By 121 News

Chandigarh 27^th June:-To commemorate the success of students, Career Launcher organised a grand felicitation ceremony, to honour the meritorious students of the Institute at Industrial Phase 2, Chandigarh. Over 70+ students qualified for National Law Universities Nationwide, Symbiosis, IPM-IIM Indore, and IHMs (Hotel management Colleges).

On this occasion, Bharat Jain, Director of Chandigarh & Patiala Region, Career Launcher rewarded the meritorious students with a trophy & certificate on their academic achievements. It is pertinent to mention here that apart from Patiala two centers of Career Launcher are running in Chandigarh -- one in Sec 35 and the other in Sec 8.

While addressing the gathering, Bharat Jain congratulated the students for their success and also expressed gratitude towards the efforts of the teachers & faculty members, whose sheer determination and hard work led to this moment.

Gautam Puri, the Co- Founder of Career Launcher was also present. He holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

According to Gutam Puri that Career Launcher focuses on diverse segments of education across learners of multiple age-groups led by a team of highly qualified professionals, including IIT-IIM alumni, with a passion for excellence in education.

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Chandigarh 27^th June:-With the Punjab government resuming the drive to install high security registration plates (HSRP) on vehicles after four years, Raahat- The Safe Community Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has urged the government to expedite the process.

The HSRP project had begun operations in the state in 2012 but came to a halt in 2015 post a litigation between the vendor company Agros Impex (I) Pvt. Ltd. and Punjab state transport department.

Speaking on the occasion Kamaljit Soi, Chairman of the foundation urged the government to instruct the vendor concerned to also commence the process on a priority basis. Implementation of HSRPs in the state is important as it shares its border with the neighboring country and has witnessed several terrorist activities in the past. These 'IND' plates provide a standardized display of registration marks and come with chromium-based holograms to protect against counterfeiting.

The front and rear number plates have a unique alphanumeric laser identification number, which are automatically registered with the central database of VAHAN when fixed on the vehicle. HSPRs can also curb vehicle-borne crimes and other illegal activities such as drug peddling, smuggling, snatching and theft cases.

With the commencement of the scheme in the state, it is compulsory for new vehicles to affix HSRP, failing which the registration certificate (RC) of the vehicle will not be issued. As per the NGO, Punjab currently has over 1 Crore vehicles that are plying on the roads without HSRPs.

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Chandigarh 27^th June:-GoAir, India's fastest growing airline, has recorded the best On-Time Performance (OTP) for the 9^th consecutive month. GoAir recorded 91.8% OTP according to the latest report released by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for May 2019. This achievement is the result of GoAir's continuous focus on enhancing customer experience without compromising on service deliveries. Besides, for the month of May 2019, GoAir had the lowest cancellation rate of 0.33%. 

OTP ranking assumes critical importance in today's context when passengers are looking at reliability and trust. From various research studies, it is evident that achieving better customer satisfaction is about more than airfare and flight availability. When considering an airline, travelers look for timeliness and assurance and on-time arrival is one of the major factors.

GoAir is pleased to offer a reliable travel service wherein we assure travelers to get them to their destination in a timely manner while taking into consideration factors that are not necessarily in the control of the airline like airport congestion, taxi times from the runways, gate availability etc. as these challenges are in the domain of air traffic control or the airport authority.

Besides, the DGCA report also states that GoAir had the second highest load factor of 93.3 % indicating the number of seats filled.

GoAir spokesperson said that GoAir is India's fastest growing airline and we will continue to step up our performance and invest in Operational Excellence across the board. We thank our customers as this milestone would not have been possible without their punctuality, loyalty and support of millions of guests who have flown with us.

GoAir operates over 270 daily flights and carried around 13 lakh passengers in the month of May 2019. GoAir flies to 24 domestic destinations including Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kannur, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Ranchi and Srinagar, and 4 international destinations, including Phuket, Malé, Muscat and Abu Dhabi.

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Chandigarh 27^th June:-Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, the mutual fund arm of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, has launched the Aditya Birla Sun Life Pharma & Healthcare Fund, an open ended equity scheme investing in Pharma and Healthcare Services Sector. The fund opens on June 20, 2019.

The Indian Pharma Industry is projected to become US$100bn industry by 2030, with domestic pharma expected to grow at 10-12% per annum. Indian Pharma companies are global leaders in generic drug manufacturing, in fact 1 in every 3 medications sold in the US is supplied by an Indian Pharma Company. The gradual global shift from branded to generic drugs will act as a tailwind and further fuel the exports market for Indian Pharma. Increased Government spending on public healthcare through schemes like 'Ayushman Bharat', growing penetration of health insurance, higher life expectancy and increasing spends towards healthcare and wellness will act as a stimulus for growth.

Commenting on the launch, A. Balasubramanian, CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd, said that the sector has been a long term outperformer over a 10 year period, except in the past 2-3 year. The underperformance of the sector in the last 3 years was due to compliance issues coming from abroad and pricing pressures. We believe this risk is already factored in the prices, given the strong balance sheet and export potential of companies in the sector. Poised for a strong rebound, there is opportunity in the coming cycle to take position given the attractive valuations and the potential growth in the sector.

With a new business cycle coming into play and new businesses with high growth potential and sticky profit like Diagnostics, Wellness & Specialty Chemicals also available to invest in, this sector is more vibrant than ever before. "To add to novelty, we also have ability to invest in innovators, patent holders & specialty instrument makers in global markets", added A Balasubramanian.

Apart from the core Pharma and Healthcare space, the fund will also look at other large opportunities in sectors like Hospitals and Diagnostics growing at over 20% CAGR; Wellness businesses growing at 10-12% every year, or the Global Contract Research and Manufacturing Services industry (CRAMS) which is growing at 7% per annum. The scheme can also invest in equities of listed overseas companies, in line with the RBI and SEBI guidelines.

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Chandigarh 27^th June:-This summer, relish the different avatars of the king of fruits, during the Mangolicious Food Festival at Cloud 9 – Hotel Shivalikview , with the perfect ambience to relax and spend time with family. Revel and relish this delicious and succulent fruit all through these ten days ( June 28–July 7 , 2019 )  at Cloud 9 , featuring some of the most delicious varieties of mangoes.

According to the Deputy General Manager Hotel Shivalikview, Bikram S Virk  the king of fruits–the delightful mango is the highlight of a plethora of specialty dishes in our Restaurant ,  Come & Beat the scorching heat this season by enjoying a magical feast at Hotel Shivalikview .

The beautifully curated al la carte menu promises a tantalizing new take on all things mango and includes Fresh Curd Almond & Mango based Indian Summer Seducer ,Mango Almond Lassi , Ambi Panna & much more . With the king of fruits in season, do not miss out on desserts. For those with a sweet tooth the Mango Kulfi , Mango bliss , Mango Ginger Mousse , Mango Cheese Cake.         

Chef Nitin  & Chef Gopal Khadka  have curated the festival with dishes like Grilled Chicken with Mango Black Pepper Reduction , Pan Seared Fish with spicy Mango Salsa , Mango Tango Pizza and many more . According to Chefs that our sumptuous recipes cooked with freshest mangoes will definitely bring you back here for another visit.

Spread of Tomato and Mango salsa on soft Pizza base, topped with Pineapple and Mango dices loaded with Mozzarella will give you a sweet twist whereas Raw Mango based boneless Chicken Curry accompanied with Cumin Rice stands out of all.

Chef's special Marinated Grilled Chicken topped Mango Black Pepper reduction served with charred Veggies and Potato Wedges is an instant hit. The signature dish Marinated Pan Seared Basa Fish topped with Mango Salsa accompanied Rice and Vegetables will satisfy craving of eating mangoes. For mango lovers , Grilled Sandwich with stuffing of Ripe Mango Salad and Cheese accompanied with French Fries and Mango Salsa is a must try.

By 121 News

Chandigarh 27^th June:-Bariatric Surgery provides the most effective long-term solution for weight loss when other methods have failed, said Dr. Amit Garg, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Mohali while addressing a press conference at Chandigarh Press Club here today.

Meanwhile, Fortis Mohali has launched its comprehensive Bariatric Campaign. A team of Specialists, a Bariatric Surgeon, a Dietitian and a Gastroenterologist will be offering complimentary consultation to overweight patients. During this period, Fortis Mohali will also be organising Health Camps across different locations.

Dr. Amit Garg said that on average, people can expect to lose 60 to 70 percent of excess body weight, which can be 40 kgs  or more. Like any weight loss plan, patients have to make lifestyle changes to make it work including exercise and adopting healthy eating habits.

Dr. Amit Garg said that one of the key aspects of the program that makes it different from many others is that we take a holistic approach to our care and follow our patients for life. After surgery, we follow them closely for the first 18 months and then annually to help keep them healthy and motivated. We work closely with their primary care doctor to check weight and nutrition, recommend labs and address any issues such as nutritional deficits, medical issues and any excess weight gains so we can help our patients stay on track.

We also understand that a successful transition to lifelong healthy living requires more than just losing the weight and may require the support of other specialists, said Dr. Garg. As a result, the Bariatric Center also includes medical nutritionists, an exercise specialist and a clinical psychologist to support a patient's medical, physical and mental health throughout the process.

Dr. Amit Garg said that in addition to weight loss and improved quality of life, there are other reasons a patient and his or her physician may want to think about weight loss surgery. "Increasing evidence shows that it can help reduce a person's risk for a number of serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and cancer. He added that Morbidly obese patients having type 2 diabetes and other problems who don't lose weight with all efforts are advised bariatric and metabolic surgery.

He added that all of the surgeries are performed laparoscopically, which means they involve making several small incisions that are closed with only a few stitches, resulting in fewer complications and a much quicker recovery time for patients.

Dr. Amit Garg, said that the health and quality of life benefits these patients receive from bariatric surgery and other weight loss methods are tremendous,. They are more mobile, feel better about them, have less depression and have better family, social and work lives.

At the press conference some patients who have undergone bariatric/ metabolic surgery at Fortis Hospital, Mohali shared their success stories. Vinod Bansal, 47 yrs old Journalist from Bathinda, who got Metabolic Surgery by Dr. Amit Garg at Fortis Hospital, Mohali shared that he had a long history of poorly controlled diabetes with HbA1c of 14.3 and was on daily dose of insulin. After metabolic surgery he is off all diabetes medicine and lead a normal life.

Another patient, Mrs Poonam Singh, 40 yr old Punjabi Film Choreographer shared that after diabetic surgery by Dr. Amit Garg, now ahe ia not taking any diabetes medicines. She feels lighter and energetic and able to keep up with her hectic work schedule.

Mrs Dipika Swarup, 53 yrs old from Gurgaon who lost 104 kgs in 18 months and was crowned the biggest loser 2018-2019 shared that being morbid obese with BMI of 68, she was rejected for surgery in some of the best hospitals of Delhi/NCR. After undergoing bariatric surgery her self-confidence is boosted in every step ahe take and now feel very independent and motivated.

Mrs Monica Mittal, 44 Yrs, Educator from Lucknow said that she had diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea and was taking 90 units of Insulin and oral medications but her diabetes was still not controlled. She got Metabolic surgery done after suffering for eight years. Immediately after surgery, her blood sugar levels came to normal. Presently she is not taking any medicines and HbA1c is now 6.5. She feels very energetic with weight loss which was a bonus of diabetes surgery.

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Chandigarh 28^th June:-Himachal is a vibrant and jubilant State that has the highest forest cover of 70% in the country and also has a great potential to draw Investment. Through the Rising Himachal Global Investors Meet, we are looking towards welcoming all Sectors to come and invest in Himachal and help the state develop into a booming economy. This was stated by  Jai Ram, Thakur, Chief Minister, Government of Himachal Pradesh at the Mumbai Road show organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) of the "Rising Himachal Global Investor Summit, 7-8th November at Dharmashala.

In the series of domestic road show, for attracting investors interest in the Global Investors' Meet scheduled at Dharmashala on November 7th-8th, 2019, a high-level State delegation led by Jai Ram Thakur, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh along with Bikram Singh, Hon'bl Industries Minister and senior officers from the Himachal Pradesh Government called upon the Captains of the industry, including Ratan Tata, Adi Godrej, Anand Mahindra for investment in the state.

The State Delegation is seeking investments in Tourism, Infrastructure & Logistics, Pharmaceuticals, Food Processing, etc. and received a humongous response from the business leaders in Mumbai.  Many MoUs for investment in the State were signed with the leaders. One of the MoU signed with Mahindra holidays and Resorts worth INR 300 Cr in Tourism and another MoU in Wellness Resort by M/s Himalayan Bliss.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group shared that the group is exploring HP as the next destination for electric vehicles as well as in the areas of Intelligent traffic management for smart cities. The group is also keen in implementing Enterprise Solutions for Government bodies. Waste to Energy is another area where the group intends to invest in Himachal as there has a vast potential to convert pine cones and needles into energy.

Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Trusts assured that he would ask Chairman of Tata Sons to constitute a task force to explore investment possibilities.

Chief Minister during the discussions with Adi Godrej, Godrej Group Chairman requested him to increase group's presence in the state in fast moving consumer goods and real estate sectors and extended an invitation for participating in Global Investors' Meet in Dharamsala in November.

The series of B2G meetings had a fruitful outcome and commitment of fresh investment in the state. The first meeting was with Arun Nanda, Chairman, Mahindra holidays and Resorts – an MoU was signed with Mahindra Resorts for investment in Mahindra resorts at Kndaghat, Dharamshala, Janjheli and Koldam dam for 300 crores

In the meeting with Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG group, Harsh Goenka shared his Investment plan in IT park at Wakhnaghat and informed that they are looking at plantation as they are largest in tea and rubber plantation. The group is looking at possible options in northern India to which the State Government suggested that contract farming is suitable option for plantation in Himachal Pradesh and invited Harsh Goenka for the Global Investors meet to be held in November.

D P World (a world leader in global supply chain solutions) expressed its interests in setting up logistic parks at large industrial area in Baddi. The State delegation also met Ms. Sree Patel, Executive Director, Mondeleze India and Sagar Kaushik, COO United phosphorous ltd, who expressed interests to invest in Horticulture. He shared the innovations done for apple irrigation and are looking at post-harvest technology to increase shelf life of fruits procured from Himachal Pradesh. They have also submitted a proposal for expansion of existing facility in Himachal Pradesh by 5 times for procurement of apples.

Bhupendra Dalal, Chairman, Foods and Inns ltd, expressed his interest in investment in Food processing sector.

Whereas Neeraj Akhoury, MD & CEO, ACC Ltd, appreciated state contribution over the years, and shared the company's expansion plans in Chamba district.

Nikhil Miswani, Executive Director, Reliance Group expressed his willingness to invest in sectors such as Retail, agri-marketing, hospitality etc, were taken up.

Chief Minister greeted the distinguished guests and lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of Indians that has created wonders and is well acknowledged across the globe. He also presented the priority sectors of the state like Tourism, Food Processing, Pharmaceuticals, IT, etc and requested the participants to explore investment opportunities in these sectors. He shared about Himachal Pradesh's strengths, meticulously framed policies, suitable opportunities and State's readiness to attract and encourage investment. He informed the business leaders about the reforms undertaken by the State Government in Ease Of Doing Business and further added that the state would provide world class industrial infrastructure as well as enablers like one of the lowest tariff power, abundance of water and other amenities. He also invited the gathering of potential investors to block their dates for the Rising Himachal Global Investors Meet and make it convenient to join at Dharamshala.

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Chandigarh 28^th June:-Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group today showcased its World of SUVs, a new format, next generation dealership to redefine the customer purchase experience. A transformation experience in automotive retail, the company has already set up over 300 such World of SUVs across the country, within a record time span of 6 months.

The company envisioned the future to shape a breakthrough in brand and customer experience and presented the World of SUVs. It is a new format dealership that redefines customer experience, thanks to digital technologies and interventions. It is aptly themed around the Mahindra DNA of 'Live Young, Live Free.'

Speaking at the showcase of the World of SUVs, Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said that the Mahindra World of SUVs is a differentiated customer experience, a synthesis of next level technology with a physical environment that showcases the brand promise of 'Live Young Live Free'. Infact it is built on the foundation of providing convenience, transparency and personalisation.

Veejay Ram Nakra further added that at Mahindra we have always leveraged technology to re-imagine the purchase and ownership experience for our customers.  For a personalized experience we have several industry first initiatives such as SYOUV.com, Bring the Showroom Home and multiple tie-ups with portals for online booking of our vehicles at the pre-purchase stage. Further, for a seamless ownership experience, With You Hamesha is a digital platform for our existing customers.

The World of SUVs fortify Mahindra's engagement in the pre-purchase and purchase stages by integrating the virtual world with the real on a phygital (physical+digital) platform, alongside a robust backend mechanism.

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New Chandigarh 28^th June:-Omaxe Limited, one of India's leading real estate companies brings to New Chandigarh, region's first hyper-hybrid business park- "Beacon Street". The business park will be a future-proof business hub, complete with a glass and chrome skyline and 360-degree amenities such as retail, office, living, dining and entertainment spaces.

Manoj Suri, AVP-Sales & Marketing, Omaxe limited said that "Beacon Street" is part of Omaxe's commercial projects, namely, India Trade Tower, International Trade Tower and Holiday Inn, in New Chandigarh. It will be a kaleidoscope of colour, taste, smell and pleasures for everyone and of every age. He further shared that under its roof, Beacon Street will have Palika Bazar, Bespoke Boulevard, Centre Point, Gourmet Gallery, Café, Clubs & Pubs, Court Cullinaire, Funder land, Megaplex, Odeon, Uni-Suites, Serviced Apartments, 7-screen multiplex cinemas and The Roof Top. With sky escalators, playing areas for kids and beautiful ambience, Beacon Street can cater to become the next favourite shopping destination. It will be a destination combining business space with green, high-end horticulture, which will take your commercial experience to a different level.

Bhupinder Singh, Business Head – Chandigarh, Omaxe Limited said that we are very excited to introduce our new project Beacon Street. New Chandigarh is a modern city, Omaxe is very thrilled to bring its hyper-hybrid hub as a project for the new generation. It brings multiple experiences under one roof. We are hopeful that Beacon Street will be a unique and successful journey.

Beacon Street project is conveniently located along a 200ft stretch on Madhya Marg Extension road, just opposite to MediCity and next to transport terminal. The site is close to major residential area. Marked by large landmarks and with more projects to come, the business hub will be fast becoming one of the most valuable investment zones in North India.

By 121 News

Chandigarh 28^th June:-Injuries and pain come as an unavoidable part of one's life journey but most commonly, people are seen losing to these troubles. But, Sony Entertainment Television's Vighnaharta Ganesh's Raavan played by Paras Chhabra has a different story to tell. Having been casted in the role of Raavan, Paras was needed to make his physique highly muscular and wide to adhere to the set rules of look for the popular mythological character. The look of the character also involves the use of heavy jewellery where, only the crown he wears for the show weighs 12 kgs. But what if this 12 kg article falls right on one's nose? Something similar happened to paras during show.

While shooting for a sequence, the crown fell right on Paras's nose, leaving him injured. He could have easily stopped shoot and left midway but being as dedicated a he is, Paras took a call to continue shooting and did not let the difficulties and injury comes in the way. Other than that, now and then Paras incurred various injuries while his shoot and workout sessions for the character but he took immediate precautions. Recently, the actor got a surgery of his shoulder and though, the production and even his co-actor and his real life girlfriend Akanksha Puri tried to convince him to cancel his shoot, Paras disagreed and decided to continue to shoot with his bandaged shoulder.

When contacted Paras said that injuries are bound to happen especially when one chooses to shoot for a character that requires heavy built like Raavan. A lot of preparation needed to be made in terms of his physique and workouts were heavy due to which he seldom got muscle pulls. Also, there were injuries sometimes due to his heavy metal costume which bytes his entire body. When the 12 kg crown fell on his nose the entire unit was concerned and wanted him to abandon shooting. The same happened after the shoulder surgery which I he underwent only a few days back. But according to him time is precious and time once gone never returns. One can't lose to these small obstacles. His work is his passion and none of the injuries can break him from his passion.

Current track of the show revolves around Vishnu's and Parvati's marriage and their married life, how they are challenged by 5 girls who want Vishnu for themselves and even through a spell impress him. The show will depict how Shiva and Parvati help Lakshmi in winning Vishnu back for herself.

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India 01^st July:-Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), a part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group, today announced its auto sales performance for June 2019. M&M sold 17,723 Utility Vehicles in June 2019, a growth of 8% over June 2018.

The Passenger Vehicles (PV) segment (which includes UVs, Cars and Vans) sold 18,826 vehicles in June 2019, as against 18,137 vehicles during the same period last year, a growth of 4%. 

In the Commercial Vehicles segment, the company sold 16,394 vehicles in June 2019, as against 19,229 vehicles in June 2018.

In the Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles segment, M&M sold 705 vehicles for the month. Exports for June 2019 stood at 3,076 vehicles.

The company's Auto Sector overall sales (Domestic + Exports) stood at 42,547 vehicles, compared to 45,155 vehicles during June 2018.

Commenting on the monthly performance, Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Marketing, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd. Said that the market sentiment continued to remain subdued, especially in the Passenger Vehicles segment. At Mahindra, we are happy to register a growth of 4% in the Passenger Vehicles segment and 8% in the Utility Vehicles segment, on the back of our three recent product launches. Further, we continued to correct our channel inventory both in the personal and commercial vehicle segments in June 2019.

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Chandigarh 01^st July:-ROTTO (NORTH) PGIMER launched a week long Awareness Campaign today at an impressive function organized in collaboration with Arpan, a CSR initiative of Infosys, at Infosys premises in DLF Building, Chandigarh.  

The second awareness event under the Campaign was organized today by ROTTO (NORTH) PGIMER in collaboration with another industry giant Mondelez India Pvt Ltd at their Baddi Unit in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh alongside the blood donation camp under their CSR initiative.

Engaging with corporate workforce through fun filled activities like street play, slogan writing, graffiti and signature campaign, peppering these with information about the cause, the camps at Infosys Chandigarh and Mondelez Baddi witnessed enthusiastic response with 76 pledging for Organ Donation at both the events.  The maximum queries posed to the cousellors at ROTTO (NORTH) PGIMER camps  pertained to ethical practices, expenses involved, waiting list, difference between organ and body donation and the process of transplantation etc.

Detailing about the Campaign, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO (NORTH) PGIMER stated that 8th July 2019 would mark the completion of 25 years since the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) was passed in 1994 in Parliament. As the Act provides for the regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs, the Awareness Campaign has been launched to highlight this milestone and garner enough traction for the cause of Organ Donation.

Prof. Vipin Koushal complimented Infosys Chandigarh and Mondelez India Pvt Ltd, Baddi  for their commendable initiative and said that building up focus on this altruistic and noble cause of organ donation by engaging with multiple stakeholders through these awareness campaigns will definitely help in boosting the transplantation activity in the region and thereby, saving precious lives.

While  expressing his gratitude towards ROTTO (NORTH) PGIMER for supporting their CSR endeavour, Lalit Singla, Senior Project Manager, Infosys Chandigarh said that in sync with Arpan's  ideology of 'joy of giving', Organ Donation also celebrates the 'spirit of giving' and there is no bigger gift than 'gift of life. Lalit Singla assured of Arpan's commitment to take forward the mandate to different locations, thereby connecting and sensitizing a large base of employees.

Endorsing the need for corporate engagement,  Lalit Singla felt that the problem of low donation rates can be overcome with enhanced awareness as knowledge is the first step towards attitudinal change..

Ajay Kumar Jena, Facility Executive, Mondelez India Pvt Ltd. Baddi,  reiterated the same sentiment as he said that it is a social responsibility and we all must join hands and synergize  to make the National Programme on Organ Donation a success as our small efforts can play a savior for those suffering from organ failure and living in constant pain.

Through the week long campaign, various infotainment and engagement activities would be organized in collaboration with religious organizations, corporate houses, educational and financial institutions, NGOs & CBOs. The aim is to reach out to a larger base of people. The campaign would culminate with a community event on 8^th July celebrating the landmark of THOA 1994.  

The first day of the campaign concluded with an encouraging response from corporate workforce with 76 pledging for Organ Donation.

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Chandigarh 01^st July:-When words fail, music speaks. This is what exactly happened in the case of talented singer Vilen, when he came to promote his track "Ek Raat", a philosophical art piece and a journey of depression, altered by a series of events, at the Chandigarh Press Club here today.

As an artist he never thought his song would get so much of love and appreciation from the audience. It became the massive heartthrob of the music world with its huge popularity on Tik-Tok. Also with over 129 million views to his song on YouTube without any promotion, regardless him being the first person, who uploaded his song on his own YouTube channel- Darks Music Company. The song is written and directed by Vilen himself. His real name is Vipul Dhankar.

Vilen said that the 'Ek Raat' song is for the youths and is motivational in nature. It is targeted to the youth, who are feeling low or suffering from depression. It describes that life can be changed for better in a single night also, if moved positively.

Undoubtedly, the music is the strongest form of magic, proved by Vilen through his song 'Ek Raat'. He has a total of five songs to his credit, amongst which his favourite one is 'Ravan'. He said that they are expecting the same level of love and support for his next song 'Chidiya'.

His cousins, Aman Dahia (artist manager) and Kashish Maya (Rap Artist) were also present at the press conference. All these artists are animal lovers and have adopted a stray dog, named Vyakti (a human being), who lives in their music studio based in New Delhi.

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Chandigarh 01^st July:- Industrialist Pankaj Khanna was unanimously re-elected for the 2^nd successive year as President of the prestigious Industries Association of Chandigarh (IAOC) for the year 2019-20.

He was re-elected during the 57^th Annual General Meeting of the association. H S Mamik , Arun Mahajan, SS Sarkaria & Siddharth Gupta were also unanimously re-elected as Vice-President, Hon. Secretary, Joint Secretary & Treasurer respectively. The new team will be closely following & resolving industry demands and issues for the Industrial area spread over a whopping 1500 acres.

After being elected, Pankaj Khanna stated that he and his team's primary objective will be to work on a start up policy for the Industrial area. We will work towards resolving issues like conversion of plots from leasehold to freehold, a policy for misuse/violation penalties, increase in FAR(Floor Area ratio) etc.

After being reappointed, he expressed his gratitude to Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher for her constant support in getting the issues plaguing Industries resolved from time to time. The head of the prestigious association also thanked the current team of UT officials, who according to him have been at their responsive best.

The new team also showed keenness to rationalise power tariff and enhance  the general infrastructure of the Industrial area.

The new office bearers underlined that they will coordinate with the administration to give a boost to Industry under the MSMED (Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Development Act 2006).

Pankaj Khanna said that IAOC will play an important part in building a spirit of camaraderie and co-operation among the various associations, forums, stakeholders etc of Industrial area of Chandigarh.

It is noteworthy that Industries Association of Chandigarh (IAOC) was established in the year 1962 as the pioneer body for Industries in Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Administration came out with its First ever Industrial Policy for the Industrial Area in the year 2015, which was subsequently amended in Feb 2019 to allow more activities in consonance with the MSMED Act.

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Chandigarh 01^st July:- On the occasion of 32 remembrance of 'Bhramlin Shri Satguru Dev Shri Shri 108 Shri Muni Gaurvanand Giri Ji Maharaj' and on the occasion of 'Srimadh Bhagwat Katha Gyan'. In a large number of Sadhu Sants and Mahatmas arrived at Shri Mahavir Mandir Muni Sabha (Sadhu Ashram) Sector 23, Chandigarh here on Monday.

Dalip Chand Gupta, President of 'Shri Mahavir Mandir Muni Sabha along with sabha members, O.P Pahwa, Ram Prakash, Pt. Deep Sharma, N.S Chauhan and Shri Shri  108 Shri Panchanand Giri Ji Maharaj warmly welcomed the Sadhu Sants and Mahatamas with tilak and offered them food, clothes & Dakshina.

Earlier in the morning 'Prabhat Pheri' was also organised at the premise of temple, which passed through different places of the sector 23 and culminated at the Shri Mahavir Mandir Muni Sabha. The 'bhawya hawan' was also organised on this occasion later.

During the occasion, Katha Vyas, Shri Atul Krishan Shashtri mesmerized the devotees with his spellbinding narration of 'Srimadh Bhagwat Katha'.

He benevolently narrated the Krishan-Sudhama relationship and elucidated that a person, who worships God never be unhappy in life and God always fulfill his wish.

He added that Sudhama never asked God for anything and after seeing his selfless devotion, god offered him a whole estate.

He said that people should go to the temple with selfless spirit.

During the occasion, he also elucidated the nuances of Raja Prakshit Moksha story to the gathering.

By 121 News

Chandigarh 01^st July:-  The monsoon months of June, July and August spell doom for commuters who use taxi-hailing apps to reach their destinations. The sky high cab fares on rainy days or on days when there is unending traffic, burns a deep hole in a consumer's pocket. Their travel budget for whole month takes a hit, leaving them frustrated, dejected and burdened than usual.

Vistar Gupta, who uses one such app to get to work said that he usually pay INR 300 to commute from Zirakhpur to his office in Mohali. During the rainy season, he has even paid INR 600 which is very frustrating and has messed up his entire monthly budget. The only other alternative is public transport buses which have a set route and take forever to reach your destination.

Ride-hailing in Chandigarh has become difficult for commuters. It lacks transparency and freedom to choose at various levels. International markets have witnessed a revolution with apps like inDriver wherein consumer has the power of choice on fare, driver rating, estimated time of arrival, vehicle model etc so that he/she not only feels safe but also feels empowered. An app like this can be a solution for cab facilities in the tricity, providing a service that aids drivers and commuters to operate in a perfect analogy.  

On a wintery day during the New Year holidays of 2012, the temperature in Yakutsk, Siberia, an eastern region of Russia, dropped below -45C and the local taxi drivers doubled the cost of their rides. In order to overcome this issue, the residents of Yakutsk created a group by the name of "Independent Drivers" on social media. Group members would list the price they were willing to pay, and drivers accepted their orders. In just six months, more than 60,000 people had joined the group. Not long after, the mobile app inDriver was created to replace the group, allowing passengers to independently set the most optimal terms for their rides.

Besides wreaking havoc on pocket of the common man, the currently operating apps charge high percentage of commission from their drivers which is said to be around 15-20%. The entire setup is such that neither the consumer nor the drivers are benefitted but just the companies.

We require an alternate which resolves this concern for both the commuters as well the cabbies. The commuters in tri-city not only need better public transport but taxi services which are more organized and consumer-friendly.

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Chandigarh 01^st July:-'Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Shiv Mandir' , Sector 8 C, Chandigarh has been registered under the Registration Act ,XXI of 1860 and as amended by Punjab Amendment Act, 1957. The registration number is 4840. The mandir has also constituted a new committee.

Harmohinder Singh was elected as President of the committee, while Bal Krishan Malik, Sr.Vice President, Narinder Singh, Vice President, Ashwani Gupta, General Secretary, Satish Suri, Joint Secretary and Satish Kapoor, Treasurer.

Harmohinder Singh, President of 'Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Shiv Mandir', stated that with the new committee in place many more developmental activities within the premises will take place. These will include renovation of mandir rooms and halls with basements for the stay and holding of functions for public.

Bal Krishan Malik, Sr.Vice President said that we will soon start dispensary for poor people and will also organise marriage functions for underprivileged people.

Speaking on this occasion, Ashwani Gupta added that the Sabha will plan medical and blood donation camps at the temple premises.

The new committee announced that developmental activities in collaboration with different voluntary agencies will be organized from time to time to serve society.

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Panchkula 01^st July:-To Create awareness on "Obesity & its Health Hazards" a team of Doctors from PARAS Hospitals Panchkula,  addressed the media person today. Speaking on the occasion Dr Anupam Goel, Consultant Bariatric & Laproscopic Surgery from Paras Superseciality Hospital Panchkula "A recent study puts an alarming 70 percent of India's urban population in the obese or overweight bracket taking the country right in the middle of a fat explosion."

Dr Anupam Goel shared that according to a study published in the noted journal Lancet, India is just behind US and China in this global hazard list of top 10 countries with highest number of obese people. Also as per a recent report Obesity's global costs hit $2 trillion a year.  30 million of India's adult population is either overweight or obese and 62 million diabetic  Indians exhibit unique features of obesity like excess body fat, abdominal adiposity, increased subcutaneous( under Skin) and intra-abdominal fat, and deposition of fat in ectopic sites (such as liver, muscle, and others). Obesity is a major driver for the widely prevalent type-2 diabetes & Other commonly associated diseases are Obstructive sleep apnoea, Osteoarthritis, Low self esteem, Depression, Menstrual irregularities, Infertility, Hernias, Cancers and Heart Failure.

Dr Anupam said that it is a common myth that obesity is a rich man's disease. In reality, obesity is not only caused due to over-eating but also due to adopting wrong eating habits. Therefore, obesity can affect both rich and poor altogether.

Losing even 5-10 per cent of your weight can delay or prevent some of the diseases discussed above. These results can often come from fitness centers, dieticians and nutritionists. But, there are conditions when surgery alone is the best option to deal with obesity. Patients can undergo Bariatric surgeries that either restricts eating or leading to decreased absorption of food that you eat. In Gastric Bypass surgery, the capacity of the stomach is reduced by stapling the intestines to create a smaller pocket of the stomach. These operations are done by laparoscopy and are keyhole surgeries. Patients those who undergo Bariatric surgery within five years of the onset of diabesity, there is a 90 to 95 per cent chance of them getting cured of both diabetes and obesity.

Dr Anupam also shared that Obesity is rising in India. So are weight-loss surgeries. About 18,000 weight-loss surgeries were conducted in India in 2014, up from 800 just five years ago. India's government now covers the cost of weight-loss surgeries for its 3 million government employees, making the procedure available for the not-so-rich as well.

On this occasion, Ashish Chadha, Facility Director PARAS Hospitals Panchkula said that Diabesity (diabetes + obesity) is prevalent in 60 per cent of diabetic patients in India, out of which around 25-30 per cent have a high BMI index of more than 30. Nearly half the world's adults will be overweight or obese by 2030 should present trends continues. As the risk factors of Obesity & Diabetes increases, so does the mortality rate. He added that the current scenario demands an immediate emphasis be laid on preventive healthcare. This involves raising awareness about the disease and its risk factors. Conducting public education programmes, workshops and counseling sessions for creating awareness at a mass level.

By 121 News

Chandigarh 01^st July:-Retail and MSME financing major Shriram City Union Finance Ltd. (SCUF) announces the appointment of Y S Chakravarti as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Shriram City Union Finance Company Ltd. Y S Chakravarti was earlier the Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer of the company.

Y S Chakravarti is a retail finance professional with over 2 decades of experience in the field of financial services. He has also been serving as a Director of Shriram Housing Finance Limited since November 2010. Y S Chakravarti started his career with   Shriram Group in 1991.  He moved to Shriram City Union Finance Company Ltd. in 2008, handling the business in the State of Andhra Pradesh which contributes close to 40% of the overall SCUF retail business. Since 2010, he has been working as Business Head and Chief Operating Officer of the company.

Duruvasan who was the Managing Director of Shriram City Union Finance since June 2012 has taken SCUF to greater heights and will now continue as Non-Executive Director to guide the current Management and to also ensure a smooth transition. Going forward Duruvasan's role will be focusing on the growth and development initiatives of multiple entities in the Group.

By 121 News

Chandigarh 02^nd July:-VYRL Originals is pleased to welcome the newest artist Avkash Mann into the VYRL family. The son of the Legendary Punjabi singer, actor and producer Harbhajan Mann, Avkash is all set to make his mark with Tere Vaaste among music fans. His international debut single, "Away" was a huge success and well received world-wide gaining a spot in the acclaimed American Top 40. Having a music background, Avkash took early interest in the art by attending The Langley School of Fine Arts and New York Film Academy.

Tere Vaaste breaks the stereotype of a typical Punjabi song, giving the listeners a fresh tune and flaring the power of varied emotions of love. The song has an EDM vibrancy laced through-out with Avkash's powerful vocals complimenting the heavy bass texture. The melodious track exemplifies succumbing to love and surrendering to that one special person who means the world to you.

The stunning music video is shot in Belgrade, Serbia and captures the picturesque architecture and beautiful people of Europe. The song is produced by Rohan Malhotra, lyrics are written by Harmanjeet with composition and vocals by Avkash.

VYRL Originals continues to spearhead non-film music in India and gives the audience a flavor of varied styles and genres of music.

Elated on the release, Avkash Mann said that music is a way of life. It's so constant in his life with all sorts of music, genres and languages. He is blessed to have this opportunity to begin his journey in the domestic market with a Punjabi song, which happens to be his mother tongue and which he has a legacy in. It's not just his father, his great grandfather was a poet and a singer as well; and carrying their legacy forward means a lot to him. With that in mind he wants to make music that's progressive, interesting and fun. That's his attempt to do something unique, something substantial for the industry and he is extremely excited to partner with VYRL Originals for this journey.

Excited on his son's release, Harbhajan Mann said that showcasing one's music and art to the word is every artists dream and goal and this is especially beneficial and uplifting when they have a team that believes in them. When such true forces align there is always a great outcome. Avkash is a young fresh talent aligning with VYRL Originals who believe in giving great exposure to young talent and new music and he is really excited for the world to witness new kinds of Punjabi music with this collaboration.

Excited on the release Vinit Thakkar, Senior Vice President, Universal Music Group India & South Asia said they at VYRL Originals welcome Avkash Mann to their VYRL family. Avkash is a trailblazing young artist who has the potential to appeal to audiences across geographies. His unique sound coupled with his passion for music compliments our endeavor at VYRL. Punjab has been the hotbed for non-film music and they are happy to bring a clutter breaking Punjabi track from VYRL for fans of Punjabi music across the globe.