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<keyword id="13135498" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat-Titans" source="Orion">Gujarat Titans</keyword> have swiftly shed their newcomer status in the <keyword id="6354831" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League" source="Orion">Indian Premier League</keyword> (<keyword id="6354312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="Orion">IPL</keyword>) despite their relatively recent entry just two seasons ago. Their impressive debut season victory and subsequent second-place finish have firmly established their prowess on the cricket pitch. Now, they hope to emulate this excellence off the field as well, by embarking on a series of initiatives aimed at environmental sustainability and fostering a <keyword id="21195854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="circular-waste-economy" source="Orion">circular waste economy</keyword>. Embracing the adage ‘environmental stewardship starts at home’, Gujarat Titans have forged a strategic waste management alliance with <keyword id="1517498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nepra" source="Orion">Nepra</keyword> Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. (NEPRA) for their home games during the <keyword id="20898019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TATA-IPL-2024" source="Orion">TATA IPL 2024</keyword> season at Ahmedabad's <keyword id="10818893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi-Stadium" source="Orion">Narendra Modi Stadium</keyword>. This partnership focuses on <keyword id="6408774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="waste-segregation" source="Orion">waste segregation</keyword>, recycling, and educating fans about sustainable waste management and hygienic practices, paving the way for a cleaner and greener stadium environment. In 2011, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) paved the way for sustainability-related initiatives, by donning a green uniform and planting trees to spread awareness. Other IPL franchises from across the country are also making strides in sustainability. Recent reports reveal that Chennai Super Kings have teamed up with IIT Madras to champion sustainable initiatives, while Rajasthan Royals have renewed their partnership with Schneider Electric, aiming to cultivate a community of environmentally aware individuals. The collaboration of Gujarat Titans with NEPRA, aiming for a "<keyword id="21195853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zero-waste-to-landfills" source="Orion">zero waste to landfills</keyword>" objective, will centre on establishing a circular waste economy. NEPRA will take charge of the efficient collection and transportation of waste, leading initiatives to raise awareness among stadium stall operators. Additionally, mindful of the <keyword id="6404408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon-footprint" source="Orion">carbon footprint</keyword> of visiting fans, Gujarat Titans aim to minimise GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the Scope 3 category. They plan to achieve this through collaboration with Gujarat Metro for transportation, the adoption of electric vehicles, and the use of public buses during the team's five home matches. Emphasising the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship through sustainability, GT COO Colonel Arvinder Singh said: “Responsible behaviour on and off the field is an integral part of our conduct at Gujarat Titans. We are alive to the challenges that all of us face and shall strive to make a difference with our sustainable initiatives. Our partnership with NEPRA will enable us to contribute significantly to waste reduction and encourage fans to preserve the environment while enjoying the games.” These initiatives mark a significant advancement from the Titans' previous endeavours during IPL 2023, where they focused on minimising waste sent to landfills and promoting plastic reuse through partnerships with organisations like Bisleri. The recycling of plastic into benches for schools exemplifies their dedication to community engagement and environmental conservation. Such concerted efforts of IPL franchises towards environmental sustainability are poised to inspire sports franchises and fans globally, setting a commendable precedent for collective action in promoting eco-conscious practices.

Batting for the environment: Gujarat Titans kickstart sustainability and circular waste economy initiatives

<ul><li>Technology solutions like in-work systems enable <keyword id="18966" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hotel" source="Orion">hotel</keyword> guests to use more self-service alternatives, significantly reducing staff responsibilities while enhancing customer satisfaction.</li><li>Leveraging tech tools has helped hotels direct employees towards urgent and high-priority activities that require personalised engagement and support.</li><li>Few hoteliers will forget 2020 in a hurry. With hotels forced shut, almost 40% employees lost their jobs while an equivalent number suffered salary cuts and furloughs, according to consulting firm HVS Anarock.</li></ul>Faced with a manpower glut, stringent social distancing norms, evolved guest expectations and massive drop in occupancy, hotel companies turned to technology to overcome these challenges. Samir MC, managing director of Fortune Park Hotels, a member of ITC Hotels Group, recalled how solutions like in-work systems, which enabled guests to use more self-service alternatives, significantly reduced staff responsibilities and enhanced customer satisfaction. "Mobile check-in and self-ordering technology in restaurants make it simpler to check into hotels without requiring one-on-one interaction from hotel staff. Moreover, frequent or foreseeable activities can be handled automatically, through the use of technology," he added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Flagging off the digital journey" comment="subhead" text="Flagging off the digital journey">Flagging off the digital journey</cmsannotation> Besides digitalizing most of its communication and offerings to drive business, ITC Hotels undertook steps like QR code-enabled communication in rooms, digital menus and contactless payment options as it adapted to the new normal. In fact, QR codes for all collaterals, digital menus in restaurants, digital invoices, WhatsApp bot for guest interaction, and even a press reader for newspapers became par for the course. Hotel Manager <keyword id="127335" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="prashant-chadha" source="Orion">Prashant Chadha</keyword> recalled how The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake’s operations continue to remain tech-driven from the perspective of guest navigation, housekeeping and F&amp;B services. "Our keyless check-ins and QR codes at restaurants ensured the need for lesser staffing. However, going completely remote and tech-driven is not the objective; rather the focus is being tech-savvy in our operations while considerate of our guests’ needs," he added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Customers sound the tech call" comment="subhead" text="Customers sound the tech call">Customers sound the tech call</cmsannotation> Stressing on creating a ‘digital advantage’ during the company's 2021 earnings call, IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts' CEO Keith Barr said, "This is vital to enabling a seamless technology experience across the guest journey, from driving direct bookings and creating integrated digital experiences for our guests to delivering revenue-enhancing solutions for our owners." In 2021, the company partnered with Josh.ai to pilot a voice-controlled smart room at California’s Kimpton Rowan hotel. Since occupancies were in single digits in early 2021, hotel companies concentrated on the events business, which had switched to the hybrid model. IHG partnered with <keyword id="15041118" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="weframe" source="Orion">WeFrame</keyword> for its ‘Meet with Confidence’ global programme, while Hyatt collaborated with Swapcard platform to debut ‘Together By Hyatt’ in April 2021. Raoof Dhanani, managing director at Sayaji Hotels, explains that most hotels also started using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots with inbuilt booking engines to increase direct bookings and capture guest data at the same time. "It also sends automated emails, location, availability, quote and property images and videos to the guests as per their requirement," he noted. Having tasted the fruits of technology, <keyword id="183920" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="marriott-international" source="Orion">Marriott International</keyword> went a step further and launched the Marriott Design Lab at its Bethesda headquarters this January. Rather than work in isolation to accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies, it collaborated with companies like Carrier and LG to optimise HVAC efficiency in modular hotel designs, adding more vendors to this list. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Out with the old" comment="subhead" text="Out with the old">Out with the old</cmsannotation> After a long journey, contemporary hotel guests often want to grab a shower and a meal rather than engage with hotel staff. A Skift study titled 'Hospitality in 2025: Automated, Intelligent and More Personal' found that 73% travellers want to use their mobile device to manage their hotel experience, including checking in and out, paying, ordering food, and more. Aware that fulfilling these needs, or at least meeting it halfway, is key to winning guest attention and thereby their loyalty, hoteliers are increasingly mindful of their tech investments. A first mover, Marriott, for instance, rolled out IoT services as early as 2018, signing up to Amazon's Alexa for Hospitality room assistant technology to allow voice control functionality to be installed in guestrooms. Integrating IoT technology gives guests the power to customise their room settings, including lighting, temperature and curtains. Moreover, since employees can remotely monitor the performance of in-room devices, it means lesser staff on the floor. Additionally, hotels can conserve energy costs by turning off heating or air conditioning when the room is unoccupied. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="An eye on the cost" comment="subhead" text="An eye on the cost">An eye on the cost</cmsannotation> By leveraging technology, hotels can direct a lean workforce towards urgent and priority tasks that require personalised engagement and support, thus easing their workload. Moreover, it can simplify their HR procedures, reduce expenses and also boost revenue generation by cross-selling services. Imagine visiting the hotel's spa and getting a discount on a healthy breakfast the next day! Chadha believes that the more efficient the processes, the less time is wasted, which reduces costs and increases productivity and revenue. "As compared to 2019, our operating costs have gone down, with a significant rise in efficiency. This has happened by streamlining tasks and improving our overall quality and reliability," he states. However, these tech deployments come with a caveat – don’t lose the human touch. <keyword id="1417520" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rohit-pandey" source="Orion">Rohit Pandey</keyword>, Hotel Manager of Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru notes that while technology and automation help bring better efficiency, the service industry cannot operate without the human touch or interaction and personalisation. "Whilst designing the standard operating procedures for the hotel and planning on technology; we smartly adapt systems to smoothen guest journeys. All human touch points remain intact or are enhanced with technology’s adaptation," he emphasised. The hospitality industry traditionally underinvested in technology, spending less than 5% of their net room revenue. However, digitalisation is now on every hotelier's mind. Using it mindfully will help them create a frictionless guest experience and bring down operating costs while navigating the labour shortage, making it a win-win situation for all. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tata-investment-corporation-stock-almost-doubled-investors-money-in-just-six-months/articleshow/94336887.cms">This Tata group stock doubled investors money in just six months</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/snack-maker-annapurna-swadishts-sme-ipo-is-subscribed-by-190-times/articleshow/94332255.cms">Snack maker Annapurna Swadisht’s SME IPO is subscribed by 190 times</a>

Saving costs, managing manpower, enhancing guest experience: The various ways technology is helping the hospitality industry

<keyword id="6358777" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword>, As India's <keyword id="390059" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="smartphone-market">smartphone market</keyword> registered a massive year-over-year (YoY) growth of 42% in October shipping 21 million units, 25% of the market sat in top tier cities -- New Delhi, <keyword id="6358070" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, Bengaluru, <keyword id="12864" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354925" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> -- registering more than 50% YoY growth in October. According to the IDC, the next set of emerging markets, namely Jaipur, <keyword id="6361586" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gurgaon">Gurgaon</keyword>, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bhopal and Coimbatore, also grew by nearly 50% YoY. However, the rest of the states (up-country markets) registered slower growth (average 25%), primarily owing to looming economic concerns and consumer spending narrowing to essentials only, according to <keyword id="9841807" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-international-data-corporation">the International Data Corporation</keyword> (IDC) India Monthly Smartphone Tracker. The leading 50 cities accounted for 55% demand nationally. "Despite delayed deliveries due to restrictions in several zones, consumers went for online purchases, especially on third party e-Tailer platforms, registering 23% YoY growth with 50% share," the report showed. Bigger cities leaned heavily towards online channels, with 57% online share in the top 5 metros. "But supply constraints remained, impacting offline channel sales as a result of fewer retail walk-ins". While Xiaomi led in 34 of the major 50 cities within the online channel, Vivo led in 44 of the major 50 cities within the offline channel. Half a million 5G devices were sold, with almost 80% from the top 10 cities of India. "Though 5G is a driver from a technological advancement standpoint, uncertainties on spectrum availability, clear use cases and high prices might restrict its uptake to few bigger cities initially," said Sachin Mehta, Market Analyst, Client Devices, IDC India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/wistron-apple-iphone-manufacturer-could-face-these-penalties-if-found-guilty/articleshow/79790319.cms">If investigators find Wistron management guilty, here's what is at stake for the company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-what-analysts-say-if-you-should-subscribe-or-not-to-the-300-crore-ipo-of-antony-waste-handling-cell/articleshow/79790998.cms">Antony Waste Handling Cell ₹300-crore IPO will open on Monday— these are the risks and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ikea-india-cfo-says-she-still-has-3500-crore-to-be-spent-in-india-the-pandemic-has-changed-targets-but-not-the-investment-plan/articleshow/79790938.cms">INTERVIEW: Ikea CFO says she still has ₹3,500 crore to be spent in India⁠— the pandemic has changed targets but not the investment plan</a>

Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata to capture 25% of smartphone market in October

<keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword> didn’t earn the sobriquet of India’s Silicon Valley overnight. The city, which began its transformation from a lush farmland to the country’s IT destination in early 1980s when the then chief minister Gundu Rao allowed Texas Instruments to set up an overseas development centre near HAL Airport in the suburb, is now home to close to 40 per cent of the country’s 1 million IT professionals. It is also housing more than 3,000 software firms and close to 50 hardware companies and the leading ones among these alone generate annual revenues of close to $20 billion, a sizable portion of the $85 billion the country earns yearly by exporting software, technology related services. 
 While Bengaluru’s meteoric growth as a hot <keyword id="6419180" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="IT-hub">IT hub</keyword> is amply celebrated by media, corporate, civic society and the government, the unprecedented damages is has caused to the environment and health of those who reside in the city is not even talked about. For instance, the city produces close to 20,000 tonnes of <keyword id="6361522" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="E-waste">e-waste</keyword> per year; this figure is rising 20 per cent per year and the amount of computer waste across the country is likely to increase by nearly 500 per cent by 2020, according to a recent report by the Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (<keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Assocham">ASSOCHAM</keyword>). 
 
E-waste or electronic waste is broadly contributed by electrical or electronic devices, which are destined for disposal, reuse, resale or recycling. These include cathode ray tubes or CRTs that are used in TVs, computer monitors, ATM and video cameras; printed circuit boards (thin plates on which chips and other electronic components are placed); chips and other gold plated components; plastics from printers, keyboards and monitors and computer wires. 
 
Electronic scrap components such as CRTs contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants can cause severe health problems to those who come in contact with them. 
 
In developing countries e-waste is processed informally mostly in the unorganised sector, without the help of machines and technology which exasperate the threat posed by it. In third-world countries, this waste is simply dumped at landfills and incinerators (apparatus for burning waste material, especially industrial waste, at high temperatures until it is reduced to ash). Materials such as heavy metals are leaked from such landfills, polluting soil and water bodies and thus posing serious threat to those living nearby. Heavy metals such as lead and barium get leached to the ground water, leading to the release of toxic phosphor. Other hazardous materials like brominated dioxin, beryllium cadmium and mercury also get discharged into rivers which carry them to far-off places and other water bodies. Brominated dioxins, heavy metals and hydrocarbons result in emissions of toxic fumes which cause breathing problems which over a period of time result in serious respiratory diseases. Hydrocarbons, heavy metals and brominated substances discharged directly into rivers also acidify fish and flora while tin and lead contaminate surface and groundwater, triggering significant risk to workers and communities living close to the locations where waste is disposed. 
 
E-waste is increasingly becoming a major health and environmental hazard to not just India, but countries across the globe including the so-called rich nations. For instance, an estimated 50 million tonnes of e-waste is produced each year in the US alone; while the US discards 30 million computers each year, 100 million phones are disposed off in Europe each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, even in the developed world only over 20 per cent of e-waste is recycled and the rest go to landfills and incinerators. While an attempt is made by rich nations to involve private firms which are trying to come up with innovative technologies to manage disposal of e-waste, India is yet to catch up. 
 
Villagers living around the landfill site at Mandur, 25 kms from Bengaluru, have been bearing the brunt of the IT city's garbage, including e-waste, for years. They have been protesting against dumping of garbage which has created huge mounds, leading to respiratory diseases. Over the last couple of years attempts of villagers at Mandur and other landfill sites around Bengaluru to block trucks carrying waste led to disruption of waste-management in the city (civic activities say now Bengaluru’s nickname should be ‘garbage city’ not ‘garden city’). Several deaths of villagers at Mandur and other landfill sites over the years supposedly caused by exposure to polluted air and water point to the huge threat posed by unorganised disposal of garbage, a significant part of which is increasingly becoming e-waste in most Indian cities, and how it can impede society’s health and broader economic growth too.

Why Rising Mounts Of E-Waste Jeopardise India’s Technology-Driven Growth

<ul><li>India's Silicon Valley is headed to the polls today and unemployment is one of their main concerns. </li><li>It's not only the IT industry but also the small enterprises that have been hit by demonetisation and India's revamp of its tax system. </li><li>Bengaluru's transformation to an industrial hub hasn't been without its cost with the city's burgeoning environment pollution problem.</li></ul>Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley and home to two of the biggest IT companies in India — Infosys and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wipro-phishing-attack-computer-system-hacked/articleshow/68918449.cms">Wipro</a> — goes to the polls today representing 17% of Karnataka’s population. Amid the rapid changes in technology and the United States <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-immigration-denial-of-h1-b-visas-raises-legal-questions/articleshow/68844794.cms">tightening</a> immigration laws, the sheen from India’s IT hub has dulled. Between 2016 and 2018, at least five million people lost their jobs in India according to a <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-election-jobs/five-million-lost-jobs-in-india-between-2016-and-2018-report-idINKCN1RT1I3">report</a> by the Azim Premji University reporting unemployment increase in the formal and informal sectors of the economy. India is already looking at the highest unemployment rate in 45 years according to <a href="http://v">reports</a> and its effect is not lost on Bengaluru even with the <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/here-are-jobs-hiring-rises-by-15-bangalore-tops-check-where-delhi-mumbai-stand/1487202/">highest</a> hiring rate in the country. <a href="https://www.teamleasegroup.com/resources/reports/19">According</a> to TeamLease’s Employment Outlook, Bengaluru has been categorised as an employment ‘laggard’ with its employment outlook falling two percentage points in 2018. Waning job growth after demonetisation and the implementation of the General Goods and Services Tax (GST), Bengaluru is far from the day when it saw job spurts across the board for technical and blue-collar positions — starting from state run companies like India Telephone Industries Limited (ITI), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronic Limited (BHEL), and Bhart Earth Movers Limited (BEML). 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="One must remember that a significant number of voters come from outside Karnataka. In the IT sector, at best 65% of the people are locals and 35% are from outside. So it is quite possible that they cannot go back to their places to vote, while some may have gone back to vote. So I would not worry too much about voter turnout being only 55%." auname="Indian IT industrialist and co-founder of Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy"></div>

 Changes in technology As technology gets more complex with the rapid implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), so does the <a href="https://www.nasscom.in/system/files/secure-pdf/the-future-of-me_0.PDF">gap</a> of technical and non-technical skill requirements required for the sector. So, it's not that the jobs don’t exist in Bengaluru — there’s actually an increasing demand for highly skilled technical management jobs that offer <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-pays-the-highest-salaries-in-india-study/articleshow/66743965.cms">high</a> salaries — but more, that people aren’t equipped with the correct skill sets for employment. The bigger issue boils down to the quality and content of educational institutions where the <a href="https://www.facilities.aicte-india.org/dashboard/pages/dashboardaicte.php">placement rate</a> of engineering and management schools was its highest at 30% between 2012 to 2018, according to AICTE’s online data dashboard. It’s not just Bengaluru that has jobs on its mind. It’s the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-pew-research-report-on-key-election-issues/articleshow/68572903.cms">number one</a> issue for Indian voters as they participate in the world’s largest democratic exercise according to a report by the Pew Research Center (PRC). Lingering effects of demonetisation Demonetisation has been particularly hard for the citizens in Peenya, one of the biggest industrial areas in Asia located in northwest Bengaluru — and primary depends on cash for its transactions. It’s home to more than 6,000 small businesses, employing over 800,000 people and generation ₹120 billion ($1.72 billion) in revenue, according to Peenya Industries Association. Even Bengaluru’s realty market is only just <a href="https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/realty-market-rises-from-demonetisations-ashes/articleshow/63523111.cms">starting</a> to recover from the effects of demonetisation where property <a href="https://news.housebolo.com/demonetisation-impact-bangalores-property-markets-takes-a-hit/">registrations</a> dipped from 1,800 per day to 200 per day. Startups <a href="https://inc42.com/features/indian-startup-shutdowns-2017/">came</a> under the gun as well, especially the e-commerce segment. Bigger startups like Flipkart and Zomato, both based out of Bengaluru, had to <a href="http://v">figure out</a> how to make up for the fact that 60 to 70% of their orders were cash-on-delivery transactions. Choking on industrial waste While industries in Bengaluru have thrived over the past couple of years, it has not been without its cost. The city’s Bellandur Lake and Vrishabhavathi River have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The Bellandur Lake was seen spewing a 10-feet high wall of toxic foam that seeped on to the roads and bridges. 
	
 
 
 <div type="image" title="d7bc57be0e0a6a0fb56b45acb0836c51" msid="68930987" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The 10 feet of foam on Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru in 2016&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>









 Rashmi Mandanna, a south Indian actor, even did an underwater photoshoot at the lake to draw awareness the increasing problem of water pollution. 
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="iamRashmika" handlename="Rashmika Mandanna" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1048058166737608704/hcxNROBl_normal.jpg" favoritecount="12895" retweetcount="2839" status="This was a photoshoot regarding awareness for the water pollution by this wonderful team Creative Director :… https://t.co/CiRvenS0Ua" createdat="1544704656000" id="1073195228603928577"></div>









 The Peenya Industrial Belt, with more than 7,500 industries — including the Peenya, Yeshwanthpura, Rajajinagar, Jalahalli, Goraguntepalya and Dasarahalli industrial areas — has also been called into question for polluting the Vrishabhavathi River and the lakes within its catchment area. One of lakes, Nelagadaranahalli Lake, is even <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-bengaluru-s-peenya-industrial-area-has-choked-and-killed-its-surrounding-lakes-90116">speculated</a> to be more toxic than Bellandur Lake. The problem seems to be on the rise despite corporates facing penalties <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/ngt-makes-polluters-pay-nearly-double-so-far-this-year-than-whole-of-2018-63927">amounting</a> to ₹750 million ($10.8 million) within the first quarter of 2019 for water pollution in Karnataka from National Green Tribunal (NGT). The issue of the city’s lakes being polluted also fuels the resultant water crisis in the city. Citizens <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/mar/26/water-and-traffic-issues-bog-down-it-showcase-of-bengaluru-1955879.html">claim</a> that the water was crystal clear and used for drinking and agricultural activities. But despite these issues, the biggest <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/decoded-the-concerns-and-aspirations-of-the-urban-electorate-in-seven-indian-cities/articleshow/68868018.cms">challenge</a> is going to be getting voters to come out and participate in a city that has consistently recorded a low voter turnout. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP already paid the price for some of these issues by losing its opportunity to win during the Karnataka’s State Assembly Elections in 2018. But, the Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress alliance that replaced the government has been <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/politics/dissidence-in-some-lok-sabha-seats-over-jds-alliance-says-congress-2078551.html">facing dissidence</a> in certain constituencies, hampering their prospects. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-pew-research-report-on-key-election-issues/articleshow/68572903.cms">5 charts that tell you what India cares about ahead of 2019 elections</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-election-2019-second-phase-political-strategy-for-reserved-seats/articleshow/68925204.cms">Nearly a quarter of the seats in the Lok Sabha are “reserved” and they matter a lot in this election</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-second-phase-of-polling-in-tamil-nadu-voters-issues/articleshow/68930595.cms">Tamil Nadu’s angry voters have a small oil field, a big highway, a medical entrance test, and a police shootout in mind</a>

Job losses will haunt Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, as it goes to polls today

Using Comfy, a third-party app, <keyword id="6354512" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> employees are now able to monitor and personalize their workspace temperature at the company’s Mysuru office. The app is compatible not only with smartphones, but also with laptops and desktops. 
 
The app, based on the building management system, provides instant streams of cool air while also recording the occupants' feedback so that it can make necessary changes in the temperature. 
 The last one year has seen <keyword id="3450295" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="infosys-mysuru-campus">Infosys Mysuru campus</keyword> implementing several measures for sustainability initiatives, including smart water meters, which are linked to the central command center for continuous monitoring. 
 
Not only this, the Bengaluru plant has also been given a biogas plant, which with its optimized design and detailed engineering, can treat two tonnes of food waste per day. 
 
To build energy efficiency, the IT giant has partnered with several institutions like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley; Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore; and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. 
 
<a href="https://cre.tech/wp-content/uploads/Comfy.jpg">Image source</a>

Infosys employees can control AC temperatures using a mobile app

At a time when <keyword id="46431" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Inc">India Inc</keyword> is busy looking at the profit graph, <keyword id="6354512" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> has undertaken a gigantic step to save the environment. In sync with PM Modi’s dream to see one lakh MW of solar capacity in India, Infosys will spend Rs 400 crore over the next 4 years to achieve carbon-neutrality commuting and travel by its nearly 1.8 lakh employees and in doing so deepen its commitment to sustainability. 
 As per a news report in <keyword id="77091" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Economic-Times">The Economic Times</keyword>, in the past three years, Infosys has spent about $50 million (Rs 320 crore) retrofitting its equipment such as lighting, air-conditioning, power, etc. 
 
Infosys will spend Rs 70 crore this year on green initiatives including installing solar projects for rural electrification, biogas plants and distribution of smokeless cook-stoves in villages, besides afforestation. 
 "These will benefit communities outside of the company. Our programmes are in sync with the guidelines issued by various international agencies, including the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword>. These projects will have the maximum social impact, and are subject to audit by international agencies," Infosys <keyword id="192405" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="executive-vice-president">executive vice-president</keyword> <keyword id="350389" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ramadas-Kamath">Ramadas Kamath</keyword> told the financial daily. 
 
"The buildings built after 2008 are all green structures complying with the highest sustainability standards. We are also implementing zero waste to landfill, and rainwater harvesting," Kamath added. 
 However, Infosys’ <keyword id="45171" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="VP">VP</keyword> believes achieving 100% renewable energy in India is difficult because of regulations and red tapism in the states of India. 
 “Only in Karnataka do we have a stable, long-term policy with ease of wheeling and banking, open access and project implementation. The <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword> wants to see one lakh MW of solar capacity in India, but this will remain a pipedream if states don't come up with proactive policies," he added. 
 
Infosys restructuring top 200 customer accounts 
 The <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword> based software exporter is in its process of revamping the structure of its top 200 customer accounts. Aiming an ambitious $20-billion (Rs 1.27 lakh crore) revenue target in five years, Infosys would pair senior partners with sales leaders . 
 As per a news report by the Economic Times, the <keyword id="24211" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="chief-executive">Chief executive</keyword> <keyword id="6369763" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vishal-Sikka">Vishal Sikka</keyword> also said his office will directly oversee the top 15 accounts. 
 
The company is also in the process of overhauling its compensation structure for sales and delivery executives to ensure higher incremental revenue, or the additional revenue generated in a year. 
 
Under the new structure, India's second-largest software exporter will assign a 'client partner' to its top 200 customer accounts, who will have equal responsibility along with the account managers of those accounts. 
 Infosys' top 100 customers include Fortune-500 companies such as <keyword id="6374849" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bank-of-America">Bank of America</keyword> and <keyword id="6354427" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple">Apple</keyword>.

Infosys to spend Rs 400 crore over next 4 years to go green

Bengaluru: Last week, <keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> unveiled a series of new AI-powered partnerships aimed at advancing healthcare, <keyword id="19895783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="keywords">sustainability</keyword>, and agriculture in India The tech giant is collaborating with both local and international organisations to implement AI-driven solutions in <keyword id="21690244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diabetic-retinopathy" source="keywords">diabetic retinopathy</keyword> screening, urban waste management, and agricultural development. According to Google, these announcements were made during a roundtable in Bengaluru, marking the fifth anniversary of Google's Research Lab in the city. This follows the 10th edition of the Google for India event, which showcased the potential of AI to benefit individuals, businesses, and society at large. Dr Manish Gupta, Research Director of Google DeepMind, stated, "Collaborating with key Indian organisations, our focused research in India across language understanding, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability is helping tackle many of the country's unique challenges and creating AI-led solutions that will improve billions of lives." Google is working with <keyword id="23588208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Forus-Health" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Forus Health" meta.hostid="265" meta.entityid="Forus Health">Forus Health</keyword> and AuroLab in India and Perceptra in Thailand to provide 6 million AI-assisted screenings for diabetic retinopathy over the next decade. These screenings aim to detect and prevent blindness in diabetic patients, particularly in resource-limited communities. The AI model has already supported over 600,000 screenings worldwide, with initial research and deployment carried out in India. Sunny Virmani, Group Product Manager, Health AI Research at Google, remarked, "From our initial research to the first patient screening in Madurai, India, we've been committed to translating AI's potential into meaningful change for people globally. And now the partnerships with Forus Health, AuroLab, and Perceptra are helping us expand on this commitment, as a global network of innovators comes together to eradicate preventable blindness due to diabetic retinopathy." Google's CircularNet, an AI-driven computer vision model for waste management, is being deployed in partnership with Bengaluru-based Saahas Zero Waste. CircularNet helps identify and sort plastic waste, facilitating recycling and reducing the strain on landfills. Powered by Google's TensorFlow, the model has shown approximately 85% accuracy in detecting plastic waste during a pilot programme, potentially boosting revenue for material recovery facilities by 10-12%. To support data-driven decision-making in agriculture, Google is also opening its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Research API to developers. The API leverages satellite imagery and machine learning to provide farm-level insights, such as field boundaries, water bodies, and vegetation. The technology aims to optimise resource allocation and guide sustainable farming practices in India. (ANI)

Google announces AI-led collaborations for India's health, sustainability, and agriculture sectors

As <keyword id="19896017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka" source="keywords">Karnataka</keyword> grapples with a rising number of <keyword id="20075342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dengue" source="keywords">dengue</keyword> cases, the state government has officially declared dengue fever an <keyword id="20462436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epidemic" source="keywords">epidemic</keyword>. This declaration comes with a set of strict regulations designed to prevent the spread of the disease by targeting <keyword id="21283114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mosquito-breeding" source="keywords">mosquito breeding</keyword>, which is the primary mode of transmission. To avoid <keyword id="20041636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="penalties" source="keywords">penalties</keyword>, it is crucial to understand and adhere to these new regulations. <h2>Understanding dengue</h2>Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. The virus causes flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding (such as nose or gum bleeding). In severe cases, dengue can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which are potentially fatal <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111981382" title="BBMP’s newest contest can earn you up to Rs 1 lakh for uploading &amp;#39;Dengue Warrior&amp;#39; reels on social media!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Karnataka’s tropical climate, combined with rapid urbanisation and inadequate waste management, has created ideal conditions for the proliferation of these Aedes mosquitoes, with cases exceeding 25,000 since the beginning of the year. The urban centres, particularly Bengaluru, have seen alarming spikes in dengue cases, straining the healthcare infrastructure and prompting urgent government interventions. The situation has been exacerbated by the accumulation of stagnant water in both residential and commercial areas, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. <h2>Preventative measures</h2>The government has mandated that all property owners, including households, commercial establishments, and construction site managers, must take immediate and effective steps to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites. As per the new regulations, authorities can inspect any land or building between sunrise and sunset after giving reasonable notice. The owner or occupier must facilitate the inspection and provide necessary information. If mosquito breeding is found, the authority can issue a notice requiring action within a specified time, not less than 24 hours, to eliminate the breeding ground using suitable methods. This includes ensuring that all water storage containers, such as tanks, barrels, and drums, are properly covered to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Moreover, residents and business owners are required to properly dispose of solid waste, including items like old tires, broken pots, and unused containers, which could otherwise collect water and become breeding grounds. <h2>Fines for non-compliance</h2>In addition to these preventive measures, the government has implemented a structured penalty system for non-compliance. Households in <keyword id="19924983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-areas" source="keywords">urban areas</keyword> are subject to a fine of Rs 400, while those in rural areas face a Rs 200 fine. Commercial establishments, such as offices, restaurants, and schools, are liable for a Rs 1,000 fine in urban areas and Rs 500 in rural areas. Construction sites, whether active or abandoned, face the heaviest fines — Rs 2,000 in urban areas and Rs 1,000 in rural areas. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111316992" title="Dengue in obese children is more likely to result in hospitalisation, study finds" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>For those who fail to comply with these regulations, the consequences are more severe. Authorised officers from the <keyword id="19898915" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-department" source="keywords">Health Department</keyword> have been empowered to inspect properties and enforce these rules. If a property owner fails to comply with a notice to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, the authorities are authorised to take the necessary actions themselves and recover the costs from the defaulter. Additionally, if violations continue, an extra 50% of the total fine may be imposed each week until compliance is achieved. It is imperative to act swiftly if you receive a notice regarding mosquito breeding on your property. Ignoring such a notice not only increases your financial burden due to accumulating fines but also puts your community at greater risk of dengue. By adhering to these regulations and taking proactive steps to prevent mosquito breeding, you can avoid penalties and contribute to the larger public health effort to control the spread of dengue in Karnataka.

Dengue fine? Here's what you must do to avoid government penalty as Karnataka declares dengue an epidemic

<ul><li>Vipul Shukla from Lucknow rebuilt his family’s Ayurvedic venture, Meghdoot Herbal from a local gem to nationwide digital phenomenon on <keyword id="6354742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flipkart" source="Orion">Flipkart</keyword>.</li><li>Rina, a 35-year old entrepreneur from Gujarat whose passion for creating unique women’s ethnic sets led to establishing a successful business. </li><li>Smita Kulkarni from Bangalore, co-founder of StoneSoup, a social enterprise dedicated to converting waste into value. </li><li>Piyush Aggarwal from Mathura transformed adversity into an opportunity during the pandemic and built a venture specialising in organic agarbattis and dhoop products.</li></ul>Embarking on a journey that resonates with innovation and success, we unveil the compelling stories of entrepreneurs hailing from diverse regions across Bharat. These entrepreneurs, navigating the dynamic realm of e-commerce, have soared to new heights fuelled by firm dedication to their craft and unwavering support from Flipkart. And their stories symbolise innovation-driven growth. These inspirational entrepreneurs showcase the potential of e-commerce to carve unique paths in their industries, embodying the festive spirit that brings forth new avenues. As we delve into the motivating journeys of these entrepreneurs, we celebrate the dynamic spirit of these innovators who have not only embraced the digital age but have thrived in it. Bridging Tradition and Modernity Seller name: Vipul Shukla Business: Meghdoot Herbal Location: Lucknow In 1985, Vipul’s grandfather invested all his hard-earned savings to establish ‘Meghdoot Herbal’, a small Ayurvedic enterprise in a remote village near Lucknow. This modest venture provided local employment and gained recognition from the UP Khadi and Village Industries Board (UPKVIB). Vipul, an IIT (BHU) graduate, later embraced the family legacy, aspiring to expand Meghdoot Herbal’s reach nationwide by transforming it from a brick-and-mortar presence to a digital phenomenon. Seeking partnership with Flipkart, Vipul navigated this transformation seamlessly, leveraging the platform’s onboarding process and training. Speaking about his venture, Vipul said, "As an Ayurvedic products business owner, I am convinced that the widespread appeal of our products is rooted in the longstanding tradition within Indian households to embrace herbal and traditional remedies. With the invaluable support extended by Flipkart which provides us with comprehensive training and customer insights, we are further enhancing the reach and effectiveness of our herbal solutions to millions of customers with the help of online platform." Now, with an extended customer base and e-commerce exploration, Meghdoot Herbal thrives, symbolising a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation in the e-commerce landscape. Weaving success in threads Seller Name: Rina Business: Rajvi Creations Location: Gujarat Another inspiring story is that of Rina, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Surat, Gujarat, who embarked on a remarkable journey in the competitive apparel industry. Armed with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a passion for crafting women's ethnic sets, she faced initial hurdles due to her limited knowledge of fabrics and related materials. Transitioning into e-commerce about two and a half years ago, Rina chose Flipkart as her platform of choice, leveraging its reach to grow her business. With a team of 11, she meticulously crafts rayon viscose ethnic sets and has earned popularity on Flipkart with over 4500 listings and 1700 daily orders. Her commitment to quality and affordability, especially during festive sales, has solidified her success. Rina credits the platform for uplifting her journey as a woman entrepreneur. “My ultimate goal is to elevate my growth on this remarkable platform. I envision a bright and prosperous future for my business, and Flipkart's partnership is a vital part of that journey," she added. Rina’s success story exemplifies the 'Innovator' motif, showcasing how her collaboration with Flipkart has transformed her business and captured customer loyalty through a seamless blend of fabric curation, quality and affordability. Flipkart’s Samarth program has played a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurs nationwide, creating awareness of the potential of e-commerce and fostering positive change. Transforming waste into value Seller name: Smita Kulkarni Business: StoneSoup Enterprises Location: Karnataka StoneSoup, a Bengaluru-based social enterprise founded by Computer Science engineer Smita Kulkarni and IIM Kolkata alumna Malini Parmar, transforms waste into value. After a decade in the IT industry, Smita, now a neighbourhood activist, realised the inadequacies of existing waste management infrastructure. In 2015, StoneSoup was born, to offer easy sustainability solutions to citizens. “We needed to deliver sustainability at people’s doorsteps for the idea to really grow roots. And what better way to reach the masses than a platform like Flipkart!,” Smita said. StoneSoup joined the Flipkart Samarth program – a move that opened up StoneSoup’s products, including compost kits, menstrual cups, and cloth sanitary pads, to over 500 million customers on India’s homegrown marketplace. Over 110 women have benefited so far from the employment generated through this partnership, including those with disabilities. All StoneSoup products are ‘Made in India’. The reusable pads are, in fact, handmade by women from 20 Self Help Groups across small villages and towns in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The firm’s initiatives have helped divert 12 million pads from landfills, composted almost 10 tonnes of wet waste, and reduced plastic bags usage by five million. Smita emphasises the switch to a sustainable lifestyle not just for the planet but for future generations. StoneSoup's commitment to social inclusion and waste reduction reflects a powerful intersection of environmental consciousness and <keyword id="107737" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entrepreneurship" source="Orion">entrepreneurship</keyword>. The incense of success Seller name: Piyush Aggarwal Business: Shank Mathura Location: Uttar Pradesh Flipkart became the lifeline for Piyush Agrawal, transforming him from unemployment to becoming a successful entrepreneur. After losing his job during the pandemic in Mathura, Piyush armed with a renewed purpose, conceived the idea of “Shankh Store.” Recognising the pilgrimage-heavy environment of Mathura, he focussed on handmade incense sticks and locally sold products. His instincts were spot on and his entrepreneur mindset helped him set up his business from scratch. Partnering with Flipkart, Piyush’s brand, Shankh, now offers organic agarbattis, dhoop sticks, and dhoop cones. “After getting onto the Flipkart platform, I started getting orders from all corners of the country. What I used to earn monthly, I began to earn weekly,” reveals Piyush. The platform’s reach elevated Piyush’s earnings, enabling him to expand from a home-based operation to a small manufacturing unit. Proud of his achievements, Piyush aims for a monthly revenue of ₹1 crore and dreams of seeing his products in homes across the country. Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on insiderstudios@businessinsider.in

Innovation remains at the heart of entrepreneurship fueled by Flipkart’s unwavering support

<ul><li><keyword id="14566742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lollapalooza-india" source="Orion">Lollapalooza India</keyword> is scheduled on January 27-28, 2024 in Mumbai.</li><li>The festival will feature four stages with over 20 hours of live music with food, art, fashion and more.</li><li>The general sale of tickets will be live starting August 27.</li></ul>After its massive success in the first edition, which featured the likes of Imagine Dragons, Greta Van Fleet, Jackson Wang and more, music festival <keyword id="955228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lollapalooza" source="Orion">Lollapalooza</keyword> is all set to come back to India in late January of next year. The festival is scheduled on January 27-28, 2024 at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai and promises to showcase an eclectic line-up of renowned artists from around the globe and India during the two-day extravaganza. “With the massive success of the Asia-first edition earlier this year, Lollapalooza India is now gearing up for an even more exciting second edition that will not only be twice as epic but will also carry forward the legacy of the most diverse music festival to enter India and the Asian sub-continent,” says a press release. Ticket sales for Lollapalooza India will open with a limited exclusive pre-sale for RuPay credit card holders on August 23. The general sale of tickets will be live for everyone starting August 27. BookMyShow Live, a division of BookMyShow, will promote and co-produce the festival’s Indian edition along with global producers, Perry Farrell and C3 Presents. Lollapalooza India 2024 promises to deliver an unparalleled celebration of music, art, food, activities and culture. The festival will feature four stages with over 20 hours of live music with innovative culinary selections, art, fashion and much more. The debut edition In its last and debut edition, the festival connected with 60,000 fans and was a melting pot of musical genres, featuring everything from pop, rock, hip-hop, indie, electronic dance music (EDM), techno along with a host of new Indian sounds. The festival also saw several indie artists perform during the specially curated #RoadToLolla pre-festive and after parties that travelled across Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, the release said. Lollapalooza, the world over, last year was wheelchair-friendly, featured sign language interpreters for select headlining performances, provided reusable glasses and was gender inclusive. Almost 22,500 kgs of waste was segregated and sent for recycling, composting, re-use and co-processing as per fitment. This included 1,890 kgs of food that was donated through waste management measures executed at the festival, the press release says.

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