CMRI Kolkata’s Wake-Up Call for Sleep Apnea Patients

Kolkata (West Bengal), 13 March 2025: On the observance of World Sleep Day, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI Kolkata organized an interactive session with doctors and patients highlighting the concept of “Sleep Well, Live Well!’ along with the launch of a Sleep Apnea Support Group. The session stressed the early diagnosis and treatment, as well as lifestyle modification for better sleep health.

Sleep apnea presents a very serious yet oftentimes not diagnosed medical condition, which has affected millions of Indians in their sleep. The numbers increase each year. The condition refers to the constant pause and resume of breathing during sleep, impaired oxygen supply into the body, and reduced body function. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can give rise to severe cardiovascular complications, such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke; metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity; and upon mental wellbeing complications comprising anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, accompanied by tremendous day fatigue, loss in productivity, and plethora accidents.

This interactive session with the patients led by Dr. Raja Dhar, Director and Head of the Department of Pulmonology, and Dr. Arup Halder, Consultant Pulmonologist at CMRI Kolkata, brought forward the different issues of the patients suffering from sleep apnea and also the doctors pointed out that it is a common disorder but is rarely diagnosed and can be life-threatening. Both pointed out that snoring if often considered just an annoying bother, could just be a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an ailment wherein respiration stops and starts repeatedly through the course of sleep, thereby reducing airflow to the lungs. When OSA is left untreated, it can complicate with very serious medical conditions, mainly hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Arup Halder commented on the dangers presented by sleep apnea: “It’s that condition that disturbs the very rhythm of life-breathing and sleeping. On this World Sleep Day, it needs to discover its toll and motivate early diagnosis and treatment. Whether by lifestyle modification, CPAP therapy, or surgical intervention, sleep apnea must be treated for the preservation of well-deserved peaceful nights and wholesome days.”

Dr. Raja Dhar expressed quite the same sentiments in not so many words: “Across the globe, sleep disorders affect over 10% of the population, translating to an occurrence of more than 200 million patients in India alone. Research suggests that nearly 50 million Indians are suffering conditions such as sleep apnea and insomnia. However, a majority remains undiagnosed. This lack of awareness brings dire consequences in the long run, such as cardiovascular disorders, metabolic disorders, and impaired cognitive function. Sleep-related problems are already rising at an alarming state in India, making early screening, lifestyle modifications, and medical interventions imperative for this threatening rise.The significance of quality sleep and health needs to be emphasized. If you or someone around you snores loudly and experiences excessive fatigue during the day or wakes up at night with choking sensations, seeking medical help can change everything. Protecting our health and well-being in the future means fighting sleep disorders.”

To respond to the growing concerns, CMRI Kolkata has now launched a dedicated Sleep Apnea Support Group for long-term assistance and community support for individuals to lead a healthier life.

HSBC India, Concern India Foundation Launch EV Training for Women

Bengaluru, 13th March, 2025, In a significant step towards women’s empowerment and financial independence, HSBC India in partnership with Concern India Foundation has successfully completed a skilling program to train women in driving autorickshaws. As part of the initiative, HSBC India handed over 30 electric auto rickshaws to the women with the aim to provide them a sustainable livelihood. This program was facilitated by Shishu Mandir, Concern’s ground partner in Bengaluru.

Most of the women supported through this project have studied up to Class 8 or 10 but have struggled to enter the job market due to limited education and employability skills. By providing them with professional training in autorickshaw driving, this initiative not only empowers them with a sustainable livelihood, but also challenges gender stereotypes in the transport sector. The program enhances their self-esteem, confidence, and financial independence.

With the increasing demand for last-mile connectivity, this initiative creates economic opportunities while contributing to environmental sustainability through the use of electric vehicles—an eco-friendly mode of transport with zero carbon emissions and minimal noise pollution.

The newly trained women drivers will now be seen on Bengaluru’s roads, providing safe and reliable transportation services while serving as role models for others.

Addressing the gathering, Mamatha Madireddy, Head of HSBC Global Service Centres, said, “The programme caters to two important aspects. It is a diverse and inclusive programme generating employment opportunities for women and secondly the importance of sustainable travel by being environment friendly. The programme resonates well with the theme of International Women’s Day 2025 – to accelerate action for women’s equality! It is an inclusive programme that helps 30 women to be independent individuals and improve the economic living conditions of the women in their communities.

At Concern India Foundation, Kavita Shah, CEO, Concern India Foundation added….
“HSBC India has been collaborating with Concern India Foundation for the past four years to support initiatives that have a lasting impact on the environment. By providing non-polluting electric vehicles, this project integrates skill development with sustainable livelihood opportunities while maintaining a strong focus on environmental responsibility. At Concern India Foundation, we believe that these women are not just acquiring a skill and a means to a dignified livelihood but are also becoming Climate Champions, promoting green mobility and a cleaner future.”

JSW Paints to Launch ‘Sound of Colour’ Music Video Series

Chandigarh, March 13th, 2025 – JSW Paints, India’s leading environment-friendly paints company and a part of the US$ 24 billion JSW Group, is set to unveil ‘Sound of Colour’, an innovative campaign that pioneers a unique blend of music with visual storytelling, where colours inspire sound.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, launched in collaboration with Songdew, India’s leading platform for independent artists, the unique campaign is a collective of one-minute music videos with each track capturing the essence of a specific colour from the JSW Paints’ portfolio. Each track in the ‘Sound of Colour’ campaign is composed by contemporary independent artists to evoke the emotions associated with a distinct colour.

The tracks, composed by popular independent artists, Kabir Cafe, EPR Iyer, Madhur Sharma and Raghu Dixit, integrate real-set production techniques to enhance visual storytelling. The music videos are designed with immersive frames that capture the mood and energy of colours like orange for passion and intensity, purple for confidence and creativity, blue for calm and depth, and brown for warmth and authenticity—enhancing the overall visual and emotional experience.

Commenting on the new campaign, Mr. A S Sundaresan, Joint MD and CEO of JSW Paints said “Sound of Colour is a fresh and creative take on how we experience colours. It is about experiencing the colours through music. By collaborating with Songdew’s artists, we are bringing a unique perspective to the concept. We aim to redefine the way we connect with colours and make colour selection an immersive and emotionally engaging experience. The campaign will be released across multiple digital platforms.”

“At JSW Paints, we believe that colour is more than just a visual element – it’s an expression of emotion, creativity, and individuality. Through this ground-breaking initiative, we are thrilled to collaborate with independent artists, blending the vibrancy of our colours with the emotive power of music. This partnership creates a unique multi-sensory experience that not only enhances artistic expression but also fosters a deeper connection between colours, music, and the people who experience them. It is a celebration of creativity in its purest form.” said Mr. Ashish Rai, Chief Business Officer of JSW Paints

Songdew provides a platform to independent musicians to showcase their talent, collaborate and expand their reach. With a strong presence in digital music distribution and live experiences, it is transforming the independent music space in India.

Speaking on the partnership, Sunil Khanna, founder of Songdew said, “Music and colours have a profound impact on our emotions and creativity. We are delighted to partner with JSW Paints for this unique initiative. Working with some of the most talented independent artists, we aim to bring fresh perspective to music and elevate the way people experience colours, making this campaign a celebration of artistic expression in its purest form.”

Prodigy Finance Offers INR 19,000 in Scholarships for Fall 2025 Global Students

13th March 2025: We are thrilled to announce the Prodigy Finance Scholarship Program for students who are starting their classes in Fall 2025. With a total of $19,000 in awards, this scholarship aims to support talented students from Prodigy Finance-supported regions.

This competition features three exciting opportunities:

  1. The Prodigy Finance General Scholarship – Two $5,000 prizes for students attending Prodigy-supported schools.
  2. The Study North Carolina Student Matching Scholarship – One $1,000 prize for students planning to attend a Study North Carolina member institution.
  3. Esade Future Female Leaders – One award of $8,000 designed to empower women attending an Esade graduate program.

Students can apply for a scholarship award regardless of the loan application status. This award can be used for tuition fees, living expenses, or other costs related to their studies.

To be eligible, applicants must be starting their studies in Fall 2025, be from a Prodigy-supported region, and be attending a Prodigy-supported school or a Study NC member institution for the Study North Carolina Scholarship.

Applications open on March 14, 2025 and close on April 14, 2025 at 8:00am EST. During this time, applicants must complete the scholarship application and answer essay questions assessing their financial need and academic merit. Applications will be reviewed from April 15 to May 1, 2025, and winners will be announced on May 2, 2025.

Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer of Prodigy Finance, states, “At Prodigy Finance, we believe education is the most powerful tool to change lives and communities. Through these Fall 2025 scholarships, we proudly support students who show exceptional talent. We are not only funding studies but investing in innovation and future leaders.”

We encourage all eligible students to apply for these scholarships and take advantage of this opportunity to support their academic journey. Applications will be available on the Prodigy Finance website starting March 14, 2025.

Prodigy Finance is an international student loan provider that specialises in collateral-free loans without requiring a co-signer. Recently, Prodigy Finance launched a new initiative offering a co-signer loan option with a lower interest rate specifically for Indian students. This option allows Indian students the flexibility to choose between a co-signer loan or a no co-signer loan, depending on their financial needs.

Indian Chamber of Commerce Award

Kolkata; 13th of March 2025: Rezaul Hoque, from Naodapara village in Murshidabad district, used to a daily wage earner, staring at an uncertain future. However, his fate took a turn when iTrain on Wheels mobile upskilling project approached him to take up the free paint applicator’s training. Today, he is an established and sought-after master painter in his region and employs 18 other paint applicators. His story is not merely one of professional success; it is a narrative woven with challenges, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

The thought of a household paint applicator or the painter brings a man into the picture naturally. However, women too are disrupting this male-dominated sector across India. Thanks to iTrain on Wheels programme, an innovative CSR initiative from Berger Paints India Limited, implemented by Smile Foundation.

Amrutben from Madhapar village in Kachchh, Gujarat used to supplement her family income by working as a construction labourer not long ago.

Then came a moment that changed everything. When the iTrain on Wheels mobile training team came to her village, with a lot of hesitation, she became the lone female participant braving the unknown. “I learned valuable skills, mastered innovative painting skills and home decoration techniques. The specialized tools and equipment also brought confidence in me to take up work,” reminisced Amrutben.

Today she has employed a team of eight to ten men, with a monthly earning ranging between Rupees 60,000 to 80,000. She says this is still unbelievable to her at times. The programme has transformed Amrutben from a labourer into a leader, proving that with right support and opportunities has helped her paint a brighter future.

The story of change is no different for Ferdinancy Laloo in Meghalaya’s Shillong. She has been a dedicated wife and mother of three who was finding it hard with her husband’s meagre income. Today she has turned her family’s fortune around, becoming an inspiration in the community.

There are 2.98 lakh paint applicators who have transformed their future in the last three years across 443 districts in 25 states and three UTs of India under iTrain on Wheels initiative.

Mr. Abhijit Roy, MD & CEO of Berger Paints India Ltd. said, “By empowering paint applicators, especially women in small towns and villages, we are investing in their future and helping them build a better life for themselves and their families. We are proud to be a part of their journey towards a brighter tomorrow through excellence in skills and with dignity.”

Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation said, “Skill development plays a crucial role in the nation’s economic and social advancement. India faces a pressing need for skilled workers as well as job creators. We are thankful to Berger Paints India Ltd for its trust and the partnership for this unique and impactful CSR initiative.”

Berger Paints India Limited and Smile Foundation came together in 2021 to implement iTrain on Wheels programme. This upskilling initiative is aimed at honing the skills of unorganized paint applicators (household painters) by training them in contemporary painting techniques while simultaneously upskilling existing paint applicators (painters) to enhance their employability and earning opportunities. The paint applicators receive the skilling and training free of cost in their vicinity.

Besides technical skills development, the programme also places a significant emphasis on soft skills training, as well as entrepreneurial skills development.

An independent study on the programme shows that as many as 73 per cent of the respondents saw an increase in spending on vegetables and other nutritional food. This indicates a prioritization of health and well-being of the entire family and a comfortable standard of living. A significant 74 per cent of respondents have also purchased a vehicle each. It reflects their financial stability and an increase in the ability to realize their aspiration with the change in the income growth after completion of the iTrain programme. There has also been a corresponding increase in multiple expenditure areas related to family members.

As a recognition to the socio-economic impact that the initiative has been creating on the ground, iTrain on Wheels programme received the 7th Indian Chamber of Commerce Social Impact Awards 2025 under “Employment Enhancing Vocational Skills” category in Kolkata.

Ambuja Cements Leads Rural Health Movement in Chandrapur

Chandigarh, 13 March 2025: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is driving a health movement in Chandrapur through its CSR efforts to combat rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including hypertension and diabetes. Through screenings, risk assessments, nutrition awareness, and fitness programmes, the initiative has impacted over 20 villages and 11 health centres, mobilising Sakhis (community health volunteers) and frontline health workers to create lasting behavioural change.

In Chandrapur, Vinod Thamke, once unaware of his high blood pressure risks, has transformed his lifestyle with support from the CSR team. After attending a village screening camp and receiving personalized counselling, he joined walking groups and adopted healthier eating habits, leading to stabilised blood pressure and improved energy levels.

Similar interventions—including annual screenings, kitchen gardening programmes, open-air gyms, and tobacco cessation initiatives—have helped identify high-risk individuals and connect them to healthcare services, ensuring continuous follow-ups and preventive care.

Ambuja Cements’ CSR team is creating a sustainable health movement in rural Maharashtra by addressing both prevention and management of NCDs. Through continued efforts in screening, early detection, and lifestyle interventions, the Company remains committed to fostering healthier communities and combating lifestyle diseases at the grassroots level.

4 Tech-Driven Platforms Revolutionizing Upskilling

Tech-driven platforms are revolutionizing upskilling by offering personalized, on-demand learning experiences that cater to the evolving needs of the modern workforce. These platforms leverage cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics to tailor learning paths to individual skill levels, career goals, and learning styles. With interactive courses, hands-on projects, and virtual labs, learners can gain practical, industry-relevant skills at their own pace. Additionally, many platforms provide certifications that validate newly acquired expertise, boosting career opportunities. By making learning more flexible, scalable, and accessible, these platforms empower professionals to bridge skill gaps, enhance productivity, and remain competitive in an ever-changing job market. They are not only shaping how individuals learn but also transforming the way companies upskill their teams for the future of work. Here are 4 Tech-Driven Platforms Transforming the Future of Workforce Upskilling.

SkillUp

SkillUp is a leading online learning platform dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the skills needed for the future. It offers a wide range of courses in cutting-edge domains like artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, catering to learners at all levels from foundational knowledge to advanced job-ready expertise. With flexible learning options, including self-paced courses, instructor-led sessions, and live classes. Beyond courses, the platform provides valuable services such as one-on-one career mentoring, resume preparation, interview practice, and opportunities for practical experience, helping learners seamlessly transition into their desired careers. Collaborating with industry giants like IBM, Microsoft, Future Skills Prime, Pacific Lutheran University, and Google Cloud.

Imarticus Learning

Imarticus Learning is an award-winning ed-tech company offering finance, analytics, technology, and marketing courses. We are a classroom and online training institute that provides certification programs, and job-assured, executive, and university-assured courses.Our vision is to prepare the global community with the best educational programs for the new-age market. They are present globally, and in India, they have centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Patna, Lucknow, Dehradun, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Cochin, and Kolkata.

UpGrad

UpGrad is one of India’s leading EdTech startups, UpGrad offers an extensive array of programs in partnership with prestigious universities worldwide. Known for its personalized 1-on-1 mentorship and robust placement support, UpGrad sets itself apart in the competitive market. The platform provides diverse courses, spanning MBAs in Business, Law, Insurance, Software Development, Blockchain, and much more, empowering learners to achieve their professional aspirations. Instahyre Instahyre is an advanced hiring platform based on artificial intelligence, enabling recruiters to hire top talent effortlessly. It is renowned for its innovative approach to revolutionizing HR processes, has demonstrated unprecedented success in the recent fiscal year, surpassing its own projections and industry expectations. The company’s steadfast commitment to leveraging technology to streamline hiring processes has garnered widespread attention within the HR industry and beyond.

BridgeLabz Solutions

Bridgelabz is an AWS-recognised incubator and is solely focused on solving tech employability. Over the last 5 years, it has worked with 500+ top tech companies and 2500+ engineers have been hired from Bridgelabz. It has labs in Mumbai and Bangalore. It has partnered with over 500 companies, including Yatra, Capgemini, Meru Cabs, LafargeHolcim, JDA, UrbanLadder, Fullerton India, and RBL bank.

SanDisk Debuts Automotive-Grade UFS 4.1 at Embedded World 2025

New Delhi, India, March 13, 2025: Building on its comprehensive portfolio of advanced automotive-grade storage technology, Sandisk today introduced the industry’s first automotive grade UFS4.1 interface device, the Sandisk® iNAND® AT EU752 UFS4.1 Embedded Flash Drive (EFD). The evolution of Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) is further driving the need for increased performance and more frequent over-the-air software updates. The fast UFS4.1 interface enables software updates to happen faster, reducing downtime for customers and allowing SDVs to get on the road more quickly and reliably.

Automotive AI systems such as Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), Autonomous Driving (AD) and eCockpit need to pull information from sensors, maps and AI databases to function safely. iNAND embedded flash drives become crucial to making sure data is available and reliable when it’s needed and provide real-time in-vehicle storage for the AD computer to overcome latency and connectivity issues that arise when accessing the cloud. The Sandisk iNAND AT EU752 UFS4.1 EFD is a key component in enabling high interface performance in these systems.

Projected to be more than 2x the performance of Sandisk’s previous UFS3.1 device and double the capacity previously available on the market[i], this ground-breaking solution available up to 1TB2 with Sandisk’s latest BiCS8 TLC NAND technology will help revolutionize automotive applications requiring increased data storage performance, capacity, endurance and reliability to fuel automotive artificial intelligence (AI) innovations.

Key features for the Sandisk iNAND AT EU752 UFS4.1 EFD include:

  • Health status reporting so the host can monitor the device and take proactive measures as needed to prevent potential system failures while the vehicle is operating.
  • Fast boot replaces the need for a separate NOR device, thus reducing board space and costs. The fast boot feature is also critical for safety systems such as rearview camera systems that need to be operational within two seconds.
  • Capacities 128GB to 1TB[ii] with projected performance of up to 3,900 MB/s sequential write and 4,200 MB/s sequential read1(1TB). It is also fully backward compatible to work with UFS3.1 hosts.

The iNAND AT EU752 UFS4.1 EFD is currently shipping to select customers and partners. The new device complements Sandisk’s robust portfolio of automotive-grade SD cards, e.MMC, UFS2.1, UFS3.1 and NVMe products.

Sandisk is showcasing the AT EU752 UFS4.1 EFD at Embedded World 2025 alongside its other flash storage solutions, including its industrial embedded and removable flash storage solutions, client SSDs for workstations and laptops and industry-leading data center solutions, such as the SanDisk® DC SN861 NVMe™ SSD and Ultrastar® DC SN655 NVMe SSD.

National Housing Bank’s 2024 Report on Housing Trends in India

13 MAR 2025

National Housing Bank (NHB), a statutory body under the Government of India has released the Report on Trend and Progress of Housing in India, 2024 pursuant to provisions of Section 42 of National Housing Bank Act, 1987.

The report broadly covers the housing scenario and house price movements, flagship programmes of GoI on housing sector, role of Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs) in providing housing credit, performance of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and outlook for the sector.

Key highlights are:

  • Individual housing loans outstanding as on 30-09-2024 stood at ₹33.53 lakh crore, showing growth of 14% over the corresponding period of previous year.
  • As on 30-09-2024, EWS & LIG accounted for 39%, MIG accounted for 44% and HIG accounted for 17% of outstanding individual housing loans.
  • Individual housing loan disbursements during half year ended 30-09-2024 were ₹4.10 lakh crore while disbursements during the year ended 31-03-2024 were ₹9.07 lakh crore.
  • For the quarter ended September 2024, the Housing Price Index (NHB-RESIDEX) recorded y-o-y increase of 6.8% as compared to 4.9% during previous year.
  • Major initiatives of GoI, such as PMAY-G, PMAY-U, impact assessment of PMAY-U, Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF), Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) scheme, etc. have been covered in the report.
  • The report identifies regional disparities in credit flow and vulnerability to climate related risks, as some of the key challenges to be addressed by the sector. It also identifies technological advancements in construction, digitization of land records etc. as some of the factors which will facilitate growth opportunities for the sector.

Outlook for the housing sector remains promising, driven by budget announcements on PMAY 2.0, urbanization, transit-oriented development, digitization and other factors.

Commenting on the report, Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd., said,”The NHB report reinforces what we’ve been seeing in the market—the mid-income group (MIG) is becoming the backbone of the housing sector, making up 44% of outstanding individual housing loans. This segment is growing rapidly, driven by urbanization, increasing incomes, and supportive government policies, reflecting a strong desire for homeownership. Middle-income buyers are looking for well-designed homes in prime locations that offer a balance of quality and convenience. This trend is expected to continue in the coming months, further strengthening the sector. At Signature Global, we remain committed to catering to this evolving demand by delivering thoughtfully planned, high-quality homes that align with modern lifestyles.”

Mr. Ashok Kapur, Chairman, Krishna Group and Krisumi Corporation, said, “India’s housing sector is on a strong growth path, fueled by rising homeownership aspirations, rapid urban expansion, and supportive policies. The National Housing Bank’s report highlights this momentum, with individual housing loans increasing by 14% and home prices continuing their steady rise. Government initiatives like PMAY and infrastructure-driven development are further shaping demand across segments, making homeownership more accessible. As cities grow, homebuyers are prioritizing well-planned, well-connected communities that enhance their lifestyle and long-term investment value. This trend is expected to continue, with evolving buyer preferences driving demand for homes that offer a blend of quality, convenience, and future-ready design.”

FlowerAura Launches ‘Aura-Ganic Holi’ Celebration

Wednesday 13th March, This Holi, FlowerAura is bringing a deeper meaning to the festival of colours with its ‘Aura-Ganic Holi’ initiative— an eco-conscious celebration that not only spreads joy but also supports local communities and protects nature.

With a thoughtfully curated range of natural Gulaal made from temple flowers, festive cakes, vibrant hampers, and more, FlowerAura encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly, embracing colours that are as pure as the bonds they represent.

The collection features natural Gulaal made from flowers collected from temples, ensuring that these sacred blooms find a new purpose rather than being discarded as waste. This initiative directly supports Self Help Group full of local artisans and communities, who meticulously craft these colours, turning devotion into an opportunity for sustainable living.

“At its core, Holi is about spreading joy, and what better way to do that than by ensuring our celebrations contribute positively to society?” said Shrey Sehgal, Co-founder of FlowerAura. “By repurposing temple flowers into natural colours, we are not only making Holi safer for people and the environment but also creating livelihood opportunities for artisans who put their hearts into making these hues come alive.”

The collection extends beyond colours to include specially crafted Holi-themed cakes, thoughtfully curated hampers, and gifts—each designed to add a special touch to the celebrations. Whether it’s indulging in a delicious cake infused with festive flavours or gifting a hamper filled with handpicked Holi essentials, FlowerAura ensures that every moment is meaningful and memorable.

FlowerAura invites everyone to celebrate Holi in a way that is kinder to the planet and supportive of communities. This year, let every splash of colour not just paint faces but also brighten lives—because true celebration lies in spreading happiness, responsibly.