise to the occasion to mitigate the pain and anguish of our fellow citizens. Our members all across India are proud to be able to help make a difference in the fight against this virus.”

SBI Foundation, was set up in 2015 with the aim of reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to enriching the lives of the marginalized and be the leading institution for promoting growth and equality. Within a short span of 4 years SBIF has worked with the most vulnerable and underprivileged communities across India facilitating their integration into the mainstream development process of the country. Making resources available to the vulnerable and needy has always been the ethos of the Foundation.

About State Bank of India (SBI): State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers and employees. It is also the largest mortgage lender in the country. As on December 31, 2019, the bank has a deposit base of over Rs. 31 lakh crore with CASA ratio of little more than 44% and advances of nearly Rs. 23 lakh crore. SBI commands 34% market share home loans and 34.86% in auto loans segment. The Bank has the largest network of 21,959 branches in India with an ATM / CDM network of over 58,500. The number of customers using internet banking facility are 70 million and mobile banking services stand more than 16 million. Downloads for YONO – an integrated digital and lifestyle platform by SBI – is over 41 million with 4.5 million logins per day. On social media platforms, SBI has the highest number of followers on Facebook and Twitter amongst all banks worldwide.

About SBI Foundation: SBI Foundation is the CSR arm of State Bank of India which was launched in 2015 to carry out its CSR activities as well as those of its subsidiaries. As the CSR arm of the premier bank of India, SBI Foundation aims to be the leading institution promoting growth and equality responsive to the communities it serves, particularly the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society.

Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited Contributes One Crore Rupees to the PM CARES Fund in Fight against COVID-19

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 30, 2020: Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. (BFIL), a 100% subsidiary of IndusInd Bank, has contributed 1 Crore Rupees to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund). The fund was set up in March by the Government of India to help fight the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India received the cheque from BFIL representatives at the North Block office in New Delhi yesterday. He appreciated the company for coming forward and strengthening the fight against COVID 19.

Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. (BFIL), a 100% subsidiary of IndusInd Bank, has contributed 1 Crore Rupees to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund). The fund was set up in March by the Government of India to help fight the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India received the cheque from BFIL representatives at the North Block office in New Delhi yesterday. He appreciated the company for coming forward and strengthening the fight against COVID 19.

In addition to this contribution, BFIL has been tirelessly working to help state governments in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka to get access to essential medical equipment like testing kits, PPEs, and other sanitation requirements and also train frontline health workers to protect themselves against the virus.

Mr. MR Rao, MD & CEO, BFIL said, “We are witnessing an unprecedented crisis and the entire BFIL family stands in solidarity with the nation. With this contribution to PM CARES Fund and many other initiatives at the grassroots level, we are providing all possible relief to needy people in villages and small towns across India.”

The PM CARES Fund will be used to fight the health emergency brought about by COVID-19, ramp up research and strengthen healthcare and pharma facilities in India.

About Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited:

Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited is a 100% subsidiary of IndusInd Bank Limited with presence across 20 states covering 1,20,000 villages. The states include: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Haryana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Assam, Tripura, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

Burger King India & Delhi Police partner to provide burgers to orphanages

Police distributing burgers given by burger King to the needy people

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 28, 2020:

Burger King India partnered with Delhi Police to distribute burgers to children in orphanages and community clusters amidst the current COVID-19 crisis.

The Don Bosco Ashalayam and Auxilium Snehalya in Palam Village and Asha Grah Children Home for Boys and Girls in Dwarka were served with burgers as mid day snacks. Further, kids of JJ clusters in the area of Vikas Puri, GTB Enclave, Madhu Vihar, R.K Puram and Kalkaji were also served burgers. As part of this partnership, Burger King distributed 5000 burgers.

Burger King India’s ‘Crown Standard Delivery’ ensures safe delivery of food from the kitchen to the communities. The staff delivering the meals wear protective gear like masks and gloves to ensure safety. Since Covid – 19 outbreak, Burger King has further strengthened its robust restaurant procedures around food safety, cleanliness and hygiene and increased its sanitization frequency in all restaurants across the country.

Srinivas Adapa, CMO Burger King, said: “We work closely with police officers in our communities on a regular basis and in these unprecedented times, we would like to salute them for their selfless service to the nation. We are honoured to partner with the Delhi Police to provide safe and hygienic food to children in this hour of need.”

The Delhi Police also appreciated the brand gesture and were happy to partner with this initiative which brought a smile on the faces of young kids

Life Insurance Corporation “LIC” SHOWS GREAT PERFORMANCE AMID COVID-19 LOCKDOWN – Improves Number of Policies, First Year’s Premium, Market Share, Settles more than 2 Crore Claims

LIC

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 28

In these difficult times of business distress caused by Covid-19, Life Insurance Corporation
of India, India’s largest life insurer, continues to better its performance. In the just
concluded financial year 2019-20, LIC has achieved its highest number of policies for the

last six years.

Individual New Business performance of the Corporation as at March 2020
has shown impressive figures of 2.19 crores in number of policies and Rs 51,227 crores in
first year premium income.

While ensuring growth in Number and Premium both, inspite
of the truncation of the most productive fortnight of the year, the Corporation has achieved
a healthy business mix.

It collected Single premium of Rs 21,967 crores and Non Single
premium of Rs 29260 crores , the ratio being 42.88 for single premium and 57.12 for non
single premium.

LIC Pension and Group Schemes Vertical created a new record by clocking more than One
Trillion Rupees Premium Income during the Financial Year 2019 – 20.

LIC collected Rs
126,749 Crores as Group Schemes New Business Premium Income as against Rs 91,179
crores in the previous year with a growth rate of 39.01% and a market share of 80.54% as
compared to 77.94% last year.

Overall, LIC has achieved an impressive growth rate of 25.17% in first year new business
premium as compared to private players who have collectively achieved a premium growth
rate of 11.64.%. The industry’s positive growth in policies is also due to LIC’s superlative
performance.

The Corporation’s Composite Market Share in No. of Policies and First Year
Premium as at 31st March 2020 is 75.90% and 68.74% respectively which is an increase of
1.19% in No. of Policies and 2.50% in First Year Premium.

Overall, LIC has achieved an impressive growth rate of 25.17% in first year new business
premium as compared to private players who have collectively achieved a premium growth
rate of 11.64.%. The industry’s positive growth in policies is also due to LIC’s superlative
performance.

The Corporation’s Composite Market Share in No. of Policies and First Year
Premium as at 31st March 2020 is 75.90% and 68.74% respectively which is an increase of
1.19% in No. of Policies and 2.50% in First Year Premium.

On the Claims Front also, inspite of severe constraints of lockdown, upto 31.3.20, LIC
settled 2.03 Crore Maturity and Money Back Claims and Annuities. It also settled 7.50
lakhs of Death claims . Annuity payments due in March 2020 and April 2020 have also been
settled on due dates.

LIC credits it outstanding performance to the unflinching trust of its customers and the
dedicated efforts of its entire team of employees, agents and channel partners who worked
with tremendous zeal during extremely challenging circumstances.

Paytm and Vodafone Idea enter exclusive partnership to launch ‘Recharge Saathi’ for prepaid customers

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 23

– Program to help Vodafone and Idea customers to stay connected
– Empower individuals and small businesses to earn additional income
– With easy registration process, anyone can start selling Vodafone and Idea recharges on Paytm app

Chandigarh, 23rd April, 2020: India’s leading digital payments & financial services platform Paytm and Vodafone Idea, India’s leading telecom service provider, today announced an exclusive partnership enabling Paytm to exclusively power prepaid mobile phone recharges for Vodafone Idea under ‘Recharge Saathi’ program.

As part of the program, any Paytm Customer including pharmacists, milk booth operators, newspaper vendors, even individuals such as security guards can recharge any Vodafone Idea number and start earning. All recharges and transactions would happen securely on the Paytm app in the Prepaid/Postpaid payments section under the ‘Stay at Home Essentials’ category.

Vodafone Idea’s ‘Recharge Saathi’ program empowers individuals and small businesses to earn an additional livelihood. They can start selling mobile recharges by just downloading and registering on the Paytm app. Vodafone Idea will also give an assured cashback to merchant partners for multiple recharges. Individuals and small businesses would be able to earn up to an additional Rs 5,000 every month under the ‘Recharge Saathi’ program.

Paytm is the top destination for mobile phone recharges in the country. Over the last few weeks, the company in an effort to effectively fight COVID-19 has taken several measures to ensure that citizens can make all possible payments from the safe confines of their homes. It has revamped its app and prioritized essential payments including utility bills, mobile phones, and DTH recharge among others. This has helped Paytm to further witness a 42 percent increase in mobile phone recharges across the country.

Abhay Sharma, Senior Vice President – Business, Paytm said, “This is a great initiative to empower people as well as help them earn an additional livelihood. Prepaid mobile phone recharges is a very important category for us. While we already are India’s top destination for prepaid mobile recharges, this exclusive partnership with Vodafone Idea will help us further expand our reach and make deeper inroads into the country.”

Avneesh Khosla, Marketing Director, Vodafone Idea said, “It has been our constant endeavor to ensure that all our customers remain connected at all times, especially now, during the current national lockdown. We believe that this partnership with Paytm will help a large number of our prepaid customers who are digitally unengaged to remain connected without having to step out to recharge. This partnership will enable digitally connected individuals and small businesses to sell recharges and earn a livelihood.”

From strengthening networks through India’s largest deployment of ma-MIMOs, to maintaining 24×7 network monitoring through central SNOC and virtual war rooms, to ensuring speedy and efficient addressal and resolution of network concerns even in the remotest locations through the field engineer heroes, Vodafone Idea has been undertaking multiple initiatives to ensure seamless connectivity to all customers during these unprecedented times. Vodafone Idea is enabling customers to recharge at ATMs, recharge via SMS, and is also encouraging digitally savvy customers to recharge for friends & family members through “Recharge for Good” program.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

Zee Live’s Arth- A Culture Fest to launch a new Digital Format

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 21 2020:
After a successful Season 2 in Kolkata & Delhi and keeping the current lockdown in consideration, Zee Live is all set to launch the Digital format of Arth: A Culture Fest on 22nd April, 2020.

The Fest aims to keep its audiences entertained in the comfort and safety of their homes. From keeping kids constructively engaged through storytelling sessions in collaboration with Karadi Tales to other forms of infotainment, Arth has covered it all with a perfect line up which will be Live on Zee News’ YouTube Channel from Wednesday, 22nd April to Friday, 24th April; 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm. The sessions will include interactive series on storytelling, history, literature, culture

& art, where one can engage and interact with Authors, Historians and Artists.

The first week will have eminent speakers like Amish Tripathi, Kishwar Desai and Methil Devika, who will spread the love for literature and art in the lockdown period. The schedule for the live sessions is as below:

• Storytelling in association with Karadi Tales – 3:30 pm to 4 pm:

o 22nd April, Malavika PC will narrate Bablu and the Mouse

o 23rd April, Janaki Sabesh will narrate Little Vinayak

o 24th April, Chitra Soundar will narrate Farmer Falgu

• Panel Discussions – 4 pm to 4:45 pm:

o 22nd April: A session on Demystifying our Gods: Amish Tripathi in conversation with DK Hari & Hema Hari

o 23rd April: Glimpse of history- Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story by Kishwar

Desai.

o 24th April: A session on Decoding the Indian Classical Dance – Mohiniyattam by

Methil Devika

Speaking on the launch of this new format, Shreyasi Goenka, Founder and Director, Arth, said: “With everyone locked in their home and social distancing becoming the new norm, it is important to stay calm, introspect, meditate and stay optimistic. We want to help bring positivity in these difficult times. Launching Arth through a Digital format is one such initiative and we are extremely delighted about it. Through this initiative we wish to use the values and richness of Indian Art, History, Literature and Culture and inspire people to look inward and discover what we as Indians stand for, what we are forgetting, what we criticize and why and ultimately, how we can all move forward. We also endeavor to educate the children on the power of our Indian Mythology so that their understand their roots and learn from the lessons of the past.”

Swaroop Banerjee, COO & Business Head of Zee Live said, “Just about two months ago, we wrapped up Arth, that has in just two years, grown to become one of the most prominent cultural celebrations of India. The festival saw over 20,000 attendees on ground and some of the most respected people in Indian culture, politics, music and literature as speakers. We are now, along with our community or artists and academicians, taking Arth to people’s homes in these tough times and using the wonders of Indian art and culture as a means to heal and survive this pandemic together.”

Shobha Viswanath, Publisher, Karadi Tales said “Staying at home with energetic kids we know, can be a challenge. Ever since we opened up the treasure trove of our stories at Katha with Karadi, children, parents and grandparents have been looking forward to experience the rich narrative, visuals and music which is the hallmark of Karadi Tales. Hope we will be able to brighten up their lives during the lockdown.”

Arth – A Culture Fest is a first of its kind multi-regional culture festival that aims to Rediscover, Reconnect and Revisit India through art, culture, literature, politics, society, music, dance & cuisine. The festival reflects the richness of India, one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Arth also showcases India’s history, geography, languages, scientific achievements and artistic contributions.

AboutArth:

Arth – A Culture Fest is an Intellectual Property of ZEE. Arth isn’t merely a festival, but a culture quest that will keep alive the meaning of our culture. This festival focuses on literature, culture, society, music, traditions, history and art. Arth is a platform for lovers of art and culture to learn and celebrate Indian culture across all its dimensions. The season 2 of the festival will be hosted in Kolkata and Delhi between January and February 2020.

AboutZee LIVE:

Zee LIVE is the Live entertainment and IP vertical of ZEEL which creates Live Original Content, on- ground IPs in Culture, Food, Comedy, Education, Music, Gaming and Kids. Zee LIVE also has a branded original content division focused on client owned consumer properties. Zee LIVE aims to take homegrown on-ground content overseas and collaborate with global producers to bring iconic live entertainment experiences home. Some of the flagship IPs of Zee LIVE include: Arth – A Culture Fest, Baleno Wicked Weekends, Maruti Suzuki Zee Theatre, ZEE Educare, and Supermoon.

ZEE joins hands with SBI Life Insurance to create ‘WE CAN, WE WILL!’ anthem

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 20 :

As India grapples with the COVID-19 outbreak, it is important more than ever for the nation to stand together and fight the current challenge. Zee Entertainment joined hands with SBI Life Insurance and Mindshare to produce the ‘WE CAN, WE WILL!’ anthem, which involves 27 TV artists singing the anthem in their local languages to invigorate the nation to unitedly fight against COVID-19.

As one of the largest protagonist led initiative, ZEE through its prowess in regional channels, got its star protagonists to sing the song from their respective homes in regional languages like Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Assamese and Odia, thereby reflecting the nation’s true spirit of unity in diversity. The stars also urged viewers to share their videos through their social media handles.

Popular names joining this initiative include, Anita Date from Mazyha Navryachi Bayko fame, Zee Marathi; Tiyasha Roy from Krishnakoli, Zee Bangla; Ananya Dash from the show Dibya Dristi, Zee Sarthak; Madhumita from the popular show Kodalu No 1; Ayesha Vishnu from Sathya, Zee Tamil; Aniruddha Jatkar from Jote Joteyali, Zee Kannada and Amala Gireeshan from Chembarathi fame, Zee Keralam.

Expressing his views on the collaboration, Ashish Sehgal – Chief Growth Officer, Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. , said, “As a network, ZEE has always believed in ‘Customer First’ and this venture of creating an anthem of collective unity for SBI Life with ZEE is truly one such classic example from our Content & Partnership team. ZEE through its inspiring characters and stories, endeavours to provide the spark that encourages its viewers during this period to draw from their inner strength and take charge of their destinies. Similarly, SBI Life with the thought of ‘WE CAN, WE WILL!’ anthem to inspire the collective willpower of the nation, hit a synergy with ZEE when they during difficult times thought of creating this anthem to rally our nation’s battle against the corona outbreak. The WE CAN, WE WILL! anthem has been executed with 27 powerful influencers of ZEE in 9 languages from their homes and edited remotely to take it live across the network through a roadblock, truly exemplifying ZEE’s philosophy of Extraordinary Together through an extraordinary feat, and also living the philosophy of WE CAN, WE WILL! while working on it. We look forward to more such partnerships with SBI Life to be able to tell more such stories in the future!

Talking about this association Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand & Corporate Communications, SBI Life Insurance*, said, “The Corona virus outbreak has thrown up multiple, unprecedented challenges for people from all walks of life, the entire nation is exploring solutions to tide through this crisis. In current times of self-isolation, the ‘WE CAN, WE WILL !’ anthem is our humble effort to lift the spirits of every individual and remind them that as a nation we need to stay together, as with our collective will power WE CAN and WE WILL overcome the biggest of challenges.” He further added, “By collaborating with ZEE Network celebrities singing the anthem in their own regional language we hope to lift the spirits of individuals and communities across the length and breadth of India. These are admittedly challenging times, but we truly believe that our collective force as a nation should not be undermined, as no challenge is daunting enough to overcome with India’s unique strength of unity in diversity, together WE CAN, WE WILL! protect our nation.”

Mr Amin Lakhani, Chief Operating Officer Mindshare South Asia, said, “These are indeed challenging times for mankind. People from all walks of life have been affected in some way or the other. There’s massive uncertainty, anxiety and boredom that is impacting our morale. This initiative is our humble effort to help uplift the spirit of our nation. “We Can, We Will!” is a unique anthem. For amplifying this message, ZEE was the perfect partnership. It deployed its huge network presence throughout India and with the help of 27 celebrities in 9 languages reinforced the belief that together India can, and India will win!”

About ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)

ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) is a worldwide media brand offering entertainment content to diverse audiences. With a presence in over 173 countries and a reach of more than 1.3 billion people around the globe, ZEEL is among the largest global content companies across genres, languages, and platforms. With its brand ideology and purpose – “Extraordinary Together”, ZEEL aspires to provide a unified brand experience and to delight consumers across the world by creating extraordinary entertainment and experiences that inspire to transcend the ordinary and become extraordinary.

ZEEL is present across broadcasting, movies, music, digital, live entertainment and theatre businesses, both within India and overseas. ZEEL has more than 260,000 hours of television content and houses the world’s largest Hindi film library with rights to more than 4,800 movie titles across various languages. ZEEL has also produced several movies for theatrical release and is the fastest growing music label in India. It has presence in the digital space with ZEE5 and has also ventured into live events

BasicFirst announces its ‘Doubt Clearing App’ for students in India

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 18 2020:

With an aim to support the students in their academic pursuits amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, BasicFirst Learning OPC Pvt. Ltd. has come up with a new version of the BasicFirst Doubt Clearing App for students where the average response time for all queries is just 32 minutes via in-app chats. Teachers are available from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, ensuring students can clear doubts whenever any query arises.

The Doubt Clearing App is India’s first platform to resolve doubts through live sessions with experienced teachers via in-app chatting. BasicFirst caters to students from classes 6^th to 12^th belonging to all Boards (including CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and other State Boards such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Bihar) and major competitive examinations – IIT Main, JEE Advance, NEET, AIIMS, NTSE, Olympiads and more.

The BasicFirst Doubt Clearing App offers tailored packages to meet unique needs at a cost-effective monthly subscription. BasicFirst is also offering a 14-days free trial on all packages, post completion of which students can have their doubts cleared for as low as 0.75 Rupees to 3 Rupees depending upon the complexity of the question.

On the release of the app, Randhir Kumar, Founder, CEO & Chief Mentor – BasicFirst Learning OPC Pvt. Ltd said: “Due to Coronavirus, all educational institutions have shut down and exams have been suspended without a date in sight, the education system is in a limbo, where does this leave the students? Our duty is to provide the students with an interactive platform that helps them promote their academic goals efficiently by drastically reducing the time required in resolving doubts. We always put students first. Therefore, we want to ensure an entirely stress-free learning process.”

BasicFirst has also introduced a “Refer & Earn” system wherein students can earn referral points by inviting their friends to try the BasicFirst App. These points can be redeemed for various options. Furthermore, there is an option for students to donate these earned points to noble causes through the App itself. BasicFirst will donate the respective amount to NGOs, which can be viewed from the donation activities in the application.

RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTING MEASURES TO BRING THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, 17^th April, 2020:

Apart from undertaking stringent measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and to ensure the welfare of those grappling with the crisis at the ground-level, the Government of Rajasthan has announced few impactful measures to steer the state out of the economic juggernaut that the proliferation of COVID 19 and the subsequent lockdown is likely to bring in.

While the Government of Rajasthan, led by Mr. Ashok Gehlot had imposed total curfew in Bhilwara municipal area and a state-wide complete lockdown days before the nation-wide lockdown was imposed by the centre, its economic implications on the State had been critical. With demand plummeting and with lesser availability of labour force, it will take at least 3 months for the industry to recoil to normalcy.

Speaking on the economic impact, the Government had stated that, while the revenue is almost nil, expenditure has multiplied exponentially. The realised revenue between March 10 and March 31, 2020 is roughly Rs 3500 crore less than the revenue in the same period a year earlier, ie. 2019. Also, between 1st and 7th April, the revenue collected is Rs 300 crore less than the revenue collected between April 1 and April 7th, 2019. The collection of commercial tax, excise and other taxes which normally take place in the last week of March, has also been severely impacted due to the lockdown. In terms of expenditure, over Rs 2600 Crore has been spent on PPE equipment, ventilators, an increase in the number of testing of patients and in other welfare measures such as the distribution of wheat through PDS’s, etc among 5 crore people. While 5Kg of wheat is provided by the central Government, the state Government is also distributing another 5Kg for free, to the needy. Apart from this, social security pensions have also been increased.

Besides, a special group has also been set up under the chairmanship of the former finance secretary who is currently an advisor to the Chief Minister. This said group is working on specific activities that are to be taken up to minimize the economic impact of COVID 19, once the lockdown is lifted in a phase-wise manner.

Further, the Chief Minister has written letters to the Prime Minister, demanding the release of grants from the PM Cares fund, deferment of loan payments sans interest and several other measures to meet the state’s financial requirements in these times of slowdown. The CM has also requested for a Rs 1 lakh crore package to be given to all states, basic criteria such as the size of the population and the number of COVID 19 positive cases in the concerned State. As per the calculation, Rajasthan’s share in the package is approximately around Rs 5,000 crore. Additionally, the Chief Minister has also requested the centre to allocate the state share in central taxes for the month of April at the beginning of the month. In the normal course, the share is given at the month-end.

To tackle the impending financial insolvency, the Government has also requested to escalate the state’s borrowing limit by two percent and to expeditiously release pending GST compensations. The Rajasthan Government has already announced the partial suspension of gross salaries across four key segments (70 percent, 60 percent, 50 percent, and 30 percent) from the level of the chief minister to employees, except for those in medical and healthcare services, police constables, class IV employees, and contractual workers, for the month of March.

The Government has also deployed a number of measures to help the farming community. For example, a 21-day advance payment has been given to the farm labourers so that they can purchase essential items and food, in the midst of lockdown and social distancing.

Also, since harvesting of crops starts in Kota from 15th March onward and in the rest of the state, from April 1 onward, procurement from Kota will start from 16th April, while for other districts, registration will start from 16th April. In order to stagger the crowd and to reduce the transportation distance, the Government has doubled the number of collection centres. Earlier Mandis were the regular collection centres, now, 400 GSS (Gram Seva Samiti) have been roped in and many more mandis. It has also requested the center to increase the limit of 25% of procurement for MSPs to 50%, so that farmers and the needy are benefitted and also those who are living in the quarantine camps, including the destitute. The administration is putting in all possible efforts to ensure that none of the State’s residents face any problems in gaining access to essential items. The State Government has asked the centre to make FCI food stocks available for all as the warehouses are currently full to the brim.

Inspite of the lockdown and sealed borders, the transportation, and supply of essential commodities has been consistent across the State. In order to ensure this, the Government had earlier issued a revolutionary order wherein it granted automatic permission to all already permitted industries to operate without the need for any separate permission, with strict instructions to take all precautionary measures against the spread of COVID 19. There are around 200 such continuous industries, including manufacturers of food, drugs, Ayush drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, coal and minerals, and hygiene products as well as the industries that are providing raw material to these industries, among others. Rajasthan also supplies raw materials and other supplies to many other states

VODAFONE IDEA EXTENDS PROVISION OF UNRESTRICTED INCOMING SERVICE TO 90 MN LOW INCOME PREPAID CUSTOMERS USING FEATURE PHONES TILL 3RD MAY 2020

Sakht Khabar corespondent,

Chandigarh, April 17 :

In an endeavour to ensure that low income, prepaid customers using feature phones remain connected amidst these troubled times, Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), has announced the extension of incoming services for these users till 3^rd May 2020. This free of cost extension of incoming service validity will enable millions of feature phone users of both Vodafone and Idea to continue to receive incoming calls, even if the validity of their plan expires earlier.

This incoming validity extension is being credited in the accounts of all eligible customers, as fast as possible, over the coming days. With this special initiative for low income feature phone users , Vodafone Idea customers can now continue to remain fully connected with their dear ones and access relevant, latest updates from local authorities.

Avneesh Khosla, Marketing Director, Vodafone Idea said, “Our endeavor is to ensure that all our customers remain connected at all times without worrying about any disruption, especially in these troubled times. In order to ensure that consumers stay connected during this extended lock down, we are extending the incoming service validity of 90 mn consumers till May 3^rd. This would effectively mean that these consumers can use their phones for receiving incoming calls unhindered.

Customers availing Vodafone Idea’s services can continue to recharge their accounts using various options like

• Apps – MyVodafone App, MyIdea App

• Websites – www.vodafone.in, www.ideacellular.com

• E-Wallets – Like PayTM, Google Pay, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, etc.

· Bank ATMs etc.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India

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Sakht Khabar Correspondent,
Chandigarh, 16 April:

To cater to the growing data demand of subscribers amidst the Covid-19 lockdown, Vodafone Idea has upgraded and enhanced capacities of over 450 sites in Punjab circle.

Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, citizens have been confined to their homes, completely dependent on telecom networks to study, work, access essentials, source information and entertainment, thus necessitating this upgradation.

In the last one year, Vodafone Idea has undertaken massive modernization of the network in Punjab while integrating the networks of erstwhile Vodafone and Idea, and has introduced new technologies into the network. Deployment of over 1200 TDD and Hundreds of Massive MIMO equipment have enabled rapid scale up of capacities and made network future fit.

The enhanced network of Vodafone Idea offering unmatched network quality has been acknowledged by OpenSignal which has reported the operator to be delivering Fastest Download and Upload Speeds in Chandigarh in its April ’20 report .

To keep up with the rise in data usage by residents of Punjab during lockdown, Vodafone Idea has been continuously monitoring network to ensure optimum efficiency in urban and rural Punjab.

Field engineer teams on the ground are working 24×7 to keep connectivity up and running. The capacity of sites has been doubled in some locations and tripled in other locations.

The cities and towns covered under the latest technology/network upgradation are: Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Firozpur, Moga, Pathankot, Gobindgarh, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala.

At a national level, Vodafone Idea has recorded a year’s worth of traffic in just one week, said Vishant Vora, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited. “We continue to augment capacity to accommodate the enormous quantum of growth in traffic post declaration of national lockdown. The longer people stay ‘in’, the busier the data highway will get. Vodafone Idea has also integrated networks across circles, leading to better capacity headroom, while best in line technology deployment has enhanced efficiency of spectrum utilization”, added Vora

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.
Chandigarh, 16th April, 2020: To cater to the growing data demand of subscribers amidst the Covid-19 lockdown, Vodafone Idea has upgraded and enhanced capacities of over 450 sites in Punjab circle. Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, citizens have been confined to their homes, completely dependent on telecom networks to study, work, access essentials, source information and entertainment, thus necessitating this upgradation.
In the last one year, Vodafone Idea has undertaken massive modernization of the network in Punjab while integrating the networks of erstwhile Vodafone and Idea, and has introduced new technologies into the network. Deployment of over 1200 TDD and Hundreds of Massive MIMO equipment have enabled rapid scale up of capacities and made network future fit.
The enhanced network of Vodafone Idea offering unmatched network quality has been acknowledged by OpenSignal which has reported the operator to be delivering Fastest Download and Upload Speeds in Chandigarh in its April ’20 report .
To keep up with the rise in data usage by residents of Punjab during lockdown, Vodafone Idea has been continuously monitoring network to ensure optimum efficiency in urban and rural Punjab.
Field engineer teams on the ground are working 24×7 to keep connectivity up and running. The capacity of sites has been doubled in some locations and tripled in other locations.
The cities and towns covered under the latest technology/network upgradation are: Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Firozpur, Moga, Pathankot, Gobindgarh, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala.
At a national level, Vodafone Idea has recorded a year’s worth of traffic in just one week, said Vishant Vora, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited. “We continue to augment capacity to accommodate the enormous quantum of growth in traffic post declaration of national lockdown. The longer people stay ‘in’, the busier the data highway will get. Vodafone Idea has also integrated networks across circles, leading to better capacity headroom, while best in line technology deployment has enhanced efficiency of spectrum utilization”, added Vora
About Vodafone Idea Limited
Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

With 91% completion of network integration, Vodafone Idea emerges as the leader in 4G network performance

Sakht khabar correspondent,
Chandigarh, April 15, 2020

As per the latest biannual mobile network experience report by OpenSignal, Vodafone Idea Limited has emerged as the leader across key parameters such as Download speed, Upload speed and Video experience.

With 91% Districts in India already integrated, the strength of the integrated network and combined spectrum assets under Vodafone Idea TurboNet 4G have already started showing marked improvements across major markets in India.

OpenSignal’s April ’20 report analyses data speed and experience across 48 cities versus 42 in the previous edition. VIL has shown highest improvement in city ranks on various parameters, as compared to any other operator in India.

1. With 4G Download speed of 10.8 Mbps (a 52.1% improvement) for Brand Vodafone and 10.3 Mbps for Brand Idea (an improvement of 56.1%) – as compared to just 15.9% increase for the next best operator, in April ’20 report vis-à-vis April ’19 report – VIL ranks No. 1 in Download speeds across 32 major cities including Metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and others. The operator is a close second in 12 other cities.

2. Vodafone Idea also took the Numero Uno position in terms of Upload speeds across 29 out of 48 cities. Once again, Vodafone Idea recorded highest upload speed in major cities and metros including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh etc. VIL has been the consistent leader in upload speed as per test reports by other major testing agencies including TRAI MySpeed.

3. In 4G video experience – a very important network experience indicator – Vodafone Idea again took the top position with Brand Vodafone showing improvement of 30% YoY and Brand Idea 21.4%. The operator leads in 24 out of the 48 cities benchmarked in this study and ranked No. 2 in 16 cities.

4. In 4G Voice App Experience – a parameter added in this edition of the report – Vodafone Idea ranks No : 1

Vodafone Idea is committed to serving its customers even during the current pandemic. The world’s largest network integration and capacity enhancement through deployment of latest technologies has helped VIL to cater to the increased demand ever since customers have taken to measures of social distancing and work from home. VIL has ensured uninterrupted services and the teams are putting best efforts to ensure all service touchpoints are accessible to its customers to stay connected digitally via My Vodafone and My Idea Apps.

Vodafone Idea TurboNet 4G delivering faster download, upload speeds and better video experience is also enabling its customers to access a whole range of new digital infotainment content on Vodafone Play and Idea Movies & TV apps.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India

Australian e-learning platform Matific forays into India

Sakht khabar correspondent,
Chandigarh, 15 April 2020:

Matific, an online Maths resource for kids from primary to Grade 6, has ventured into the burgeoning ed-tech market in India, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. To address the gap in teaching Maths, Matific has launched its award-winning solution Matific Galaxy, for the India home market at an affordable price. The solution has been designed by mathematics professors and curriculum experts for parents looking for the most updated and engaging solutions that are aligned to their child’s school curriculums.

Matific Galaxy features hundreds of engaging maths activities aligned with school curriculums of ICSE, CBSE boards. Matific’s home product aims to provide a solution to conventional home-schooling and ensure that kids are well prepared for the future and up to pace until the lockdown period ends. This top-rated app features hundreds of fun maths games covering maths skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. Matific’s evidence-based content has been proven to help improve students’ math results by 34%. The program provides parents with access to a dashboard where they can keep track of their child’s mathematics achievements and progress.

“Given the current environment, schools institutions are going online around the world as they send students home with no timeline for return. Matific’s solutions enable students to continue their learning process. Matific Galaxy is an award-winning unique platform offering online gamified Maths resources and engaging activities that promote conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills for kids from Nursery to Grade 6.”

Matific Galaxy is offering an annual plan for just INR 210 per month,which is a practical choice considering its high-quality content and costly solutions in the education space. Matific also offers a 7-day free trial for students. Apart from offering the most advanced and relevant content at the most affordable price, Matific Galaxy works in offline mode as well, taking out the significant overheads of data consumption.

Matific has several games and stimulating maths activities, each of which is equally gripping so that kids end up playing for hours, and learning maths in a process of self-guided discovery. Playful interactions, colourful characters, and gamification help ease math anxiety and boost math confidence amongst students.

Matific is present in over 45 countries with adaptability in 26 languages across the world and has proven to help improve student’s math test scores by 34%. Used by thousands of teachers worldwide, Matific provides relief to parents and enjoyable experience to children during a time of uncertainty. Every day over thousands of teachers and students log in for online teaching and learning.

Available both on Google Play and App Store, Matific Galaxy program can be accessed on desktop, tablets and mobile devices.

About Matific:

Matific is part of a global educational technology company whose founders include top Australian businessman Leon Kamenev, who has launched several high-profile online companies including Menulog and HotelClub. Matific aims to make maths fun and engaging for all students. The Matific Galaxy App was launched in May 2018 to introduce a new, fun, and simple way of approaching maths that simultaneously helps young students develop a lifelong appreciation for the subject and its applications. The Matific resource, which is currently in 45 countries and translated into 26 languages, has been getting excellent results worldwide.

ICICI Group commits Rs. 100 crore to fight COVID-19 pandemic

Sakht khabar correspondent,
Chandigarh, 15 April

ICICI Group today announced that it has committed Rs. 100 crore to support the nation in its fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. Of this, the Group pledges to contribute Rs. 80 crore to the ‘PM Cares Fund’ and Rs. 20 crore to state governments and local authorities in their efforts to battle the pandemic. The sum of Rs. 100 crore is being contributed by ICICI Bank and all its subsidiaries.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Sandeep Batra, President, ICICI Bank said, “ICICI Group has always partnered the nation—at the times of progress as well as in times of need. The outbreak of COVID-19 has thrown an unprecedented challenge to the nation and its citizens. It demands us to stand together and fight the challenge.

Our pledge to the ‘PM Cares Fund’ as well as state governments and local authorities is part of our commitment to join the Central Government and the local authorities in their fight against the pandemic. This is our humble way to salute the heroic efforts of the people, who are at the forefront of this challenge. We are confident that the country will win this battle and emerge victorious.”

As part of the contribution to state governments and other authorities, ICICI Group including ICICI Foundation, the CSR arm of ICICI Group, is working actively to assist them in their tireless efforts to safeguard citizens of the country.

So far, the ICICI Group has provided over 2.13 lakh surgical masks, over 40,000 N95 masks, 20,000 litres of sanitisers, 16,000 gloves, 5,300 personal protection equipment (PPE) suits, 2,600 protective eye gear and equipment like 50 thermal scanners and 3 non-invasive category ventilators to various state departments and hospitals. The Group will continue to serve the people who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID -19 pandemic.

ICICI Bank is also assisting the central government, state governments and municipal corporations in their efforts to collect donations digitally. The Bank has received mandate of collections for the ‘PM CARES Fund’. Further, several state governments and local bodies have provided similar mandates to the Bank to receive donations/ contributions.

Honda 2Wheelers India pledges support to its dealer family to maintain business continuity

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 13, 2020:
As the nation-wide lockdown now enters its 3^rd week, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today announced its next set of strong relief measures designed to support sales and service business partners across India during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic situation.

With its unprecedented scale and subsequent nationwide lockdown, COVID-19 has severely impacted the business continuity of dealer partners, who were already under immense pressure due to the 16-month-long demand industry slowdown.

Elaborating on how Honda as a responsible corporate is committed to taking care of its dealer partners in these uncertain times, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. Said, “In this challenging times, Honda 2Wheelers India has extended an exhaustive financial support package for its dealers. The support package will effectively provide immediate liquidity to our dealer partners and we are confident that it will comprehensively ease their business continuity anxiety & improve cash flow. Providing yet another major support, Honda shall also bear the interest cost of the BS-VI vehicles inventory at all its dealers for the entire 21-day lockdown period.”

Honda’s slew of measures includes advance payments of incentives and reimbursements across the 3 functions (sales, service and spare parts), Buy-back of the BS-IV inventory lying unsold with few dealers majorly in Delhi NCR area; and also entirely bearing the interest cost of BS-VI inventory (Physical plus Transit) with the dealers for the 21 days of nationwide lockdown.

Honda had earlier announced extension of timeline by 2 more months to customers whose free service & warranty was scheduled during lockdown (15^thMarch to 15^th April). Honda also released payments approximately amounting to Rs. 1,700 Crores to all its suppliers, dealers and service providers on time. This further eased the liquidity crunch that its business partners faced due to the sudden Covid-19 lockdown situation, and supported them for timely payment of March salaries to their workforce and vendors.

Honda family says Stay Home, Stay Safe:

Parallely, Honda and many of their dealer partners, as One Honda family continue to proactively fight for the cause and contribute to the society. On April 1st, Honda India foundation – the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Honda group companies in India pledged 11 crore aid towards COVID-19 relief and preventive measures. Honda Associates across all 5 Honda group companies too have voluntarily pledged to donate their 1 days salary towards the total relief aid. Across India, dealers too have contributed through free distribution of meals & food grains to the needy, Free masks & sanitizer distribution, funds donation to State/ Central Government etc

Safety tips to keep in mind while you opt for moratorium

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, 13 April, 2020:

The coronavirus outbreak has impacted our lives. In order to help their customers, whose
cash flows may have been impacted due to lockdown, many banks are extending the facility
of the moratorium (deferment of EMIs). However, it is advisable that the customer, who has
not been financially affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, should pay EMIs regularly as
deferment of instalments would attract interest. Since a large number of customers are
opting for deferment by using the internet banking sites of their respective banks, a new
breed of fraudsters are working overtime to dupe unsuspecting customers.

In some cases, fraudsters are calling customers, asking them for an OTP to avail the
moratorium announced by banks to defer their EMIs. Once the OTP is shared by the
customer, the fraudsters siphon off money from their account immediately.

To create awareness and protect customers from such fraudsters, ICICI Bank has come up
with a safe banking advisory which includes key safety tips that customers need to keep in
mind while transacting through mobile banking.

1. Do not share OTP to avail EMI moratorium: Your bank will never call you or send you an
email for your OTP or password details to postpone your EMI or interest payments
(moratorium). Never share any confidential or private information like OTP, debit/credit
card numbers, CVV numbers, netbanking/mobile banking password, customer id, UPI
PINs etc. with anyone asking for verification including bank employees.

2. Disable the ‘Auto Save’ or ‘Auto Complete’ features on your mobile banking app: Do not
enable auto-fill or save user IDs or passwords for mobile banking and internet banking
transactions. Though it’s convenient, it can be risky.

3. Don’t respond to phishing texts: Do not follow URL which you receive from unknown
sources or disclose personal information or online banking credentials via e-mail or text
message as these can be used for identity theft.

4. Beware of verification calls: The caller usually pretends to be a bank representative or
someone from the bank’s technical team. After giving a false sense of security, the caller
then tricks the victim into giving away their personal and confidential data. When in
doubt, always call or email the Bank or financial service institution related to your bank
and ask them about the call.

5. Conduct account check-ups: It is equally important to be aware about your financial
health. Regularly check your bank accounts to keep a track of your money. Each time
you make a transaction, go back and check the balance to ensure that right amount has
been paid or received. In case of any discrepancy, immediately contact your bank.

6. Turn on notifications: Keep the email and SMS notifications from your bank turned on. It
will inform you about any transactions made from your account. This will help you identify
fraudulent transactions and inform the Bank in time.

7. Safety measures while doing UPI transactions: To do safe and easy banking, NPCI has
introduced UPI payments system. Several banking features, fund routing, collection
requests and payments request can be done seamlessly. While doing transactions, a
customer should know that a pin is needed only to make payments and not while
receiving. S/he should restrict access to screen-sharing apps and never share pin, card
and OTP details.

Swaraj offers facility of a standby tractor to help farmers amid Coronavirus

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Mohali, April 13, 2020:

Swaraj Tractors, a part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group, has come forward to support the farming community in the midst of the prevailing Coronavirus pandemic. The company is offering a standby tractor during the harvesting season which will help farmers during these this critical time. The company has launched a slew of initiatives under its ‘Aapke saath hai Aapka Swaraj’ campaign.

Delivering on its promise of ‘Solid Bharosa’, Swaraj is offering a 24×7 assistance to its customers through its call center. Customers can contact the toll free number of 18004250735 for information related to service and spare parts. All Swaraj dealers and service teams will also be just a phone-call away for helping the farmers during this critical situation.

The harvesting season is a very critical period for farmers. Due to the current pandemic, Swaraj did not want them to face any difficulty with regard to their tractors and hence launched this scheme. As always, Swaraj will stand next to the farmers as a customer centric organization.

Swaraj stands committed to support the farming community in these unforeseen circumstances. Standby tractors of Swaraj will be available at different locations offered by dealers on first cum first serve basis.

In addition Swaraj’s Corporate Social Responsibility wing is continuously engaged in various activities to support the medical fraternity and public at large. Masks, sanitizers, ECG machines and protective suits for doctors and paramedical staff have been donated to PGIMER and Government Medical Collage and Hospital in Chandigarh. Essential grocery items including wheat, flour and rice have been distributed to the needy in Mohali district.

IMCL LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE PACKAGES FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO STAY CONNECTED

 

Mr Vynsley Fernandes, CEO, IMCL

 

 

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 8, 2020

IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd. (IMCL), the media vertical of the global Hinduja Group has implemented a slew of innovative products and solutions to help its Local Cable Operators (LCOs) and its millions of subscribers across India; ensure access to quality content – amidst the Covid-19 lockdown. IMCL, which owns a digital cable platform (InDigital) and is the only HITS platform (NXTDIGITAL) in the country – has rolled out a significantly low-cost package for subscribers called the Vishesh Manoranjan Pack. This pack, which gives subscribers access to over 400 television channels includes the popular NXT Value Added Services package – comprising upwards of 20 unique channels for its subscribers. The package can be activated immediately and LCOs have up to 16^th April 2020, to make the payment. The credit period effectively allows for LCOs to collect the payment after the lockdown is lifted.

Further, to ensure uninterrupted dissemination of critical information during this challenging period, IMCL has worked with its LCO partners to activate its special InfoPack; at zero cost for customers who are unable to make any payment. This will enable subscribers to stay connected with all Doordarshan channels, including news and entertainment.

These packages come close on the heels of a slew of initiatives taken by IMCL to ensure safety of its LCOs and subscribers. IMCL has provided critical awareness and education through its national network of LCOs, multiple platforms and portals – in 11 languages; through posters, pamphlets, e-books and video messaging. To help subscribers remain connected, IMCL has extended its online recharge facility through Easebuzz – where subscribers can make their payment directly to their LCOs online; thereby eliminating any level of interaction.

Commenting on these initiatives, Vynsley Fernandes, CEO, IMCL said, “We remain committed towards the well-being of our LCO partners and subscribers. At the time of a global crisis, our endeavor is to consistently create awareness and the dissemination of critical information; to ensure the safety and protection of all our stakeholders. These packages, especially our InfoPack at zero cost, are in line with that philosophy.”

DURING LOCKDOWN, VODAFONE IDEA IS ENABLING CUSTOMERS IN PUNJAB TO AVAIL SERVICES AND DO RECHARGES ONLINE

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 08, 2020:

To ensure customers in Punjab remain connected during the lockdown, Vodafone Idea is enabling its customers to avail all services and recharges through the digital platform.

Vodafone Idea customer service teams are creating awareness among customers on accessing and taking the benefit of digital platforms through video links, GIFs, dockets that explain the process for undertaking recharge and effecting bill payments. Recharge process details are also being communicated via my Vodafone app, my Idea app and enabled via digital wallets. Pre-paid customers can also undertake recharges through their nearest Bank ATM. Additionally, Vodafone Idea is requesting digital savvy customers to help their friends, relatives and neighbors who are not familiar with digital platforms.  With retail outlets being non-operational during the lockdown, Vodafone Idea is helping its 2G customers using feature phones, to access Quick Recharge through SMS. The process is simple and easy to understand. Customers in Punjab just need to send a SMS from their registered mobile number. In some cases customers will have to complete the process by giving a missed call to a designated number.

Quick Recharge through SMS
•       E.g. SBI Bank : SMS to 9223440000
SMS Format: Stopup<space>Userid<space>MPIN<space>VODAFONE/IDEA<space>10 digit Mob No<space>Amount

Quick Recharge through SMS and Missed call
•       E.g.  HDFC Bank : SMS and Call to 7308080808
1st Step SMS:  ACT<space> VODAFONE/IDEA<space>Last 5 digits of Bank Acc
2nd Step SMS: FAV<space>98XXXXXXXX<space>Amount
Confirm your recharge by giving a call
3rd Step: Give missed call to 7308080808

Similarly, the recharge facility is available with other major banks like ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Kotak, IndusInd etc.

The facility is already live and can be used by customers using their registered mobile numbers.

As one more convenience factor, Vodafone Idea is enabling Cross Recharge at all their outlets. Once the retail outlets re-open, Vodafone prepaid customers will be able to recharge at Idea retail outlets and Idea customers will be able to recharge at Vodafone retail outlets.

Vodafone Idea customer service personnel in Punjab have been going the extra mile in lockdown conditions to help customers urgently needing addressal of concerns. At several locations, customer service associate contact details have been put up outside the stores for customers needing personal intervention. Even while working from home, senior customer service managers have also been monitoring and attending to customer requirements varying from KYC compliance, SIMEX procedures as well as handset re-setting.

Bhilwara Model sets example at Global level to break the chain of Coronavirus outbreak

Shop in Gandhi Bazar, Bhilwara, Rajasthan taking appropriate measures to avoid close contact between customers

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, 6 April, 2020

Bhilwara, once labeled as the epicenter of COVID-19, is coming back on track after the dedicated efforts of Ashok Gehlot led Rajasthan Government & local administration. Healthcare workers, home guards, police personnel, government officials and every other individual related to the screening of COVID-19 patients and are working without any leaves, almost all hours a day. It’s just not the duty they are serving, it’s a city, a state and a country they are saving.

The first case in Rajasthan was reported on March 2, 2020 and strict actions were taken in the state on the very first day. “Nearly 5 crore people are screened and 1 crore 17 lakh household have been tested till now. Things were also controlled with imposition of curfew and today, 34 places are under curfew in Rajasthan,” said Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot.

Adding further, “2 km area of a person found COVID-19 positive is sealed and checks are done. Today, out of total number of positives in Rajasthan, nearly 30-32 are the evacuees from Iran at Jaisalmer & Jodhpur. People with travel history or any contact with positive patients are being isolated and checked. The only worry is of people who are coming out positive and have no history of either travel or contact.” “Officials of the Central government are in touch with the Chief Secretary and they mention Bhilwara whenever they have video conferencing. We sealed the borders the day we got to know about the case of the doctor being positive with the virus in Bhilwara and it is becoming a learning ground after the commendable efforts.” ”22 lakhs families from villages, nearly 10 lakh households in the city were tested and that’s how Bhilwara is today an example in the fight against corona in India,” said Chief Minister AShok Gehlot.

In India, few hotspots of COVID-19 were listed, which were also known as the epicenters of coronavirus. Bhilwara emerged as one from Rajasthan in the list of 10 major spots. At one time, 12 out of 18 cases of the state were from here and Bhilwara was leading the tally. With 27 cases, the district was considered the worst hit in Rajasthan and for a few days, at the national level too.

But following the hard work & efforts, the city is now standing tall with 17 recoveries with 11 discharged. “We are now on a war-footing level and working in a 6-part process beginning with the imposition of curfew, coordination work of police surveying colonies where the visitor’s of Bangar Hospital, where it all began, might be staying,” said Harendra Mahawar, SP, Bhilwara. He further added, more than 5,000 people were listed who were consulted by the COVID-19 positive doctor of Bangar Hospital. Patients of IPD and OPD were also screened.

To break the chain of contamination, nearly 6,000 people were identified and put under isolation in only 2 days. The struggle just began as patients of almost 19 districts and 4 states were in the hospital when a sudden rise of positive patients was reported. Every single individual was put in strict isolation and a curfew was imposed within 15 minutes on strict orders without harming the supply of food & other essentials. CLG members, community leaders, and religious gurus were approached and appealed to motivate the public to stay home. Initiatives were launched, appealing videos were made and few unwanted social elements faced legal action too. Nearly 600 vehicles have also been seized.

“Team of healthcare officials led by Chief Medical & Health Officer Dr. Mushtaq Khan did a commendable job followed by tremendous efforts from the local administration and other staff,” said Mahawar. Speaking on the same, Dr. Mushtaq Khan, CMHO stated that, “We worked parallely on precaution and treatment, both were done together to control the outbreak.The main task was to identify the relatives of the first patient and isolate them. I would say that it was done on a war-footing level and everything got under control at the right time.” Adding further, “We are regularly tracking the patients even after we release them. As of now, 11 patients have been discharged after 3 negative reports of each one of them. People trusted us, they supported us and with efforts from both the sides, today Bhilwara is standing strong and lockdown has played a major role in breaking the chain.”

Speaking on the developments, Rajendra Bhatt, District Magistrate, Bhilwara said, “We have deployed corona fighters in villages who are led by the corona captain, the SDM. They submit daily reports on the screenings in rural areas and if there is any sign of community spread. I can proudly say that as of now, the numbers have gone down and each & every department is working together to fight this pandemic. Whether it is food & supplies, police, home guards, medical workers, and the public, we are fighting the battle together & have almost come out of it.” “We have extended a total shutdown for a few more days and people will get everything they need at their doorstep. No shop, dairy, the medical store will be open. If people want something, they will directly call us, whether it is medicine, food or anything else. For this, at least 4-5 control rooms of several departments are being operated and we are fulfilling demands. It is a necessary step to control the outbreak and bring out a total COVID-19 free Bhilwara in the coming few days. With the pace we are getting desired results, we will stop this soon.” As Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has promised ‘koi bhuka nahi soyega’ (nobody will sleep hungry), we are making every essential reach household as per their demand.

The administration has acquired 42 hospitals with dedicated beds for positive patients, 1551 bed quarantine facilities prepared at hotels and other such establishments. Other than that, places have been identified where if needed, an infrastructure of 10-15,000 beds can be developed. The senior officials are using every given chance to motivate their subordinates and have also deployed 3-tier security for the healthcare officials. A barricading outside the premises, a check at the entrance gate and a deployment of cops at the isolation ward has played a major role in making Bhilwara a role-model to hold the outbreak with discipline. Deputy SP has been deployed who looks after sanitizing medical staff before they enter the premises or take the duty charge. 25-30 lakh screenings have been done in the past few days and daily reports are being sent to either the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

For 3 days now, the city which was named COVID-19 patients very frequently has reported only 1 positive who had a history of visiting the corona affected hospital. Adding another feather in the cap, the hard work and dedication of district administration has also recovered patients. Once standing high with 27 patients, the district now has only 7 COVID-19 patients as reports of 17 have now come negative and two lost their lives due to other illnesses.

“We sealed the city and later the whole district boundaries were strictly sealed. The population of the city has been screened at least 3 times now and people having normal cough & cold due to weather change (influenza-like illness), who were in thousands, were also checked and surveyed. Those having symptoms were put under isolation or quarantine. People also cooperated and it was under control. There was a time when Rajasthan had 18 patients and 12 were from Bhilwara,” said Rajendra Bhatt, DM, Bhilwara.

Honda sells 261,699 two-wheelers in March’20 with 5% growth Closes FY2019-20 with 5 million+ total sales

Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria – Director, Sales & Marketing, HMSI

Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria – Director, Sales & Marketing, HMSI

 

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 2, 2020: 

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. closed March 2020 with total sales of 2,61,699 units as against 2,49,136 units in March’19. Honda’s domestic sales in the month of March grew 11% from 2,22,325 units last year to 2,45,699 units in March’20 while exports moderated at 16,000 units.

 

Overall, the challenging fiscal 2019-20 saw the domestic two-wheeler industry sales slowdown for the 16^th straight month. Honda closed FY2019-20 (April 2019 to March 2020) with total sales of 50,31,297 two-wheelers. This includes domestic sales of 47,06,572 units and exports of 324,725 units.

 

In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Honda suspended its operations across the country on 22^nd March.

While adhering to the lockdown in full spirit, Honda’s associates working-from-home are ensuring business continuity and all possible support to its business partners during this difficult period. We have ensured all due payments for the month of March’20 are released to our business partners on time including some advancements to support all our service providers to give salaries timely to their respective associates.

 

Parallely, Honda is fully supporting customers during this period. For all customers whose scheduled free service/ warranty/ extended warranty was originally ending between 15th March to 15th April 2020, Honda has extended the same by another 2 months.

 

Speaking on the current market scenario, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Honda was the first two-wheeler manufacturer to lead the BS-VI transition almost 6 months ahead of the deadline with Activa 125 BS-VI in September’19.  Over 6.5 lac customers are now experiencing #AQuietRevolution led by Honda’s six advanced BS-VI models. Despite all efforts, 2019-20 has been a challenging year in more ways than one. COVID-19 impact derailed industry’s plans and has severely impacted the automobile ecosystem – right from supply chain to dealers. As a responsible manufacturer, Honda is committed to taking care of all its stakeholders and society at large in these uncertain times.”

 

Fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility for society at large, Honda India Foundation has pledged Rs. 11 crore aid to combat the deadly impact of COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of this aid, Honda is supplying 2,000 units of Honda engine powered high pressure backpack sprayers to various Govt agencies and will also contribute financial aid to Central & State governments’ relief funds. Honda associates across all 5 Honda group companies in India have voluntarily pledged to donate one day’s salary towards the total relief aid. Additionally, Honda will support local administration by making available its ambulances stationed at all plants for medical emergencies and provide food packets for the poor and underprivileged in these difficult times.

Vodafone Idea extends a helping hand to ~100 mn low income, prepaid customers using feature phones

 

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 2, 2020:

The unprecedented situation arising from the outbreak of COVID 19 has created several hardships, especially for low income, prepaid customers using feature phones. To ensure that such customers remain connected amidst these troubled times, Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), one of India’s leading telecom service providers, today announced:

• Extension in validity of its prepaid plans, availed by low income customers using feature phones, till 17^th April 2020. This free of cost extension in plan validity timeline will enable millions of feature phone users of both Vodafone and Idea to continue to receive incoming calls, even if the validity of their plan expires earlier.

• Talk time credit of Rs.10/- in the account of nearly 100mn feature phone using customers to ensure that they continue to stay connected with their family and friends by making calls or sending SMS.

This validity extension and talk time is being credited in the accounts of all eligible customers, as fast as possible, over the coming days.

Avneesh Khosla, Marketing Director, Vodafone Idea said, “Our customers must remain connected without worrying about any disruption, especially in these troubled times. Extending plan validity and crediting talk time will particularly benefit migrant workers and daily wage earners, whose lives and livelihoods have been most unsettled due to the precautionary lockdown. Our network teams are already operating 24X7 to ensure seamless connectivity.”

With this special initiative for low income feature phone users , Vodafone Idea customers can now continue to remain fully connected with their dear ones and access relevant, latest updates from local authorities.

Johnson & Johnson Announces a Lead Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19; Landmark New Partnership with U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; and Commitment to Supply One Billion Vaccines Worldwide for Emergency Pandemic Use

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 2, 2020:

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced the selection of a lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate from constructs it has been working on since January 2020; the significant expansion of the existing partnership between the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA); and the rapid scaling of the Company’s manufacturing capacity with the goal of providing global supply of more than one billion doses of a vaccine. The Company expects to initiate human clinical studies of its lead vaccine candidate at the latest by September 2020 and anticipates the first batches of a COVID-19 vaccine could be available for emergency use authorization in early 2021, a substantially accelerated timeframe in comparison to the typical vaccine development process.

Through a landmark new partnership, BARDA, which is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Johnson & Johnson together have committed more than $1 billion of investment to co-fund vaccine research, development, and clinical testing. Johnson & Johnson will use its validated vaccine platform and is allocating resources, including personnel and infrastructure globally, as needed, to focus on these efforts. Separately, BARDA and the Company have provided additional funding that will enable expansion of their ongoing work to identify potential antiviral treatments against the novel coronavirus.

As part of its commitment, Johnson & Johnson is also expanding the Company’s global manufacturing capacity, including through the establishment of new U.S. vaccine manufacturing capabilities and scaling up capacity in other countries. The additional capacity will assist in the rapid production of a vaccine and will enable the supply of more than one billion doses of a safe and effective vaccine globally. The Company plans to begin production at risk imminently and is committed to bringing an affordable vaccine to the public on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use.

Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson, said, “The world is facing an urgent public health crisis and we are committed to doing our part to make a COVID-19 vaccine available and affordable globally as quickly as possible. As the world’s largest healthcare company, we feel a deep responsibility to improve the health of people around the world every day. Johnson & Johnson is well positioned through our combination of scientific expertise, operational scale and financial strength to bring our resources in collaboration with others to accelerate the fight against this pandemic.”

Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson, said, “We greatly value the U.S. government’s confidence and support for our R&D efforts. Johnson & Johnson’s global team of experts has ramped up our research and development processes to unprecedented levels, and our teams are working tirelessly alongside BARDA, scientific partners, and global health authorities. We are very pleased to have identified a lead vaccine candidate from the constructs we have been working on since January. We are moving on an accelerated timeline toward Phase 1 human clinical trials at the latest by September 2020 and, supported by the global production capability that we are scaling up in parallel to this testing, we expect a vaccine could be ready for emergency use in early 2021.”

 

Johnson & Johnson’s Lead COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate

Johnson & Johnson began efforts in January 2020, as soon as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sequence became available, to research potential vaccine candidates. Research teams at Janssen, in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of Harvard Medical School, constructed and tested multiple vaccine candidates using the Janssen AdVac® technology.

Through collaborations with scientists at multiple academic institutions, the vaccine constructs were then tested to identify those with the most promise in producing an immune response in preclinical testing.

Based on this work, Johnson & Johnson has identified a lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate (with two back-ups), which will progress into the first manufacturing steps. Under an accelerated timeline, the Company is aiming to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study in September 2020, with clinical data on safety and efficacy expected to be available by the end of the year. This could allow vaccine availability for emergency use in early 2021. For comparison, the typical vaccine development process involves a number of different research stages, spanning 5 to 7 years, before a candidate is even considered for approval.

For more than 20 years, Johnson & Johnson has invested billions of dollars in antivirals and vaccine capabilities. The COVID-19 vaccine program is leveraging Janssen’s proven AdVac® and PER.C6® technologies that provide the ability to rapidly develop new vaccine candidates and upscale production of the optimal vaccine candidate. The same technology was used to develop and manufacture the Company’s Ebola vaccine and construct our Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccine candidates which are in Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical development stages.

Expanded Antiviral Research 

In addition to the vaccine development efforts, BARDA and Johnson & Johnson have also expanded their partnership to accelerate Janssen’s ongoing work in screening compound libraries, including compounds from other pharmaceutical companies. The Company’s aim is to identify potential treatments against the novel coronavirus. Johnson & Johnson and BARDA are both providing funding as part of this partnership. These antiviral screening efforts are being conducted in partnership with the Rega Institute for Medical Research (KU Leuven/University of Leuven), in Belgium.

As announced in February 2020, the Company and BARDA have been working closely with global partners to screen Janssen’s library of antiviral molecules to accelerate the discovery of potential COVID-19 treatments.

COVID-19 belongs to a group of viruses called coronaviruses that attack the respiratory system. There is currently no approved vaccine, treatment or cure for COVID-19.

For more information on Johnson & Johnson’s multi-pronged approach to combatting the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/coronavirus.

Vodafone Idea extends a helping hand to ~100 mn low income, prepaid customers using feature phones

 

Sakht Khabar Correspondent,

Chandigarh, April 2, 2020:

The unprecedented situation arising from the outbreak of COVID 19 has created several hardships, especially for low income, prepaid customers using feature phones. To ensure that such customers remain connected amidst these troubled times, Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), one of India’s leading telecom service providers, today announced:

• Extension in validity of its prepaid plans, availed by low income customers using feature phones, till 17^th April 2020. This free of cost extension in plan validity timeline will enable millions of feature phone users of both Vodafone and Idea to continue to receive incoming calls, even if the validity of their plan expires earlier.

• Talk time credit of Rs.10/- in the account of nearly 100mn feature phone using customers to ensure that they continue to stay connected with their family and friends by making calls or sending SMS.

This validity extension and talk time is being credited in the accounts of all eligible customers, as fast as possible, over the coming days.

Avneesh Khosla, Marketing Director, Vodafone Idea said, “Our customers must remain connected without worrying about any disruption, especially in these troubled times. Extending plan validity and crediting talk time will particularly benefit migrant workers and daily wage earners, whose lives and livelihoods have been most unsettled due to the precautionary lockdown. Our network teams are already operating 24X7 to ensure seamless connectivity.”

With this special initiative for low income feature phone users , Vodafone Idea customers can now continue to remain fully connected with their dear ones and access relevant, latest updates from local authorities.

Vodafone Idea is going the extra mile to keep customers in Punjab connected during Covid pandemic

Chandigarh, April 2, 2020: During the current lockdown due to Corona pandemic, connectivity is the most important service for people to connect with their loved ones and work from home. Vodafone Idea’s engineers have been working tirelessly over the past weeks to support customers in Punjab stay safe at home by ensuring Vodafone Idea’s 4G+ network availability.

A comprehensive pandemic response plan with requisite risk mitigation protocols has been activated while ensuring continuity of mission critical processes for keeping networks working as telecom is an essential service. VIL has been continuously monitoring traffic patterns and is confident of handling the growing demand of voice and data services during the lockdown period.

On ground example on Network continuity efforts in Punjab:

Fiber cut restored in Punjab despite lockdown PRI services down at a key Internet Service Provider in Punjab affecting services to a large number of internet and cable TV customers. Technical team armed with all relevant documentation and protection gear visited the location, rectified and restored connectivity in record time.

At a national level, Vodafone Idea has set up virtual war rooms where key team members are participating through Concalls and VCs. Senior team members from operations / circles / SNOC and partners are continuously on call with field to ensure uptime and operational continuity.

Business Continuity Plans are being diligently reviewed across all operations, through flagship Super NOC, located in Pune and Hyderabad, the nerve center of all 22 circles with centralized monitoring and control of Network, geo-redundancy.

12000+ ma-MIMOs (by far the largest deployment in the country) across key markets are substantially helping in managing the national traffic spike.  Vodafone Idea is also deploying capacities across using all means including addition of COW sites wherever appropriate.

The Govt realizes the critical role of telecom services during this crisis and has been taking necessary steps to enable smooth functioning of telecom operations.

At VIL, the health and safety of employees remains a top priority. While majority of the team members have been enabled to work from home, certain certain critical facilities have been operating with scant staff to enable undisrupted services to customers 24X7, as per Govt orders of operating essential services.

The Company has organised temporary stay arrangement at data centre locations, made food and groceries available at

critical locations and been providing vehicle on duty to facilitate movement of technical staff to sites.

VIL Network engineers are working in the field with utmost care by following the social distancing protocols.

Other Examples:

• Daily briefings on Safety, Social distancing to all field and non-field staff
• Drive test teams, FRT, Patrollers provided with masks, gloves and sanitizers
• Daily stock taking of well-being of people
• NW team connected 24×7 over phone/mails/whatsapps/VCs
• Vehicles are tagged with “Emergency Telecom Services” stickers
• Each field engineer carries 3 documents – DOT letter, Personal ID and Employee ID

 

About Vodafone Idea Limited

 

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.