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The Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur is now making its presence felt in the dessert business by giving a healthy twist to our quintessential sweet - laddoos. These organic laddoos are being prepared by 150 farmer families and are now sold in 22 cities - including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Indore, and others. IIT-K is involved in the quality control, packaging, and distribution of these laddoos. Besides the sweet, the <keyword id="221522" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="premier-institute" source="Orion">premier institute</keyword> also helps the farmer families sell nutritious 'hareera' (a nourishing beverage) in different states under its "<keyword id="238889" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="unnati" source="Orion">Unnati</keyword>" project. <keyword id="525604" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rita-singh" source="Orion">Rita Singh</keyword>, a convener of this project, said, "The delicacies first became popular among the students in the institute. As the demand grew, we started selling laddoos -- made from alsi (flax seeds), til (white and black sesame seeds), and gond (edible gum) -- in several cities. Now, we are seeking the help of our former students who have settled abroad to expand the business in overseas markets." The Unnati project was launched eight years ago in five villages of Kanpur's Bithoor region to encourage scientific agriculture and impart quality education to village children through smart classes. In the last year, some 150 farmer families from 10 nearby districts have joined the initiative. Scientists of the institute have also been promoting organic farming and creating awareness among the farmers. "Our idea was to teach the farmers about natural farming, small processors, buyers, and technology. Of course, we want to preserve our traditional recipes as well," said Rita. The institute has big plans for the organic produce business to provide the farmers with the maximum possible benefits. IIT-K is also leveraging blockchain technology to help the business flourish. "With the help of blockchain technology, buyers will get to see the field or house where the food product was prepared. We started with selling organic products through WhatsApp but are moving to the next level. The entire process is being streamlined. Our products will be available under the brand name Unnati. This will help the farmers immensely," Rita said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/without-hbo-and-ipl-15-million-subscribers-could-flee-disney-hotstar-in-2023/articleshow/98517377.cms">Without HBO and IPL, 15 million subscribers could flee Disney+ Hotstar in 2023</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-to-launch-galaxy-a34-a54-5g-smartphones-in-india-next-week/articleshow/98517232.cms">Samsung to launch Galaxy A34, A54 5G smartphones in India next week</a>

IIT Kanpur helps this organic laddoo business grow with blockchain technology

New Delhi, Feb 13 () Coca-Cola India on Thursday launched 'Unnati Litchi' programme in Bihar to start a virtuous cycle of 'fruit circular economy' in the state. Started together with DeHaat, National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL) and Kedia Fresh, the initiative is aimed at enhancing efficiency of the agri-value chain and farmers' capability building on high-density plantation, farmer training for Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) and creation of demo orchards through appropriate technology interventions, a statement said. The initial phase of this initiative has been launched in the districts of Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Vaishali in the state, which are the major hubs for Litchi cultivation in the state. Unnati Litchi aims at educating and training over 80,000 farmers in the existing orchards, rejuvenating farms spanning over 3,000 acres, and introducing modern techniques like high density plantation to double Litchi productivity, it added.**** * Play introduces first AI driven noise cancelling wireless headset Gurgaon-based technology company Play has introduced AI driven noise cancelling wireless headset, claiming it is the first in the segment to launch such product. The company is looking at millennials, who are preferring popular OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, among others, the company said. Priced at Rs 14,999, PLAYGO BH-70 has Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven self-calibrating left and right earphones, hybrid active noise cancellation, smart-touch-&amp;-talk and auto-pause-&amp;-play features. The headphones, powered on the latest family of Qualcomm processor, boasts of Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and has 1,000 mAh battery, which allows consumer to use the headset for up to 24 hours. ***** KONE Elevator to increase service centres, focusing on eastern market KONE Elevator India, a fully-owned subsidiary of KONE Corporation, is increasing the number of service centres with a focus on the eastern market to strengthen its position in the segment. India plays an important role for KONE in its global strategy given the investments it has done here over the years, the company said. "We are excited to be part of the government's plan for growth in eastern India's infrastructure sector and look forward to providing premium experiences with our advanced products," KONE Elevator India MD Amit Gossain said. "In the coming years, the country will see an even bigger focus on smart cities and urban development, and our workforce is well equipped to lead this technological advancement and infrastructure development," he added. KRH RVK

Coca-Cola launches 'Unnati Litchi' programme in Bihar to help farmers

<div type="image" msid="54427818" hostid="261"></div> <keyword id="176127" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel-India">Intel India</keyword> claims to have made the experience of personal computing real for more than 250,000 local citizens till now, thanks to their Unnati Kendras. The technology giant <keyword id="28115" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel">Intel</keyword> is also investing ₹1,100 crore in its upcoming R&amp;D centre, which can create 3,000 jobs. Unnati Kendras were inaugurated last year and are on-ground facilities serving as common access digital learning centers for local citizens, focusing on education, entrepreneurship and innovation. Each centre is equipped with Intel powered devices, vernacular language content, and relevant training programs for local citizens in the state, to create opportunities for skill development and digital empowerment. 
 Since the launch of the first centre in April 2016, Intel India has seen an average of 47 citizens entering each <keyword id="3331525" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unnati-Kendra">Unnati Kendra</keyword> per day, and of these, 18 requested demos in basic PC skills. 
 
According to Intel data, 44% of the walk-ins wanted to use computers to access e-learning and educational content, with 28% aspiring to use computers for creative self-expression, and 28% for entrepreneurial activities. 33% of this universe were students and youth between 18 and 25 years old and 22% were women, who are the early adopters and change agents in these new markets. 
 
Debjani Ghosh, Vice President, Sales &amp; Marketing Group, and Managing Director, South Asia, Intel said, “Technology relevance and access are crucial for a knowledge economy, and given that majority of the Indian population resides in non-urban areas, the vision behind Ek Kadam Unnati Ki Aur has been to make digital skills mainstream in those towns. This milestone is a moment of pride for all of us, and just the start of something bigger. Through continued work with the government and the ecosystem, we strive to make a tangible difference to individual lives and communities through the power of the computing.” 
 
Meanwhile, Sandeep Aurora, Director, Marketing at Intel South Asia said, “As the next wave of technology adoption comes from non-urban India, Ek Kadam Unnati Ki Aur has been oriented specifically for these markets. We have worked with nearly 20 eco-system vendors to ensure that the Unnati Kendra experience has enabled first-time users in regional areas to better understand how computing technology can be integrated to improve their daily lives.” 
 
User rights: 
 
According to the user insights from the centres, the top PC-based activities have been video-based computer training, understanding e-commerce, browsing detailed information on government policies, e-mail and applying for jobs on job portals. 
 Village Level Entrepreneurs in charge of the centers are taking on the mantle of Unnati Gurus or local knowledge bearers of technology, who are responsible for demonstrating the basics of PC usage to walk-ins on Darpan, a multilingual user interface which comes in six regional languages. These trained personnel are conducting daily in-depth sessions on <keyword id="6372493" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-literacy">digital literacy</keyword>, computer skills and internet facilities, along with dedicated guidance sessions in entrepreneurship, language and vocational training to improve the educational and employment prospects for local citizens. 
 The 100 centers in Tier II, III, IV and V towns are in operation across 11 states pan-India; <keyword id="68884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword> (14 centers), Uttar Pradesh (14), Andhra Pradesh (13), Haryana (11), Maharashtra (11), Tamil Nadu (10), Karnataka (7), Gujarat (6), Assam (5), Chhattisgarh (5), and Kerala (4). The centers are also being used as platforms for the delivery of last mile digital services and government related information about Digital Literacy, Financial Inclusion, and Healthcare, for the benefit of local citizens. 
 
Of the 11 states, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh witnessed the highest footfall and interest in PC literacy. Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, which have the highest number of Unnati Kendras in any state, with 14 centres each, together account for 115,000 individuals experiencing the power of the PC, almost half the national total, while Maharashtra has outperformed the national average, with a weekly footfall of 1000 citizens across 11 centres.

How Intel is digitizing rural India

Unlike other women of her age, she stands out of the crowd.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms"> Not just for her achievements</a>, but also for her attire. While most women in the little village of <keyword id="4271831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="timakiya">Timakiya</keyword> near <keyword id="6357881" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meerut">Meerut</keyword> in <keyword id="6357713" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> cover their head with veil, she dresses up like men. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">Wearing a shirt and trousers</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">Poonam Singh</a>, the 24-year old heads out to work at a car dealership outlet, doing a job men do. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">ALSO READ: These women run the coolest start ups in the country all by themselves</a> 
 
At a time when most career options have seen women grow to their potential, car garages are amongst a few places where women haven’t put their foot in. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">Maruti Suzuki</a> has initiated a program to accommodate women in rare professions like these. 
 And the change maker here, <keyword id="6380134" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Poonam">Poonam</keyword> has many firsts to her credit. Not only is she the first girl in the country to complete her automobile mechanic course followed by an apprenticeship from the government-run <keyword id="129428" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Industrial-Training-Institute">Industrial Training Institute</keyword> (<keyword id="6368889" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="iti">ITI</keyword>), going on to win a President’s Award for the same, but also the first girl in the family to have a “company” job. 
 
Earnings <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> claims Poonam earns Rs. 12,000 a month as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">fixed salary plus incentives</a> based on performance. This is a handsome amount with bright prospects in a region where respectable and structured jobs are hard to come by, more so for girls. 
 
Position Being a Supervisor, her job entails assessing every car that enters, ensuring it is serviced properly and handling client queries on delivery. She is passionate about her job and wants to learn more about vehicles and machinery. She is a part of the 2nd Maruti <keyword id="6911" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="suzuki">Suzuki</keyword> supported batch which benefited from upgraded infrastructure and value added inputs aligning students like her, more strongly to industry needs. 
 
Trained on latest cars and systems, with practical experience, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms">factory visits </a>and a strengthened curriculum, the ITI is becoming a go-to place for many boys and girls from lesser privileged homes wanting a job in the auto industry. 
 “I never thought I would make a career in a male dominated profession. Not only did I do well in the ITI course but got a good job and promotion at Maruti Suzuki automobile service workshop. Now, I am planning to do an advanced course,” said <keyword id="368004" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Poonam-Singh">Poonam Singh</keyword> taking a break from instructing her team at the Mann Service Center,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/these-women-run-the-coolest-start-ups-in-the-country-all-by-themselves/articleshow/57495236.cms"> Meerut</a>.

Meet India’s first female automobile mechanic

<keyword id="176127" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel-India">Intel India</keyword> on Friday launched a slew of initiatives to encourage the use of technology in the country's education ecosystem.<o:p></o:p>

	The company said it is collaborating with leading device manufacturers, education digital content and publishers and education solution providers to build end-to-end solutions that promote digital literacy in non-urban India, upskill citizens in tier II cities and beyond, and encourage local innovation.<o:p></o:p>

	The company e-launched its latest 'Unnati Kendra at Common Service Centre' in Karnal, Haryana recently. The company's looking to have 100 such facilities across ten states this year. These centres will conduct sessions on digital literacy, computer skills and internet facilities, and guidance sessions in entrepreneurship, language and vocational training.<o:p></o:p>

	The company has also launched an online portal to upskill village level entrepreneurs at CSCs. 
	 
	<a href="http://st1.bgr.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/intel-computex.jpg">Image source</a> 
	<o:p></o:p>

Intel India announces new initiatives supporting Digital India

To increase the scope of technology in rural education,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Intel-flew-100-drones-at-night-to-show-how-they-could-someday-replace-fireworks/articleshow/52115320.cms"> Intel </a>launched an initiative ‘Ek Kadam Unnati Ki Aur’ with Ministry of IT and Technology, in November 2015. 
 

	“Education is at the heart of India. And quality education is the need of the hour...All our educational initiatives are aimed at one impact- quality of learning,” said Debjani Ghosh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group, Managing Director, South Asia - ‎Intel Corporation.
 

	After seven months, the consequences have left a lasting impression on Debjani’s mind.
 

	Nadimpalle is a small village outside Hyderabad which had been selected among 10 villages shortlisted from Telengana. The Unnati centres have impacted the women of that village the most, to everyone’s surprise. 
 

	We expected, the first folks who would approach us were the men and the boys. But the first set of people who came here were <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Tech-companies-want-to-give-more-power-to-women-encouraging-them-to-join-back/articleshow/52250977.cms">women</a> and not just young women, but women who are 60-70 years old, she said.
 

	“Women are more enthusiastic, because technology can solve the real problems they face. There was this woman who was sad as for the first time she had to put her money in the bank, as part of the ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’ scheme under the Government of India. She was used to sleeping with the money safely tucked under her pillow and now it was in a bank. She didn’t know what was happening,” Debjani explained.
 

	Hence she visited the centre to log in and check into her bank account and ensure her money was safe. But her journey to digital education did not stop here.
 

	“After all this, I asked her what you are proud of. She said she had been illiterate all her life, she didn’t know how to read and write her name. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/This-is-how-Western-Digital-is-solving-one-of-the-most-important-barriers-to-Digital-India-initiative/articleshow/51841347.cms">Now she knows how to write her name using a keyboard</a>.”
 

	At the Unnati centres, she is learning how to assist her self-help group now. She is trying to figure out how to educate the women in the group and grow her business as well. 
 <keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">Entrepreneurship</keyword> is happening at every age, not just the young generation because of this, said the <keyword id="28115" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel">Intel</keyword> executive proudly. 

	Under this initiative, Intel will work with 10 states to create a framework which the government can use for digitisation of India.

	 
	 
	(Image credits: indiatimes)

Intel’s ‘Ek Kadam Unnati Ki Aur’ has impacted the life of this woman from a village of Telengana in an unexpected way

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCBPL) and <keyword id="114815" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jain-Irrigation">Jain Irrigation</keyword> have announced a plan to scale up their initiative for <keyword id="6368690" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mango">mango</keyword> production, targeting involvement of 25,000 farmers and entailing an investment of Rs 50 crore over 10 years. The project, called <keyword id="2257102" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Project-Unnati">project Unnati</keyword>, targets mango farmers with the aim of increasing the yield. 

	The first phase of the project was launched in 2011 with an investment of $2 million and has covered nearly 4,000 farmers till date, the companies said in a joint statement. It established 200 demo farms in the mango-growing Chittoor region in Andhra Pradesh and covered around 4,000 farmers.
 

	After achieving the desired results in Phase 1, HCCBPL made the announcement of scaling the initiative fivefold, reaching 25,000 farmers in Phase 2 at an investment of Rs 50 crore over the next 10 years. The second phase of the project will identify nearly 25,000 farmers covering around 50,000 acres and support them in adopting the Ultra High Density Plantation (UHDP) technology.
 

	The UHDP technique enables plantation of nearly 600 trees in an acre, instead of the conventional method of planting 40 trees, thereby increasing yield and improving the livelihood of the farmers. The agricultural practices under Project Unnati offer the basis to improve mango productivity and hence, enhance supply of mango pulp for the industry. 
 

	While Unnati Phase 1 has successfully trained farmers on UHDP technology and encouraged them to adopt the new technology, Unnati Phase 2 is built around building deeper relationship and engagements with farmers.
 

	The project will mainly harness higher productivity of potential of mango farms for making HCCBPL’s mango drinks Maaza and Minute Maid, T. Krishnakumar, chief executive of HCCBPL, said. He also added that the scaled up initiative is expected to deliver close to 300,000 tonnes of fruit by the 2022-23.
 

	Over two-thirds of the 5,000-crore-a-year Indian juice drinks market consists of mango drinks alone. If managed on a long-term, sustainable basis, juice drinks offer a tremendous business opportunity.
 

	HCCBPL is the largest bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company in India and is part of the Atlanta-based firm's Bottling Investment Group. 
	Image: Thinkstock

Coca-Cola, Jain Irrigation To Invest Rs 50 Crore To Scale Up Mango Farming

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Tech giant IBM on Thursday announced a free digital learning platform as part of its SkillsBuild initiative to help jobseekers and provide new resources to business owners in India. Called 'SkillsBuild Reignite', the platform will give access to free online coursework and mentoring support, designed to help people reinvent their careers and businesses. In November last year, IBM launched SkillsBuild in collaboration with the Directorate General of Training under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship (MSDE). SkillBuild has already benefited 14,135 learners who have completed 40,000 courses and 77,000 hours of e-learning. "We mark a significant milestone in supporting Centre's efforts in accelerating Indian economy's revival from the adverse effects of Covid with the launch of SkillsBuild Reignite and Innovation Camp, in collaboration with IBM India," said Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. SkillsBuild Reignite will include more coursework and personalised coaching for entrepreneurs seeking advice to help establish or restart their small businesses as they focus on recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. The courses include financial management, business strategy, digital strategy, legal support and more. Working with NGOs such as Edunet and Unnati Foundation, among others, the new IBM partners will play a key role in addressing local needs. "Not only does this platform provides career reinvention opportunities but also innovative ways of working and individualized support for relaunching business strategies," explained Sandip Patel, General Manager, IBM India/South Asia. IBM also announced the 10-week SkillsBuild Innovation camp which is open to learners who are interested in gaining hands-on project experience to enhance learning. --IANS na/

IBM announces free digital learning platform for jobseekers in India

<ul><li>WhatsApp’s new privacy policy isn’t just about privacy — it’s about competition as well.</li><li>In sharing data with Facebook, regulators fear that the company and its subsidiary will elbow out any competition that even tries to enter the market.</li><li>This means that if you want to switch over from WhatsApp to another messaging platform in the future, there may not be too many options around.</li></ul>If you want to continue using WhatsApp, you’ll have to agree to their new privacy policy by May 15. While you may not care what happens to your data today, you may not even care that you don’t have a choice. However, if you change your mind tomorrow, regulators fear that the competition created may be so fierce that there won’t be any other messaging service around as an alternative. “Established corporations who have access to unique, voluminous and non-replicable datasets may create entry barriers for competitors by gatekeeping the data and restricting its use and access,” Neeraj Dubey, a partner at Singh &amp; Associates told Business Insider. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="82049581" title="What WhatsApp and Facebook want to do is worse than stalking, India's solicitor general tells court" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> This is why one of Germany’s toughest data regulators is seeking an ‘<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-13/facebook-faces-german-bid-to-halt-collection-of-whatsapp-data">immediately enforceable order</a>’ before the new terms and conditions kick in. “It is… all the more important to ensure that the high number of users, which makes the service attractive to many people, does not lead to an abusive exploitation of data power,” said data commissioner Johannes Caspar in a statement on Tuesday. And Germany isn’t the only country worried about what WhatsApp’s new privacy policy will mean for users. The Turkish Data Protection Authority also has an ongoing investigation against WhatsApp and so does India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI). “The investigation ordered by the CCI is an interesting development and mirrors the approach of various global competition law authorities to try and regulate the non-price conduct of digital and data gatekeepers,” Unnati Agarwal, a partner at legal firm IndusLaw, told Business Insider India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Where does one draw the line between normal data collection and ‘excessive’ data collection?" comment="subhead" text="Where does one draw the line between normal data collection and ‘excessive’ data collection?">Where does one draw the line between normal data collection and ‘excessive’ data collection?</cmsannotation> WhatsApp and its parent company, Facebook, believe that the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/what-whatsapp-and-facebook-want-to-do-is-worse-than-stalking-indias-solicitor-general-tells-court/articleshow/82049581.cms">issue is only about user privacy</a>, which they claim to protect, not competition. But the vast popularity of the messaging platform has regulators thinking otherwise. Apart from the ‘take it or leave it’ approach from WhatsApp and Facebook, the bigger question around their new policy is — how much data is too much data? The tech giants believe that is a question that only the law can answer, not data regulators. But the problem lies in the fact that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to address the issue. Many sectors collect data and use that data for analysis, and they all have different benchmarks. For instance, the media uses it to track trends, banks have direct access to entire repositories of customer financial data, healthcare has medical records of patients, classrooms are being digitised, even agriculture is using data to optimise food production. Big data is everywhere. “Data collected, which could be excessive in one sector, could be termed minimal in another sector. For example, a sample size of data required in the financial versus the healthcare sector would be vastly different,” explains Dubey. According to him, this is why the power to decide what is and isn’t ‘excessive’ data lies with the CCI and other competition regulators. They can judge on a case-by-case basis where the line lies, and if it is elbowing other players out of the market. In the case of WhatsApp and Facebook, regulators are concerned that the majority of user data will be controlled by a few corporations and their subsidiaries leading to a monopoly that will be difficult to break once it's in place. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/indian-astronomers-spot-over-200-new-stars-in-the-pacman-nebula-and-51-of-them-are-yet-to-reach-adulthood/articleshow/82060301.cms">Indian astronomers spot over 200 new stars in the Pacman Nebula — and 51 of them are yet to reach adulthood</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/what-whatsapp-and-facebook-want-to-do-is-worse-than-stalking-indias-solicitor-general-tells-court/articleshow/82049581.cms">What WhatsApp and Facebook want to do is worse than stalking, India's solicitor general tells court</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/no-lockdown-in-maharashtra-but-new-restrictions-are-coming-in-on-april-14-uddhav-thackeray-promises-they-will-be-strict/articleshow/82053057.cms">No lockdown in Maharashtra, Section 144 will kick in from tomorrow for the next 15 days</a>

WhatsApp's new privacy policy doesn't give you choice — and could limit your options in the future too

<ul><li>What goes around comes around, especially when it comes to fashion and clothing.</li><li>According to PwC and Assocham, landfills are brimming with so much urban waste that by 2050, India is reportedly going to need a landfill that's the size of its capital New Delhi.</li><li>Before World Environment Day, we talk to Myntra about its new e-store, <keyword id="11376339" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="myntra-for-earth">Myntra for Earth</keyword>, that is targeting environment-conscious shoppers and aiming to focus more on sustainability as it moves forward.</li><li>Ayyappan Rajagopal, Chief Business Officer, Myntra tells us about the kind of response Myntra for Earth has seen so far, what kind of sustainable choices do consumers have, changing fashion trends in the future and Myntra for Earth’s goals for this quarter.</li></ul>The future of fashion is upcycling, recycling and sustainable clothing. Brands in India have already started taking baby steps towards converting fashion into a sustainable choice for consumers. More and more consumers are becoming aware of their fashion choices and realising that a worn-out piece of cloth they decide to throw, even as simple as a plain t-shirt, never really goes ‘away.’ It all ends up in a landfill. According to an Assocham and PwC report, landfills are brimming with so much urban waste that by 2050, India is reportedly going to need a landfill that's the size of its capital, New Delhi. At the same time, fast fashion is becoming a trend, which offers consumers the opportunity to buy more clothes at a lower price and that has taken a toll on the environment. It offers consumers an option to swiftly discard their clothes and buy new ‘trendy’ dresses. Consumers and brands aren’t ignoring these horrifying numbers anymore. This World Environment Day, many fashion brands have sworn to make a difference and be cognizant of the harmful effects their products can have on the environment. E-commerce giant Myntra has also stepped up. It has officially launched a sustainable e-store called ‘Myntra for Earth’ that only features eco-friendly fashion choices for all genders and age groups. It has already onboarded 70 leading fashion and lifestyle brands over the last 6 months to offer over 5500 styles to customers on its sustainable store. The store includes handloom and handcrafted, organic, natural-dyed, recyclable and eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free options. The products ordered through this store are delivered in packets made from 100% recycled paper. It is now working towards scaling the number of brands in the store to ~2X by the upcoming quarter while adding another 4000 styles to the existing assortment. We caught up with Ayyappan Rajagopal, Chief Business Officer, Myntra to discuss the challenges of launching a new e-store during a global pandemic, its sustainability roadmap, a few trends that we can expect to see in sustainable fashion and platform’s goals to grow the store this quarter. Excerpts: Q. Tell us more about the 'Myntra for Earth’ store. When was it launched? What kind of response have you seen from the consumers? Launched in October 2020, "Myntra for Earth" is Myntra's sustainable store showcasing a more conscious choice to fashion and lifestyle shoppers. About 70 leading fashion and lifestyle brands have partnered with Myntra over the last 6 months to offer over 5500 styles to customers on its sustainable store. The store offers an immersive and engaging shopping experience for truly ‘sustainability-inclined’ conscious shoppers. As of now, we have seen increased growth in store visits and an uptick in revenue since its launch. The specially-curated store recognises the fashion industry’s sustainability efforts and also aims at augmenting the income opportunities of artisans and NGOs involved. Since its launch, Myntra For Earth store has received a phenomenal response. We are working towards scaling the number of brands in the store to ~2X by the upcoming quarter while adding another 4000 styles to the existing assortment. Q. How are you planning to market this store? Is there a larger campaign-in-the-making to raise awareness? Currently, we are focussing on having the right assortment of brands and products for the consumers in the store as the topmost priority. We have already received phenomenal response from consumers for the products of the store. Nearly 62% of the visitors to the ‘Myntra For Earth’ store are women, with metro cities contributing about 40% of the overall visits to the store. People of all age groups are seemingly conscious about their fashion choices and their impact on the environment in varying degrees. However, those in the age group of 21 to 35 are contributing the highest to the growth of the ‘Myntra For Earth’ store. Q. You have 70 brand partners on Myntra For Earth already. Can you mention a few names? Which are the most loved brands so far? Key names among many include H&amp;M, Mango, Unnati Silks, Bharatsthali, Pothys, Metro Kids Company, Kama Ayurveda, Forest Essentials and Fab India among others. <keyword id="2712840" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Myntra-Fashion">Myntra Fashion</keyword> Brands featured on the platform for their conscious collection include Taavi, Roadster and Ether. Q. So far, we have only seen a few start-ups that are completely sustainable. Are Indian legacy brands following suit? The MFE store has a combination of both home-grown brands like Taavi, Taniera and global brands like Levi, Mango &amp; H&amp;M that give importance to sustainability. Most of the legacy brands have a dedicated charter of well-defined goals on sustainability to educate consumers on organic fashion. Q. Is the packaging for Myntra Earth products different from others? Considering it aims to have a minimal effect on the environment? The majority of the orders are delivered using paper packaging at Myntra. We are gradually moving towards a complete eco-friendly paper for delivery purposes.

Myntra for Earth is working towards scaling the number of brands in the store to ~2X by the upcoming quarter while adding another 4000 styles to the existing assortment: Ayyappan Rajagopal of Myntra

New Delhi, Apr 30 () Agri-startups, which are growing at 25 per cent year-on-year basis, can offer tech solutions to help Indian farm sector to keep food and farm supply chain rolling during and post lockdown phase, according to a study by industry body Ficci.This becomes more critical amid the ongoing procurement of rabi (winter) crops and consequent sowing of kharif (summer) crops across the country in the backdrop of COVID-19 scare, it said.There are about 450 active agri-startups in India. Many of them are already working to solve the problems at hand, it added.According to the study, agri-tech startup companies have grown 25 per cent year-on-year. They have received venture capital funding of USD 545 million since 2014. out of this, USD 330 million came in 2019.Highlighting agri-tech solutions, the study said agri-startups can provide aggregation and distribution of farm produce from point of collection to consumption centres.Many startups are trying to connect farmers with buyers, including retailers, e-commerce, processors, cloud kitchens and even direct to consumers.Startups working in this area include Ninjacart, Jumbotail, Bigbasket, ShopKirana, SuperZop, WayCool, MeraKisan, Kamatan, DeHaat, KrishiHub, Agrowave, Loop, Crofarm, FreshoKartz, Agribolo, Himkara, Kisan Network.To provide quality assaying of agricultural commodities, startups like Intellolabs, Agricxlab, Zense, Raav Tech, Occipital, Amvicube and Nanopix are attempting to solve the problem of standardisation through mobile imagery and digitisation.To address post harvest challenges, the study said some startups have begun work on near farm, modular and affordable storage and processing solutions.These storage facilities are intended to give farmers an option to sell the produce at the right price and at the right time, instead of immediate or distressed liquidation of their produce after harvest.The startups in this category include Our Foods, Agri Bazaar, Star Agri, Arya Collateral, Ecozen, Origo, it added.For smooth operation of kharif sowing, the study said startups such as Agrostar, BigHaat, Behtar Zindagi, Unnati, Gramophone, Freshokartz, AgriBolo, DeHaat, Bharat Rohan, and Bharat Agr are offering solutions to optimise the use of agricultural inputs and enable delivery to farmers.Agri-startups are trying to build business models to reach out to farmers directly both online as well as through offline presence in the villages. Such startups can play a pivotal role in making sure that farmers get desired inputs in a timely manner, it said.To reduce labour cost through mechanisation, some start-up companies like Sickle innovations, Distinct Horizon, Tractor Junction, Khetibadi and J Farm service are offering mechanisation solutions for harvesting and sowing.In addition, some of the startups have focused on accurate and timely assessment of soil moisture and developing data-driven controlled irrigation models. The startups in this category include Satyukt Analytics, Flybird, Kritsnam, Agrirain, Manna Irrigation, the study added.That apart, some agritech startups can provide farmers advisory for crop monitoring, including institutional credit and crop insurance.CropIn, SatSure, Farmguide, Niruthi, AgRisk, Skymet. Startups like Samunnati, FarMart, Jai-Kisan, PayAgri, Bijak are specifically working in value chain financing.Many of these startups are using satellite images to geotag farms, assess crop health and estimate output. They are also building algorithms for farm monitoring and models for artificial intelligence to automate and improve predictably of yield and farmers' incomes, the study added. LUX BALBAL

Agri-startups can offer tech solutions to keep food supply chain rolling amid COVID-19 crisis: Study

The <keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword> is going to charge you Rs 100 extra if you pay up to Rs 2,000 via cheque. Payments made above Rs 2000 via cheque won’t attract any extra charges. <keyword id="6534999" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-card">SBI Card</keyword>, which has more than four million customers, started charging the fee from April 1. "A fee of Rs 100 will be charged for payments made by cheque for an amount less than or equal to Rs 2,000 w.e.f April 1, 2017," SBI Card stated. CEO of SBI Card <keyword id="4651208" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijay-Jasuja">Vijay Jasuja</keyword> said that over 90 per cent of its customers make payments through non-cheque mode. "We have observed a trend of payment related disputes arising in small <keyword id="4426951" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cheque-payments">cheque payments</keyword>, causing inconvenience to customers as well. We offer several seamless digital modes of payment which we are seeking to encourage, in line with the government's focus towards digital payments and this step will facilitate the same," the CEO said. Jasuja added that there will be no charge on cheque payments on holders of SBI Card Unnati which is targeted at first-time credit card users and aimed at inclusion of people into the organised financial stream. With a customer base of over 4 million, SBI Card operates through a footprint of more than 90 locations in India. SBI Card is a joint joint venture between State Bank of India and GE Capital. The joint venture operates through two companies. GE Capital Business Processes Management Services (GECBPMSL) takes care of the technology and processing needs of SBI Card while SBI Cards and Payments Services (SBICPSL) focuses on customer acquisition, marketing and risk management of SBI Card. Last month, SBI had said it would increase its stake in SBI Card to 74 per cent by June-end.

Are you a SBI Card user? Get ready to pay Rs 100 on small payments via cheque

If you have been planning for your dream home for quite some time, this might be the right time to decide. Thanks to the unsold inventory, the <keyword id="6354553" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="real-estate">real estate</keyword> firms are raining offers to lure buyers with freebies in terms of payment schemes, no <keyword id="6357050" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="EMI">EMI</keyword> till possession, assured return and buy back policy. As reported by the Economic Times, an overflow of unsold properties amounting from 55% to 60% present in Delhi NCR has put the real estate firms in a bummer. 
 
For instance, Orabella, a multi studio apartment project of MMR group has offered schemes with 12 % assured return per annum till possession on payment of 90%. Schemes of 11% assured return on 50% payment and buy back scheme of 28% return after 2 years on 40% payment are few buyer magnets the companies are using strategically. 
 
Some deals offered in this festive season are quite lucrative for the ones willing to invest. Commenting on the Navratra freebies, KushagrAnsal, Director, Ansal Housing told the financial daily, "The demand for real estate has been on a rise recently with the positive sentiments floating in the market due to decreasing inflation.” 
 
Keeping no stones unturned to make the most sale this season, Unnati Fortune is offering fortunes like gold coins to 51 early birds booking homes. Their recent carnival on home buying ‘Ghar Paisa Gaadi’ was organized to woo buyers with luxury cars and easy payments scheme. 
 
(Image: India Times)

It’s a good time to buy a house in Noida. Know why

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s dream of <keyword id="1929810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-India">Digital India</keyword> has several takers, but Intel is among the few who are really playing a key role in driving it by encouraging innovation and making computing accessible to the masses in the country. 
 We decided to speak to MD for Intel South Asia, <keyword id="875687" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Debjani-Ghosh">Debjani Ghosh</keyword> - a woman leader leading tech from the front. She is responsible for establishing new growth areas for Intel in the South Asian region. Based in India, she works with governments and industry in these countries to establish policies and initiatives that help accelerate the adoption of technology in the region, especially as an enabler of inclusive growth and development. 
 
Business Insider caught up with this power woman recently to find out how she is spearheading one of world’s leading Processor Company’s objective of driving technology adoption in various countries, especially in India. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/How-Intel-is-helping-build-Technology-in-India-like-no-other-company/articleshow/54167926.cms">ALSO READ: How Intel is helping build technology in India like no other company</a> 
 
Ghosh said – “The way we approach a country is - what is the current state of technology adoption, what the barriers are and what has to be done for the adoption to accelerate. When you look at India, the current state is dismal.Only around 20 per cent of the population have access to computing tech like education, healthcare services, agriculture which are critical for growth and development.” 
 
Highlighting the biggest challenge for India on its way to ‘building Digital India’ dream, she said - “We need to figure out what will it take 40-50 per cent of the Indian population to connect with technology in the next few years, so that we can align ourselves to the 100% goal the government has set for 2020.” 
 
In view of these challenges, Debjani further added that she saw two things standing out – “The next generation of tech users in India will be rural and there is a big disconnect between them and what technology can do for them. Most of them view technology as merely being able to make a phone call or let’s say watching YouTube videos. But what they completely miss out on are some of the productivity like how can technology be used to get better information, say enabling a farmer to take more informed decisions, or helping a pregnant woman read on nutrition good for her and her child. Understanding of this part is absolutely missing.” 
 
She made a very pertinent point when she said that technology adoption in India won’t take off till the time it’s seen as a need, and not necessity. “That is why our focus is on how we can build relevance and connect the dots between technology and areas its necessary for like improved health, livelihood, education etc, because if we can do this, there will be a real need to acquire technology we will see technology adoption take off in this country,” Ghosh said. 
 
It starts with creating awareness - This is where Intel’s work with the government and its ad campaign are making a difference. It’s showing how technology is seriously changing lives. “How it can help you earn more money, how it can help you get a better job, how it can help you improve health, these are the common themes across Intel’s brand campaign coupled with programs on-the-ground like 'Ek Kadam Unnati Ki Aur', Skill development and digital literacy programs that make people aware of the power of technology,” said Ghosh. 
 
Awareness is good, but without solutions they mean nothing – “You can create awareness, but if solutions are not relevant people are still not going to use technology. This is where we feel that we have to tap into the expertise that exists across the value chain - from the large MNCs to the small makers because you never know where a good idea will come from. You have to tap into all of the expertise that exists so you can get the best ideas and the best solutions out. What differentiates our work versus what everyone else is doing today out there us - we are not just after the ideas, but turning those into real solutions by taking them to the market so that you can see the impact on peoples' lives. After all, success of an idea depends on the real impact it has made on the ground,” said Ghosh. 
 On how she has helped Intel create a local ecosystem of entrepreneurship, Ghosh talked of the various stakeholders she works with – “You have to work with academia, government, big companies, makers and small companies for an overall revolution. Via our focus on <keyword id="6433408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="innovations">innovations</keyword> through various efforts, we have built everything into an ecosystem that can innovate on our solutions and create customized solutions and products and actually solve some of the problems that India faces, thereby increasing technology relevance and impact.”

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