Bright Future partners with Cognizant Foundation’sTech4All program to ensure sustainable livelihoods for young women of marginalized communities in Pune

 

·       215 female aspirants registered in the first batch.

·       This is the 15^th operational center of Bright Future I Pune with past 13+ years of its establishment

·       We run different programmes–Buniyaad, Bulandi & Badi Soch

·       The new center is situated at Yerwada, on the Nagar Road

 

Bright Future with support from Cognizant Foundation inaugurated a new training center with more than 215 female aspirants registered in the first batch. The center will provide skills training to young women from marginalized communities in Pune under Cognizant Foundation’s Tech4All program to facilitate sustainable livelihoods. The program will be providing IT-based specialized training, career guidance and life skills support to help enhance confidence and obtain gainful employment leading to a better life.

 

Tech4All, launched in December 2021,is Cognizant Foundation’s flagship program designed to skill women as well as persons with disabilities for careers in technology and technology-enabled services.

 

The inauguration ceremony was conducted in the presence of Ms. Nisha Deshpande, Senior Director, Delivery Excellence and a member of Cognizant Foundation’s Pune Core Committee, and Mr. Kishor Palve, Founder & CEO, Bright Future.

 

The new center is situated at Yerwada, on the Nagar Road, and easily accessible to the targeted communities. It is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and adheres to the highest standards of hygiene and safety, especially for the girls who will be trained in the center. This is the 15^th operational center of Bright Future in India after the successful functioning of 14 centers in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru in the past 13+ years of its establishment.

 

Mr. Kishor Palve, Founder & CEO, Bright Future, said, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated teams of Cognizant Foundation and Bright Future, to the aspirants, their parents, and our community stakeholders for making this possible. It has always been our endeavor to reach more young people while ensuring sustainability for their livelihoods. Women empowerment is one of the major concerns of our country and I am proud that we are able to come together to address this persistent impediment. It is important that we, as conscious individuals, do whatever is necessary for the women, the youth, the community, and our society.”

 

He further added, “Such collaborative efforts by all the stakeholders will surely take us closer to our mission to ensure a world where the young people have the guidance to choose a better career. Lastly, I would also like to take a moment to thank our supporters –donor partners, employer partners and volunteers for their continued support along with our efforts to serve the youth and communities over the last 13 years.”

 

Ms. Rajashree Natarajan, CEO of Cognizant Foundation said,“Tech4All started with two partners in four states less than two years ago. Today, we have scaled to seven states and collaborated with nine partners for implementation. We are happy to see how the programme has expanded, creating opportunities for everyone to shine in this digital economy. We will continue to look for more opportunities to help improve lives, deploying the power of digital technology to create significant impact and deliver maximum value to underserved communities. We deeply thank our partners and look forward to our continued engagement with all our stakeholders –thought leaders, NGO partners, experts, and government authorities to accelerate the impact of our work.”

 

About Bright Future

 

Bright Future is working around an entire ecosystem to build the change that lasts since 2009. We are focused towards bringing the tangible changes in each young person’s life by working with everyone involved –including their parents, teachers, communities, and panchayats, in addition to the young person themselves. We guide them at every step while they understand their interests, feasible careers, and we help them build their skills accordingly.

 

We run different programmes–Buniyaad, Bulandi & Badi Soch -that caters to the needs of the underserved communities in order to empower their livelihoods by providing necessary education, skilling, mentorship & career guidance.

 

Bright Future has successfully and positively impacted more than 40,000 lives till date and aims to impact 100,000 lives by 2025 across India.

 

About Cognizant Foundation

 

Cognizant Foundation India is one of the channels of Cognizant’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in India. At Cognizant Foundation India, we are building a sustainable ecosystem at the intersection of inclusion, technology, and collaboration. The Foundation’s initiatives are along the two thematic areas of building an equitable society through education and skilling, and improving access to quality healthcare.

 

Our focus is on empowering persons with disabilities, promoting holistic child development and gender equality. Since its inception in 2005, the Foundation has implemented over 500 education, healthcare, and livelihood projects in partnership with several non-profit organizations, positively impacting the lives of millions across India.

Epoch Homes Launches Day Care in Pune: Specialized Dementia Day Care for Elders

 

·       Epoch Elder Care has more than 10 years of relevant experience in India

·       Epoch Elder Care has started a new Dementia Day Care program center in Pune Kharadi.

Dementia is a complex neurological condition often accompanied by psychiatric symptoms and behavioral challenges. It is often difficult to diagnose especially in the early stages and leaves caregivers feeling exhausted and confused. Dementia is progressive in nature and as of now, there is no treatment available for it. But all is not lost with a dementia diagnosis. Good management and a great supportive environment can help preserve the quality of life to a great extent. Early diagnosis and intervention has a critical role to play in the prognosis of the condition.

 Epoch Elder Care has more than 10 years of relevant experience in India, and is helmed by Neha Sinha, a dementia specialist & clinical psychologist, she is also trained in palliative care philosophy. They have 3 facilities, and they have started a new Dementia Day Care program center in Pune Kharadi.

On this launch, Neha Sinha co-founder and CEO shared her thoughts, "My grandmother was detected with Alzheimer’s that had an indelible impact on me and my family. Managing elders with dementia and maintaining their quality of life requires never ending patience, skill set and deep understanding about the condition. A day care centre is a good start to seek help and add structure and intervention to prevent fast deterioration in dementia. My goal is to lessen the stigma associated with dementia for elders.      I request one must reach out for professional care for      their parents for conditions such as dementia, since a lot can be done with early intervention.      Further she said,” dementia care can be very philosophy based. There are several approaches practiced globally At Epoch, we have specialized dementia care program for elders suffering from dementia of any type and across all stages.”

Epoch Dementia Day Care Program approach    

Epoch Dementia Day Care Program focuses on emotional well-being. It is a stimulating and supportive home-like environment for the elderly living with dementia, wherein they can freely engage in planned activities with their peers and receive nurturing care.

●        Holistic, person centered care

●        Structured, yet freely adaptive day-plan

●        Meaningful activities (cognitive/ motor/sensory/physical)

●        Evidence-based engagements (e.g. music, art, dance, doll therapies)

●        Social interactions and celebrations

●        Assistance in meals

Benefits of this program:

●        Promotes maximum level of independence

●        Normalizes and preserves the quality of life, as much as possible

●        Delays further stage progression

●        Restores, maintains the individual to the highest possible level of functioning

●        Enhances cognitive stimulation

●        Managing behavioral challenges

Founded in 2012, Epoch Elder Care provides premium care homes for elders with specialized needs, focused on conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, COPD etc. Epoch understands each resident living with dementia at a personal level. Caring for someone with dementia can often be a challenge. Simple tasks such as giving a shower or eating a meal become particularly difficult. Our team uses evidence-based methods to care for residents living with dementia to ensure they receive the highest quality of care in the most comfortable manner.

Some residents’ experiences:

"Our father has been under Epoch's care since 2014. The attention to medical / physical well-being as well as the sophisticated, caring approach to managing dementia that Epoch has provided is truly excellent, and way beyond anything else in India. While they operate professionally, it's with a warmth and flexibility that helps families like ours cope with the difficulties of this situation."

Daughter of an Epoch resident.

One NRI Son from Australia expresses his gratitude towards Epoch for his father who was a person with dementia, ‘Our father was a successful, well-respected entrepreneur and a fiercely independent person. Since my brother and I reside in Australia, we explored many facilities and options. And then we found Epoch! It took only a couple of interactions with Neha and her team and a brief visit of the facilities, to be reassured that we had found the perfect elder care home and environment for our father.”

Gratitude, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility for the elderly is what ignites Epoch’s team towards greater heights. For more information please visit, https://www.epocheldercare.com/ , https://www.epocheldercare.com/about-us/care-leaders

 

Epoch Homes Launches Day Care in Pune: Specialized Dementia Day Care for Elders

 

·       Epoch Elder Care has more than 10 years of relevant experience in India

·       Epoch Elder Care has started a new Dementia Day Care program center in Pune Kharadi.

Dementia is a complex neurological condition often accompanied by psychiatric symptoms and behavioral challenges. It is often difficult to diagnose especially in the early stages and leaves caregivers feeling exhausted and confused. Dementia is progressive in nature and as of now, there is no treatment available for it. But all is not lost with a dementia diagnosis. Good management and a great supportive environment can help preserve the quality of life to a great extent. Early diagnosis and intervention has a critical role to play in the prognosis of the condition.

 Epoch Elder Care has more than 10 years of relevant experience in India, and is helmed by Neha Sinha, a dementia specialist & clinical psychologist, she is also trained in palliative care philosophy. They have 3 facilities, and they have started a new Dementia Day Care program center in Pune Kharadi.

On this launch, Neha Sinha co-founder and CEO shared her thoughts, "My grandmother was detected with Alzheimer’s that had an indelible impact on me and my family. Managing elders with dementia and maintaining their quality of life requires never ending patience, skill set and deep understanding about the condition. A day care centre is a good start to seek help and add structure and intervention to prevent fast deterioration in dementia. My goal is to lessen the stigma associated with dementia for elders.      I request one must reach out for professional care for      their parents for conditions such as dementia, since a lot can be done with early intervention.      Further she said,” dementia care can be very philosophy based. There are several approaches practiced globally At Epoch, we have specialized dementia care program for elders suffering from dementia of any type and across all stages.”

Epoch Dementia Day Care Program approach    

Epoch Dementia Day Care Program focuses on emotional well-being. It is a stimulating and supportive home-like environment for the elderly living with dementia, wherein they can freely engage in planned activities with their peers and receive nurturing care.

●        Holistic, person centered care

●        Structured, yet freely adaptive day-plan

●        Meaningful activities (cognitive/ motor/sensory/physical)

●        Evidence-based engagements (e.g. music, art, dance, doll therapies)

●        Social interactions and celebrations

●        Assistance in meals

Benefits of this program:

●        Promotes maximum level of independence

●        Normalizes and preserves the quality of life, as much as possible

●        Delays further stage progression

●        Restores, maintains the individual to the highest possible level of functioning

●        Enhances cognitive stimulation

●        Managing behavioral challenges

Founded in 2012, Epoch Elder Care provides premium care homes for elders with specialized needs, focused on conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, COPD etc. Epoch understands each resident living with dementia at a personal level. Caring for someone with dementia can often be a challenge. Simple tasks such as giving a shower or eating a meal become particularly difficult. Our team uses evidence-based methods to care for residents living with dementia to ensure they receive the highest quality of care in the most comfortable manner.

Some residents’ experiences:

"Our father has been under Epoch's care since 2014. The attention to medical / physical well-being as well as the sophisticated, caring approach to managing dementia that Epoch has provided is truly excellent, and way beyond anything else in India. While they operate professionally, it's with a warmth and flexibility that helps families like ours cope with the difficulties of this situation."

Daughter of an Epoch resident.

One NRI Son from Australia expresses his gratitude towards Epoch for his father who was a person with dementia, ‘Our father was a successful, well-respected entrepreneur and a fiercely independent person. Since my brother and I reside in Australia, we explored many facilities and options. And then we found Epoch! It took only a couple of interactions with Neha and her team and a brief visit of the facilities, to be reassured that we had found the perfect elder care home and environment for our father.”

Gratitude, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility for the elderly is what ignites Epoch’s team towards greater heights. For more information please visit, https://www.epocheldercare.com/ , https://www.epocheldercare.com/about-us/care-leaders

GKN Aerospace delivers first product from state of the art wiring facility in India

 

·         $10 million investment and 800 jobs for highly skilled operators and engineers

·         A diverse workforce, including a significant proportion of female employees

·         Wholly owned electrical wiring interconnection systems business in Pune, India

 

A year after opening its new factory all-new facility for Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) in Pune, India. GKN Aerospace shipped its first product to the customer.

 

Maarten Durville, Managing Director: “As a supplier in the airplane industry, we were severely impacted by the pandemic and the lockdown. Just when we had trained our team to Aerospace level, we had to shut down. I am very proud that we can leave this chapter behind us and ship the first product. We can look forward again: the lockdown was just a delay of our growth plan, we have added 50 employees in the last months and are on track to grow to 300 next year.”

 

The first product is a wire harness for Collins Aerospace and will be employed in the Air management system of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. GKN Aerospace will grow the $10 million site, with a surface of 11,000m2, to 800 person within five years. GKN Aerospace will recruit a significant number of female operators and engineers and will provide on-site training for employees. A team of 30 persons has been built to date. GKN Aerospace has invested $10 million in the site and in its state of the art equipment and technologies. The expansion to Asia is an important part of GKN Aerospace’s long-term growth strategy and global operating model.

 

About GKN Aerospace:- GKN Aerospace is the world’s leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier. As a global company serving the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, GKN Aerospace develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies– for use in aircraft ranging from helicopters and business jets to the most used single aisle aircraft and the largest passenger planes in the world.

 Lightweight composites, additive manufacturing, innovative engine systems and smart transparencies help to reduce emissions and weight on the aircraft and enhance passenger comfort. GKN Aerospace is market leading in aero structures, engine systems, transparencies and wiring systems and operates in 15 countries at 50 manufacturing locations employing approximately 18,000 people.

mCaffeine launches India’s first ”COFFEE BEAN” shaped bathing bars Revolutionises the personal care space by entering the soap category

 

In its latest move, mCaffeine, India’s first caffeinated personal care brand, which has led the coffee revolution in the personal care space since 2016, launches India’s very first “COFFEE BEAN” shaped bathing bars. With these unique array of caffeine based soaps, mCaffeine is set to revolutionise the personal care space by entering the beauty soap market in India. The PETA-certified, extensive R&D based mCaffeine Coffee Bathing bars are well formulated and pH balanced.

 

mCaffeine Coffee Bathing bars with the tagline Bean Me Up!^TM are here to excite the coffee lovers and bring to them the literal meaning of bathing in coffee. Keeping in mind the importance of visual and aromatic appeal, all Coffee Bathing Bars have been shaped as coffee beans infused with the breath-taking aroma of fresh coffee, in order to deliver an elevated bathing experience and will add more to the entire bathing routine. The product series will feature three distinct Coffee Bathing Bars, namely – Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte. Apart from the main ingredient of Pure Arabica Coffee, which is known for its cleansing and toning properties, the Coffee Bathing Bars also contain other ingredients such as pure coffee oil (in Espresso), almond milk and caramel (in Cappuccino), and cocoa butter (in Latte) which are essential for a healthy, lustrous, moisturized, and nourished skin.

 

Expressing excitement at the launch of mCaffeine Coffee Bathing Bars, Tarun Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO said, “At mCaffeine, since the moment we launched our first product, we have always been out to make a difference. There is a shift towards the naturals segment as consumers are worried about chemicals. We have acted swiftly enough to adapt to changing consumer preferences and have expanded our offerings in the clean label (natural as a choice) which the brand embodies. We have always been conscious of what ingredients we use and are mindful of the expectations of the millennials. Our Coffee bathing bars will set

 

 

 

new benchmarks in the personal care brands space offering environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly products.”

 

Tarun Sharma further added that “Over 12 months of extensive research and an investment of around half a million dollars have gone into the careful curation, design, and production of the Coffee Bathing Bars. Despite being a very young brand, mCaffeine has prioritized in-depth and thorough research into each of its products. Its R&D team has put in extensive efforts to deliver a well-formulated, pH-balanced, and uniquely bean-shaped bathing bar in three different variants with patentable properties to their customers. mCaffeine plans to sell more than 2 million units of the Coffee Bathing Bars in three years, with half a million sales expected in the first year itself. It has also applied for patenting the Coffee Bathing Bars which is in process – no such patents have been granted till now in the brand product space. Expanding our Naked & Raw Coffee range, this will be a unique product to dive into the coffee fervour more & bring the best of coffee for skin. It is through such innovation that we have turned mCaffeine into a INR 100 Crores Indian brand in just four years, thus creating the phenomenon that is caffeine skincare in India which is so rarely seen in the Indian markets.”

 

All Coffee Bathing Bars have a pH of 5.5 which is the same as human skin, which enables them to nourish and cleanse all skin types without drying them. In comparison, regular soaps are pH 8< which, in the process of removing dirt and sweat, also strip the skin off its essential natural oils.

 

mCaffeine’s Coffee Bathing Bars are also vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA-certified i.e. none of its ingredients, formulations or finished products have been tested on animals. The coffee bathing bars are also free from SLS, Paraben, Mineral Oil, and their formula is both dermatologically tested and FDA-approved.

 

 

About mCaffeine

 

mCaffeine is India's first caffeinated personal care brand, launched in 2016, cofounded by Mr. Tarun Sharma and Mr. Vikas Lachhwani. The brand is focused on the millennial lifestyle with mass premium offerings. mCaffeine, a D2C brand has sold more than 2.8 million products in just 4 years of launch. Currently, the products are available at 18000 pin codes across India. While the brand is still quite young, mCaffeine products are best sellers amongst multiple categories on Amazon and Nykaa.

mCaffeine, currently is present in 3 major categories - Face Care, Hair Care and Body Care. There are about 20 products in the portfolio so far and there are aggressive plans to further launch 15-20 products in the next one year. mCaffeine products are available on all major shopping portals namely – Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart and sells through its own e-commerce portal www.mcaffeine.com. Almost half of mCaffeine products are best sellers in the categories they operate in across marketplaces.

The brand is at present focusing on India with global potential for the future.

Awards & Recognitions:

Their products are already gaining cult status in the Indian beauty community. mCaffeine’s Coffee Body Scrub has become a favourite of the community, recently winning the ‘Best Scrub’ Category in the Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2019 and Nykaa Femina Beauty Awards 2020.

mCaffeine is Peta Certified - 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free. 

 

Additional Product Info

 

Why Coffee?

 

Coffee has excellent cleansing & polishing properties for the skin. Coffee is a natural source of Caffeine that is rich in antioxidants & fights free radicals keeping the skin away from fine lines & wrinkles. Coffee granules are known to have unmatched exfoliating properties. Coffee reduces cellulite and stretch marks as well. A well-suited ingredient for every skin, we can’t help but state that Coffee, indeed, is the superfood for skin!

 

Coffee Bathing Bars v/s Traditional Soaps

 

Traditional Soaps are alkaline-based products with pH 8 < which is much above skin pH 5.5. Alkaline soaps damage the skin’s protective barrier. They not just remove dirt & sweat but also strip off essential natural oils of the skin.

 

Coffee Bathing Bars are free from harmful chemicals and maintain a balanced pH 5.5 which is the same as that of our skin hence these bars do not dry out the skin. They are quite moisturizing, cleansing & nourishing, making them suitable for all skin types.

 

All the coffee bathing bars are Vegan, Cruelty-free & Peta Certified. They are free from SLS, Paraben, Mineral Oil and have an FDA Approved and the dermatologically tested formula.

 

Types of Coffee Bathing Bars

 

Espresso Coffee Bathing Bar

Packed with the immense benefits of Pure Arabica Coffee, this bathing bar will deep cleanse your skin. It has a skin-friendly ph 5.5 that won't dry out the skin. The Espresso Aroma exudes Crisp Coffee Notes, awakening your senses & giving you a much needed Coffee Rush!

 

Let’s talk about what’s inside! Coffee is known for its deep cleansing & energizing properties. Coffee is also a natural source of Caffeine which is rich in antioxidants and keeps the skin healthy. Pure Coffee Oil in the bar tones the skin and Vitamin E nourishes as well as conditions.

 

Cappuccino Coffee Bathing Bar

Packed with the immense benefits of Pure Arabica Coffee, this bathing bar will polish your skin. It has a skin-friendly ph 5.5 that won't dry out the skin. The Cappuccino Aroma exudes Sweet Coffee Notes, picking up your senses & giving you a much needed Coffee Rush!

 

Let’s talk about what’s inside! Coffee is known for its cleansing & toning properties. Coffee is also a natural source of Caffeine which is rich in antioxidants and keeps the skin healthy. Caramel in the bathing bar polishes & improves skin texture, Almond Milk moisturizes as well as softens skin.

 

 

Latte Coffee Bathing Bar

 

Packed with the immense benefits of Pure Arabica Coffee, this bathing bar will moisturize your skin with its mild cleansing action. It has a skin-friendly ph 5.5 that won't dry out the skin. The Latte Aroma exudes Creamy Coffee Notes, refreshing your senses & giving you a much needed Coffee Rush!

 

Let’s talk about what’s inside! Coffee in the bar tones the skin. Coffee is also a natural source of Caffeine which is rich in antioxidants and keeps the skin healthy. Almond Milk moisturizes & acts as a mild cleanser. Cocoa Butter intensely moisturizes & nourishes the skin.

 

 

 

SEBI INVESTIGATION EXPOSES “AGENT” ALAWANI FOR HELPING ATUL KIRLOSKAR IN 275 CR FRAUD AT KIRLOSKAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED

 

SEBI has slapped a penalty of Rs.15 lakhs to Kirloskar Industries (KIL) Director, AN Alawani for indulging in fraudulent and unfair trade practices and alleged that he helped the promoters who owned 15% of the company to walk away with Rs. 275 crores. The regular has also barred him from the capital markets for period of six months.

Even though  Mr. Alawani did not trade in shares in his own personal trading account, SEBI in their note said he  was an insider as he was in possession of the UPSI. He was trading as an authorised “agent” for and behalf of the Kirloskar Industries (KIL). The note added that he aided KIL promoters in selling their shares of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd (KBL) to Kirloskar Industries (KIL) thus together have allegedly committed fraud on KIL and public/ minority shareholders of the company.

In KBL’s board meeting held on 27th July 2010, the management disclosed the poor profitability of KBL. This was clearly confidential information, and also UPSI under SEBI regulations. KBL directors Gautam Kulkarni, Rahul Kirloskar and AN Alawani who attended the said board meeting, were privy to this UPSI. The very next day, on July 28, at the Kirloskar Industries board meeting, its Chairman Atul Kirloskar, Rahul Kirloskar's brother, added a new item, not on the agenda, shockingly suggesting that Kirloskar Industries invest its surplus funds by buying KBL shares on the false representation that KBL would do well.

After suggesting that Kirloskar Industries buys KBL shares, Atul Kirloskar and Nihal (Gautam Kulkarni’s son) being directly interested as sellers, “excused” themselves from discussions on this subject. It was left to two Group executives AN Alawani – the then Audit Committee Chairman, AR Sathe who chaired the board meeting in the absence of Atul Kirloskar, and another director, to vote to buy the KBL shares.

SEBI said, that Mr.Alawani who was on the audit committee chairman of Kirloskar Industries was also on the board of KBL and being a non-executive director, makes him a ’connected person’ with KBL, and thus it is reasonably expected that he had access to unpublished price sensitive information  of KBL. He had participated in Kirloskar Industries board meeting and thus had a direct role and access to UPSI leading to the inducement of KIL to buy shares of KBL.

Despite hearing about the poor profitability of KBL the previous day, Mr. Alawani did not tell the other directors that it would be wrong to invest Kirloskar Industries’ funds in KBL shares, but participated and voted to buy the shares of a company he knew was going to have very poor profitability for the long term. He helped the promoters who owned 15% of the company to walk away with Rs. 275 crores.

SEBI has also asked Gautam Kulkarni, Rahul Kirloskar, Atul Kirloskar, Alpana Kirloskar, Jyotsna Kulkarni and Arti Kirloskar to pay up Rs. 31.21 crore in 45 days and have been barred from the capital markets for six months, for indulging in insider trading and committing fraud on public shareholders.