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RADDICONNECT: BUILDING AN INDUSTRY 10th July 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 7 |
A refreshing take on the e-commerce business model is embodied by the likes of startups such as RaddiConnect. The Bandra based online platform spearheaded by a team of youngsters, have their vision, heart and feet where they belong. With a vision propelling them forward, feet on the ground and hearts pounding with the urge to create a difference, RaddiConnect is all geared to touch the sky. Quiz the founders about what inspired them to foray into such an unconventional segment & they quickly retort with statistics about the unruly and dispersed market called ‘recycling
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and waste management’. The cofounders Gurashish Sahni aged 23, Rahul Nainani aged 24 & the youngest member Raunaq Singh Sahni who is 21 years old, have researched well and have promising numbers to back their business model, however what struck us was the fact that these youngsters want to uplift their vendors and associates as they progress ahead, their three fold mission includes establishing and formatting the market structure for disposing and recycling goods, alter the perception of the raddiwallas and to make a social change by supporting NGOs.
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So what is RaddiConnect, how did it take flight and what does it have in store? RaddiConnect aims to facilitate the activity of disposing ones waste by resolving the haphazard manner through which the customer and service provider conduct their transaction. RaddiConnect enables the customer to fix a time slot as per their convenience for the pick-up, the back end team from RaddiConnect thereafter confirms the scheduled pick up & provides the customer with the competitive market prices for paper, plastic, metal and glass. Contd. on Page 2 >
Raddiconnect: Building an Industry
02 JULY 2016
Contd. from Page 1
RaddiConnect’s representative arrives at the customer’s doorstep in tow with an electronic weighing scale and provides an invoice for the transaction. The electronic scale eradicates the possibility of rigging the metric values and makes the transaction transparent; before the interaction culminates a receipt is provided. A simple process flow you think? None the less a lot of behind the curtain, trial and learning is the secret for this ease of operations. Beginning with the conception of this idea, which took shape while Gurashish Sahni & Rahul Nainani attended a Google startup workshop. After receiving positive feedbacks from their fellow attendees they were reassured that the idea had substance, so they delved deeper, began by doing on ground research and interacted with future associates to get insights about the field and its functions. Speaking analogically, the skeleton was born during the workshop, it gained muscle while researching and crunching numbers and yet they found something missing, the Soul. The management believes that humans want to do good and in order to ease
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the process to do so, they came up with a unique proposition. The customer can opt to donate the proceeds for a cause, RaddiConnect has affiliated with St. Catherine of Siena School & Orphanage, Make A Difference (Children Welfare) & Garbage Concern Welfare Society. Interestingly they have formed a ‘Recycle Team’ comprising of children from St. Catherine, thanks to their regular visits to the school. Apart from this Big Heart initiative, they have researched the customers’ needs & have formulated programmes to bridge the gap. They have a subscription format, wherein a representative visits your household at regular intervals ensuring that the need to declutter does not arise considering there is no cluttering to begin with. The first phase of operations is going smoothly at RaddiConnect, as they do the tedious work of accumulating data and building their customer base, however their task is far from over. Phase two will have them actively getting involved with, in-house recycling and structuring the industry on the whole and implementing processes which they are formulating. RaddiConnect’s area of operation spans from Colaba to Goregoan on the western
B-989, Casa Adriana, 15 St. John Baptist Road, St. Mary Steps, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400 050
BUSINESS IN FOCUS
L to R: Co-founders of RaddiConnect - Rahul Nainani, Gurashish Sahni & Raunaq Singh line, to fix a pick-up one can visit their website www.raddiconnect.com or call them on 090042 40004. RaddiConnect also provide this service for corporates, func-
tioning with stringent confidentiality protocol. Sidhant Nayangara
India's first Capoeira Master Reza Baba Massah aims to teach 'self defence' & help strengthen the girl child
NEWS
Don't look for happiness in others when you have immense potential within yourself It's all about self defence, self discipline, flexibility, balance, mind control, body control, coordination, concentration, action reaction, techniques and tactics. Capoeira is the martial art in the form of dance with an integral part of music in it. It is the only martial art form which is nonviolent, noncompetitive and not harmful to your body, according to Reza Baba. Capoeira is the martial art which is played not fought. It is just like a game which is played with tactics & techniques instead of violence. In this art form, you move your entire body and thus trigger each and every part of your body but not hurt the opponent. You respect the opponent and let them shine when it is their turn in stead of putting them down. It keeps you fit It keeps you strong and healthy. And in the lifestyle that we live in, Capoeira serves as an ideal solution for it has a holistic approach. Reza Baba explains that you rest your mind, forget about everything else, all the tensions and worries in your life and just enjoy yourself. And while enjoying, you also put your mind into action by focusing and thus polishing it every time just to upgrade, improve and better your being both physically and psychologically. It is loud and energetic Capoeira involves a lot of music, singing and dancing which is quite traditional and has its roots in nature and history. Often, the Brazilian dance is performed since Capoeira has its roots there. Traditional musical instruments made out of bamboo are used which are generally used by the tribal folks. Each class has a lot of loud singing while the art is performed so there are continuous vibrations and you feel energised. Your whole being is reverberated because of the positive energy that the environment withholds during a session. It boosts your Self Confidence Discovering the strength that lies within you is the paramount achievement of any living being. Karen D'costa, 24, who has been learning Capoeira since 4 years testifies, "Capoeira has made me self confident. I know I can take care of my own self even if I am travelling late in the night. I have mastered self control so I am more composed even in difficult situations." The art form has helped Karen tackle strangers in Mumbai & she has made it sure that other women around her are safe too from local goons. "I know how to take care of myself and those around me. I feel responsible for myself and the society," she expounds.
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Above: Baba Reza Massah alongside his student showcase Capoeira at Bandra Amphitheatre alongside his students It relieves all stress, helps overcome depression & fills you with positive energy Meher Abadian, 28, a vet doctor who has been into this martial art form since 3 years expresses, "It has helped me open up for there is a lot of positive energy & no restrictions. We all come here and smile and have a fun time helping each other grow as an individual." Noel Almeida, 22, has been learning Capoeira since 4 and a half years says, "This martial art form has taught me how to behave. The rich culture & music that it possesses has helped me stay fit and grow as an individual. I now conduct classes & have taken Capoeira as my career." It is a way of Life Reza Baba strongly believes, "Capoeira is the need of the hour. Every kid in India should learn self defence and should be able to take care of himself or herself. Every kid should live life to the fullest free from the violence and competition of this world. It is my dream to create a Capoeirista in every household so that we can face anything in life." The world is very dark as we hear of rape, violence and crime all the time. Reza
Baba wants to equip the girl child to be self reliant and face the world with strength, confidence and courage. "We teach our kids what is a bad touch and a good touch in our classes. We teach them habits like brushing your teeth or taking a bath regularly. So, we help make better individuals in a physically strong and mentally sound way coupled with music, dance and lot of energy and fun," he explains. It is a community that is growing constantly Reza Baba is the first person to get this martial art form to India when he started teaching Capoeira in 2005. He himself has learned the art form for over 20 years & even today he keeps constantly upgrading himself by learning new techniques from different parts of the world. Today he teaches around 2000 children in a week in different schools (like C. P. Goenka, JBCN International, B.D. Somani, Billabong High International, etc. - part of 10 school curricular programs with Capoeira as a subject in schools) and conducts classes all over Mumbai and is thus spreading to other parts of India too.
Everything today is all about competition, but Capoeira is not Vasundhara Kaul, 28, who works as an actor & copywriter, expresses, "I have been learning Capoeira since 1 year & have always made time for my classes. As an adult this is the best martial art form where there is no competition and each individual can perform freely." Akshay Makhija, 22, a digital artist and writer says, "Capoeira helps me relieve stress & stretch my muscles with the whole harmonic rhythm of beats and energetic music." Rhea Ramodiya, 23, adds, "I feel belonged to my Capoeira class. I have been learning since 1 year and I have found my space where I can be myself without any worry or hesitation." The young, old, plump, thin, girl, boy, tall or short anyone can learn this martial art form to enhance your being and live a better life. In fact, each one ought to learn Capoeira because it has a holistic approach with all round benefits & no harm to the body. Reza Baba concludes, "Capoeira is the need of the hour to help detach from the materialistic world and channelise the strength within you in a fun way." Ronald Rodrigues
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5th June 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 6 |
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Carter Road could soon have a sandy beach We at Bandra Buzz caught up with our Corporator, Asif Zakaria, in his office to learn about an exciting, new development called The Carter Road Beach Project. It is something that the residents of Bandra will appreciate as well as visitors from around. Read on to find out more… What is the Carter Road Beach project all about? It’s a very small project. You know, Bandra doesn’t have any sandy beach; there’s the Chimbai beach but that has a lot of dirt and filth and isn’t too clean. Besides that, we don’t have any other sandy beach except for Carter road; behind the Amphitheatre there is a small section of sandy beach. Fishermen use it to park their boats in the monsoons. That being said, I had submitted a proposal to the corporation so that maybe we could put it to more use, for the public at large. The amphitheatre and the Carter Road Promenade are frequented by a lot of people, every day. What we’ve planned, is to provide some basic spot facilities for kids where we are installing solar lights & I have already got sanction for it and the work will start very soon. Besides that, we intend to have Beach Volleyball where we put up the poles and youngsters or kids come with their own nets and play games. We are also planning on having Beach Cricket where we will put up a mat and people can bring in their own stumps and play. Sand pits are also planned for small kids. So it’s a very simple plan which I have proposed to the corporation and also submitted a plan to have a movable stand so that people who come there or students, can sit and watch the game. I have submitted the proposal to the corporation, the commissioner as well and I am hopeful that in the coming days we should get a sanction and we should be able to start this project. Soon it will be the mon-
The above area near the Carter Road Amphitheatre will be cleared to make way for beach volleyball, beach cricket & sand pits soon season so we won’t be able to do that but post monsoon we can start Beach Volleyball, Beach Cricket etc. What is the target area on which the Beach Project will be constructed? Basically it is a very small, sandy beach
which is exactly behind the Amphitheatre. That is the only part that contains sand and no rocks. It is clean, but you know there are a lot of stones and garbage and a lot of debris. We will clean that once and for all and will try to put it to use. Once residents start using it and the sporting facilities, then
maintaining it becomes easier since it comes to the public eye. If we are able to use it consciously, maintenance will be much easier. Contd. on Page 02 >> Sunny Rodricks & Nayan Sreenivasan
SME: Small & Medium Enterprises - ‘explained’
04 JULY 2016
Clifton Desilva Director of Altina Securities Pvt. Ltd. has been playing a key role in creating huge market valuations for companies, by supporting & mentoring them to list on the stock exchanges & unleash value. Earlier on, he was instrumental in mentoring & supporting companies on the main board. However with the setting up of the SME platform he is now focusing on mentoring & supporting companies to list on the SME platform, as he believes that the SME sector is set to become the growth driver of the Indian economy - & if supported can transform India into a global manufacturing hub & spark an industrial revolution. Altina Securities as a part of its CSR activity focuses on its twin objectives of promoting entrepreneurship and financial literacy, both at the start up level & scale up level. As far as financial literacy is concerned: - It has organized over 1000 investment seminars (free of cost to the participants) - Published over 1000 articles on investments in leading publications Altina Securities in now gearing for a hat trick, with a vision to unlock value on the SME platform, to the extent of Rs 1000 cr. To gain a deeper insight, we asked Clifton probing questions: Why have you shifted focus to the SME sector? The small & medium enterprises (MSMES) are the backbone of any fast developing economy. The SME’s account for around 90% of the total number of industrial enterprises. In India SME’s represent a diverse asset class of emerging companies, from both traditional & new age economy sectors. The sector contributes 17% to the GDP which is expected to shoot up to 22% by 2020. Direct benefits to the Indian economy are 45% of industrial output, 40% of total exports. The sector provides employment to 70 million people & creates jobs of around 13 million every year while labour intensity is 4 times higher than that of large organizations. A survey indicates that India requires job creation to the extent of 1.3 billion which the large firms both in the private as well as public sector would not be able to provide. It is the SME sector which could fill this gap if given to right support. SMEs are expected to drive the next level growth of the Indian economy provided they have the enabling platform & avenues.
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What are the problems faced by the SME sector? To fuel high growth in any sector, access to capital is of paramount importance & the key challenge faced by the SME Sector pertains to the dearth of easy finance to fuel accelerated growth. It is estimated that around 60% of the SMEs in India do not have access to formalized lending. The sector also finds it difficult to obtain Private Equity funding. Most of them are also discouraged from availing this type of finance, given its high cost; coupled with the fear of diluting their holding. The problems associated with the SME sector are inherent in the operations of its structure. The main challenges are small size, owner driven, lack of quality products, low governance standards, absence of proper accounting systems, unqualified family members, succession as well as business risks, usage of outdated technology, lack of sufficient finance, absence of in-house research & development. Hence banks are reluctant to finance the sector as the probability of Non Performing Assets (NPA) appears high, especially during economic downturns.
BSE/NSE had stringent financial requirements, as well as the cost of listing are very high. Hence this route was shut for the SME sector. SMEs could grow range, bound with own funds or pooling of funds from friends & relatives, which is generally inadequate for quantum growth. Growth funding platform of capital markets though badly required by the SMEs was unavailable. A game changing initiative for SMEs was unleashed in 2010 by the Prime Minister’s Task Force. Based on this recommendation, SEBI on May 2010 laid down a framework for setting up stock exchange/trading platforms, dedicated to SMEs
What is the potential of the SME platform in India? The SME platform in India has huge potential, considering the fact that it accounts for about 90% of industrial enterprises in India. Number wise, it is estimated that there are around 50 million SME units in India & even in the next few years, if 0.01% get listed the number of companies listed on the SME platform could be a mind bogging 50,000 compared to 5800 on the BSE & 1700 on the NSE.
“In India SME’s represent a diverse asset class of emerging companies, from both traditional & new age economy sectors. The sector contributes 17% to the GDP which is expected to shoot up to 22% by 2020. ”
What are the problems faced by promoters? My experience with promoters over the years reveals that they build companies through hard work, grit, determination, passion & sacrifice but when it comes to succession on most occasions the next generation does not seem keen to take over the business & in several cases the value that has been created over the years gets destroyed. There are several instances where companies have been built with valuations of over Rs 100 crore at a point of time & subsequently have been reduced to scrap value due to lack of succession & have to be shut down at a later stage for lack of business continuity & succession. Thus value created over the years if not unlocked gets destroyed.
What is the access to the SME sector for funding? In order for companies to achieve accelerated growth, they must have access to equity based premium funds - which in turn will enable them to have a low cost structure & thus compete effectively & grow the business. Relying on personal funds is always limited & bank finance, besides difficult to attain is expensive compared to premium based funds. In the past the SME sector could not access equity funding as listing on the
What are the benefits of listing? Listing rewards performance by improving market capitalization. In an unlisted company even par excellence performance is not benchmarked. There are many intangibles like brand equity, management bandwidth, promoter’s dynamism & domain knowledge - as well as many others, which do not get reflected anywhere. Even exiting the business becomes a difficult proposition, as the buyers are few, selling price is at a discount & payment terms are spread over a longer time frame. Unlisted shares command discounted valuations even less then their book value. But as soon they are listed, valuations are determined through the listed market price. Therefore when promoters set up a business & grow the business, it creates value - & if at any point of time & if for any reason; the promoters would like to partially or fully exit the business, there should be an exit route, so that the value created can be unlocked. This can be achieved more easily if the shares of the company are listed on the stock exchanges. In case the company is not listed, it gets difficult to find the true value of the company.
NEWS
Whereas in a listed company the market assigns a value to the company & there are more number of buyers who are ready to pay a premium to market valuations for a listed entity. Toady even a shell company on the BSE costs around Rs 5 Cr. Other benefits include currency value, reduced cost & borrowings, stakeholders comfort, ESOP’s -visibility & increased corporate governance.
What have been the concerns of promoters of the SME sector? Loss of control: The listing rules provide for a dilution of only 25%, while the balance 75% is held by the promoter. Most of the successful companies are managed with promoter holding of less than 50%. The Tata's run some of their companies with holdings of less than 50% So was the case with Infosys. The promoters of MRF have a holding of a mere 27% & control the company. There are around 6,000 companies listed on the exchanges & over the last several years, there has never been a hostile takeover. Compliances: Often entrepreneurs & managements of emerging companies perceive that listing involves hefty compliance both at IPO & post IPOs levels. A close look at the compliance on the SME platform as also post listing compliance reveals that SME listing compliances are significantly relaxed to facilitate more & more number of SMEs. Costs: The costs involved in listing on the SME are around 8% of the cost involved on the main board, one of the major advantages of listing on the SME platform is that it allows companies to migrate to the main board, after two years - at virtually no cost. What is your vision for the SME sector & what is the role you intend to play? Our main focus is to promote entrepreneurship, both at the start up level & scale up level. At the scale up level we mentor & support companies to list on the SME platform & unlock intrinsic value. In fact it was surprising to learn that several entrepreneurs were unaware of the existence of the SME platform & having understood the benefits of listing, seem keen to avail of the benefits of listing. We have been instrumental in listing two companies on the SME platform whose valuations thereafter have soared significantly & there are over a dozen companies which are in the process of listing. As of now, we are in the process of mentoring & supporting over 25 companies who are in the various stages of listing. We have a vision to unlock value to the extent of Rs 1,000 crore on the SME platform over a period of time. Ronak Khurana
NEWS
BANDRA BUZZ
JULY 2016 05
Christopher ‘Tucky’ Curzai voted Director of MEICOCAI - Global At the last meeting of the Mumbai East Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in Bandra West, Christopher Tucky Curzai was unanimously voted as Director on the Board of the Chamber. “Tucky C. has the fire and faith required as a pre-condition to enable a Director to occupy the seat of conference and capability in the Chamber hall of the institution” says Rtn. Calwyn D’Abreo, Founder and Initiator of MEICOCAI - Global. “I believe in community and specially in the industrious attitude of those in the community, who are involved in trade and commerce. I look forward to be interacting with all, especially the young men and women, who are within the ‘start-up’ formation of their businesses - and who are taking the help of the Chamber to forge ahead.” said the newly appointed Director, Christopher. The President of MEICOCAI who is an experienced banker
and also an M and A counsellor, Brian Pereira delivered the letter of invitation which was accepted by Tucky Curzai, at a well attended board meeting. Tucky Curzai is a restaurateur by the inverse expression of his business partnership in realty, that allows for the amelioration of his use of highly skilled professionals to run licensed boutique bistros restaurants in Mumbai. A message from the Chairman of MEICOCAI, Global - Neil Creado who was absent and away on business in another geography, has sent his compliments and looks forward to a fruitful tenure with Tucky Curzai - within the deliberations and ideals of the Chamber. The President, Brian Pereira announced at this meeting, the next six month plans for the Chamber - and also introduced the patron bankers to the Board of Directors.
DENTAL IMPLANTS FOR FREE Leslie Fernandes
As part of their endeavour to make dental implants available to people of low socio-economic groups; Dr. Meghna Dang - in collaboration with 'Smile USA' is now offering patients dental implant surgery for FREE or at low costs, as part of their educational curriculum. People can benefit by getting 'fixed teeth' & advanced surgeries at minimal / no costs, depending on the case. This helps to improve your self-confidence & face people with a ‘sweet smile’. This small surgery can be all the difference between you being successful or unsuccessful in life. Do not compromise on something that creates the ‘first impression’ about you which is very important.
For more information and registration call 99207 70726, 022 6535 0666 Treatment would be carried at 1004, Panchratna Bldg, Opera House, Mumbai 400004 (Dr. Meghna Dang maintains her private practise in Bandra, Colaba, Opera House) Laxmi Karanjia
Christopher Tucky Curzai appointed Director by MEICOCAI President Brian Pereira
A new spin to the California burritos 06 JULY 2016
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Located at Pali, right next to Gold’s Gym, Burrito Factory is not a place you would easily miss. A restaurant started by former Cafe Basilico chefs, Shiv and Bidya. When they started Burrito Factory, the idea they had in mind was to put a new spin to the basic California burritos by giving them an Indian twist and avor. That aside,
cheese & brown rice, all mixed with perfection. The fusion of avors was well received and we enjoyed the burrito bowl. Along with the bowl, we also tried the PeriPeri Fried Crispy Chicken Burrito, which is also a great option for dinner. The ingredients were almost the same except for a few r e - placements like lemon rice, mixed lettuce and periperi fried crispy chicken. The burrito is
Tex Mex Grilled Chicken Burritto
they also oer you some authentic and delectable American and Italian cuisines. Their menu ranges from quick bites to salads to burritos to grilled meats, a good variety in each course. Their Burrito Bowls have received a major thumbs-up response from a lot of their customers and which proved to be true when we tried one as well. We had the Mix Grilled Vegetable Burrito Bowl with olives and sun-dried tomato, which is recommended as a good option for dinner. The bowl was layered with an assortment of grilled veggies, black beans, tossed salad, guacamole sauce, sour cream, chipotle sauce, tomato salsa, cheddar
heavily stued but not very large in size & needs to be eaten fresh & warm or it gets a bit soggy & loses its avor. It makes a good & healthy meal for one person. In terms of quality, they make sure they give it their hundred percent. The food is healthy and not doused in oil or too much cheese. A lot of options in the quick bites section like nachos (veg/non-veg), tacos (veg/non-veg) and french fries with BBQ sauce and more, are available. In the salad section, the exotic grilled vegetables salad is recommended and customers have the option of making it a non-veg salad. Good options for lunch in the burrito section would be the Baked Cheese French Fries burrito, Hummus and Falafel burrito or the Crispy Cottage Cheese and Mushroom bur-
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rito for the vegetarians and the Roast Lamb burrito or Pan Grilled Bualo Tenderloin burrito for the non-vegetarians. Some burritos the Chef
EAT OUT
wash down the food, they suggest a Peanut Butter shake which is a huge hit amongst the customers or a Blue Berry smoothie. You could opt for a cooler as well, which has a lot of variants. All t h e i r sauces are homespun and made by them. Burrito Factory is a must try and Peri Peri Burrito Bowl will not disappoint you. The ambience recand service is great, though the restaurant ommends may be on the smaller side. If you love are the Mexican food and need a quick bite or a Wholesome Green Salad burrito & hearty meal (which literally does not take Hummus & Falafel burrito which are veg. & a toll on your heart), this is a lovely place to the Chicken Keema and Pea burrito, in non- go. Also, Bandra Buzz readers get a 15% disveg. In case you love sea-food, Burrito Fac- count. All you have to do is call on 022tory has you covered. The Egg and Tuna 26418141 or WhatsApp 7045532535 burrito and Smoked Salmon burrito are two sea-food burritos they recommend, Burrito Factory also the Garlic & Herb Butter Shrimp bur- Shop 6, Plot 13/B, Pali Rd, Pali Hill, rito. The Tex-Mex grilled chicken burrito is Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050 www.burritofactory.in a favorite dinner option. Nayan Sreenivasan They have a Signature Mediterranean Grilled section which lets customers create or customize their own choice of Chicken Tacos meat as per their choice or you could go with one of the delicious dishes they oer. Desi Pan Roast Chicken, Roast Panneng Lamb, Asian SautÊ Shrimp, Grilled Cottage Cheese Steak and Tex Mex Fish and Chips, which also comes in a pan grilled version on request. To
JULY 2016 07
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
THE SAVIO STORY Savio is a man with a plan! He knew exactly what he wanted at a very early age and went against all odds to make it happen. Savio knew he wanted to cut and style hair ever since he was in the sixth grade even though at the time it was not a very popular profession for young boys, especially since he was a national level winner for swimming, boxing and field sports. Growing up with 3 beautiful sisters and a mother who till date is extremely particular about her hairstyles and hair habits allowed him some valuable insights into how women perceive their hair and this helped him understand how important a haircut can be to define a person’s own individual identity. Savio began living his dream when he started training with Nalini & Yasmin (Khar) in 1997 and ever since has been scaling new heights from winning hairdressing competitions both national and international to judging them as part of renowned jury panels across the world, all the while creating new trends in hairstyling. His hard work and dedication afforded him oppor-
tunities to train and work in different countries across the world. Savio is the only hairdresser/hairstylist in India to become the ‘Brand Ambassador’ for the international brands of TIGI, Schwarzkopf Professional India (for 6 years) & Matrix (L’Oreal) India (for 2 years). With the love and support of his wife and 2 children, Savio single handedly opened his own salon called ‘Savio John Pereira’ (SJP) in 2009, which is nestled nicely in Pali Hill (Bandra). Savio is known as the evergreen ‘Bandra Boy’, even though he is not originally from here; he completed his school at St. Stanislaus and spent most of his time in Bandra. He remembers how Bandra in the nineties wore a contagious positive vibe that was set against a backdrop of the waterfronts, beautiful churches, with parks and promenades, streets lined with different coloured flowering trees; and even today sports an atmosphere that people continue to flock to. Which is why he knew his first standalone salon had to be in Bandra.
Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Sonakshi Sinha, Shilpa Shetty, Neha Dhupia, Yuvraj Singh and KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath) are some of his celebrity clients so don’t be surprised if you brush shoulders with some famous personality while you’re at his classic - contemporary styled salon where the man himself will always be dressed in black. Savio fills his days either by tailoring new looks for movies or styling photo shoots for fashion magazines, penning columns for newspapers or drawing up new curriculum for his training academy, jet setting across the country and overseas to speak at conferences, judge hair events
and do live demonstrations. So do make your appointments with him in advance. He also specializes in wedding consultations for both the bride and the bridal party. His unisex salons offer you various services that will attend to all your hair and beauty needs where the SJP team focus on creating an entire experience that will leave you spell bound and they welcome you to indulge in it. He recently opened his second salon in the famous French Luxury 5 star hotel in Mumbai - Sofitel, which is located in BKC and has a lot of exciting new ventures to look forward to. Francesca Mascarenhas
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MORINGA SUPPLEMENT BENEFITS • MORINGA - Shigru is very hot in potency and hence is used to increase the appetite and reduce moistness of the tissue. • It vitiates the pitta and alleviates vata and kapha. • Kajal made from the plant seeds help boost the vitality of the eyes. • With its excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, helps reduce swelling of the eyes and prevents infections. • In addition, the antioxidant properties of the treatment helps in cleansing & detoxifying the entire system; hence, those looking to clean up & purify themselves can extensively use the Ayurveda wonder. • In addition, it relieves of headaches, swelling and many other skin diseases and increases the milk production in lactating women. Shigru treats tumors and ulcers & pacifies the nerves, reducing anxiety. • Those suffering from problems of liver and spleen and tooth decay can benefit enormously with Shigru. • Also, is can be used as a laxative and to treat spasms of the colon and, take care of blood circulation problems including high blood pressure, kidney dysfunctions and low back pain. • Shigruis also known to lower blood pressure & causes drowsiness.
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St. Peter’s Feast 08 JULY 2016
The aesthetics of St. Peter’s Church is a marvel in itself and as we celebrated the feast of St. Peter on 3rd July we realized how blessed we were. The church décor was elegant and beautiful. Parish Council members walked in with people of other faiths whom they invited from their community, holding a flag or a hand which they symbolically pinned to the Theme for the day ‘Building the Kingdom of God’. As the PPC members renewed their commitment – To build a faith community for service, Fr. Frazer firmly told us in his homily that we have to move out to embrace the larger society where people of all faiths work together on bigger issues of peace, justice, environment, the poor and the needy. With God’s help we would surely succeed. In fellowship a slice of delicious cake was served after every mass. The evening function rocked with music, dance & plenty of eats with Darryl to lead us on. Our Parish priest with other fathers joined in to make us feel as one parish family. Jesus called Peter the ‘Rock’ to indicate that Peter would be the rock on whose
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foundation the church would be built. May we at St. Peter’s strive to follow our patron saint as we take our vision forward:- to be open to new ideas, move with the times and be ROCK like in our belief that the Kingdom of God can be built here and now as we reach out to others. Ancella D’Souza
NEWS
SPORTS
JULY 2016 09
BANDRA BUZZ
BWFA 2016: Companeroes SC draw 2-2 against Celtic 7070
In a fast paced encounter, Companeroes SC and Celtic 7070 settled for a 2-2 draw in the 15th Bandra West Football League, conducted by the Bandra West Football Association (BWFA) at the Dr. Norman Lewis Supari Talao Municipal grounds. This exciting tournament had kicked off on Sunday 26th June 2016 - and will be played on all Sundays. A total of 27 teams are participating in this year’s tournament, which will end in October 2016. The teams have been split into 2 division each comprising of two groups each: Premier Division Group A: Millwall FC, Sporting Sensation, Athletico Bandra, Young XI, Carmelites SC, MW Strikers, Somlands FC & Carmelite Crusaders.
DIVISION 1 GROUP B: Athletico Titans, Young XI Guns, Baze FC, Blitz FC & Clifford Carmen Foundation.
PREMIER DIVISION GROUP B: Chimbai SC, Celtic 7070, Friends SC, AK Chimbai SC, Bandra Packers, Companeroes SC, Kant Wadi Stars & Sea View SC.
Companeroes shot into an early lead and were leading at lemon time by 2 goals to nil - through Prashant Gurav and Daniel D’Souza. Celtic returned from the breather, with a renewed vigor and determination and were rewarded by a beautiful goal; which saw unmarked striker Asif Khan bulging the net with a crisp shot. Well into the second half, Altamesh Sayeed collected the ball on top of the box - and after weaving around a host of defenders, drew parity for Celtic 7070. In a Division 1 encounter Saad Shaikh’s outstanding performance, including a hat trick; enabled Blitz FC crush the young side of Clifford Carmen Foundation 4-0. Kamlesh Rathod had opened the scoring for Blitz in the 5th minute of play.
DIVISION 1 GROUP A: Jolly Boys, Fishermen FC, Somlands Juniors, Theresians SC, Olpers SC & Rebels SC.
10 JULY 2016 RESULTS: PREMIER DIVISION: Companeroes SC 2 (Prashant Gurav & Daniel D’Souza) drew
Celtic 7070 squad for the BWFA Bandra League Celtic 7070 2 (Asif Khan & Altamesh Sayeed); MW Strikers 2 (Kyle Pereira & Kenyon Affonso) beat M.W. Strikers 0; Carmelites SC 4 (Azfar Noorani 2, Denzil Mascarenhas & Faiz Khan) beat Carmelite Crusaders 1 (Lendel Vessaoker); Chimbai SC 6 (Floyd Dharmai 4, Leander Dharmai & Neren Quadros) beat Friends FC 0; Bandra Packers 5 (Ranzie Kallicharan, Julius Fernandes, William Fernandes, Wavlyn D'Souza & Vishal Kapse) beat Sea View SC 0; AK
Chimbai SC 5 (Aaron Fernandes, Arif Qureshi, Rohan Kadam Rosvelt Fernandes & Christopher D'Souza) beat Kantwadi Stars 0. DIVION 1: Blitz FC 4 (Saad Shaikh 3 & Kamlesh Rathod) beat Clifford Carmen Foundation 0; Jolly Boys 0 drew Rebels SC 0; Fishermen FC 1 (Pranil Chimbaikar) beat Theresians SC 0. Hugh Fernandes
NEWS
BANDRA BUZZ
BANDRA - FROM WITHOUT TO WITHIN ME
Very often I have to deal with people who are unable to fathom why I stay in Bandra, compromising on the space, bearing extra inconvenience while commuting to my workplace and of course spending a lot more time & money in doing so than I would have been, had I been residing in the peripheries of the Maximum City, say for instance in Powai. I am a Mumbai-born, Kolkata-thoroughbred and now a Bandra-boy. I grew up in Kolkata and South Mumbai, both culturally very rich pockets of our country, in their own different ways. I was born to Gujarati parents who failed to indoctrinate me, thanks to my rebellious nature. But having spent over two decades in Kolkata, there's a lot of Bengali-ness as well in me, which is abundantly apparent, especially from my food preferences. I have never been comfortable in residing in a place that is devoid of indigenous characteristics or rather I should say a place that has no personality of its own. Which is why, I would any day choose to stay in Mumbai or Kolkata over a newer city like Bengaluru that's primarily occupied by migrants giving it a very neutral atmosphere, despite the cosmopolitanism. Mumbai is what I say a city of cities & quite apparently the most dynamic metropolis of our country. Bandra has always fascinated me ever since I was a kid. Hence, after completing college from Pune, when I bagged my first job in Mumbai, I very well knew where I wanted to put up. I've completed a little over a year of my stay in Bandra and I love it here. My neighbours here have been at their hospitality best
and by now, I have imbibed a lot of Bandorah’s culture within me, which doesn't mean I start or end my sentences with "men". I've just evolved into being a hybrid of a very interesting combination. This place feels like home now and the sheer thought of having to move out of here makes me uncomfortable. I stay approximately 350 metres from the coastline and nothing in the world is a better stress-buster for me than a walk on the promenade by the sea. Lemon Tarts from my favourite confectionery in Kolkata do come close, though. I am someone who'd choose to take a stroll through Waroda Road instead of being surrounded by the high rises at say, Carter, for I enjoy gazing at the prevalent Portuguese architecture and eye-catching wall graffiti that's almost omnipresent in these narrow by-lanes of Bandra. The beautiful & pristine parishes, the chic cafés and the ready availability of Mutton Puffs, Sorpotel, Vindaloo & the Goan Curry and my adoration for the indigenous communities of Vandre that have hugely contributed in the making of this beautiful Mumbai suburb, are all reasons to fall for it. That reminds me of Mr. Fernandes who sets up a Goan food stall at Waroda road every evening starting from 7:30 pm until stocks last, does a really delectable Goan Prawn Curry that is very well priced. These are all things that I wasn't used to seeing & would not have been so well acquainted to, had it not been for my stay in the Queen of Suburbs. I only hope this place continues to be so for as long as possible. Jaimin Rajani
JULY 2016 11
12 JULY 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
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Letters to the Editor Drizzles to Downpours
EDITORIAL
ILLEGAL MIGRANTS Francesca Mascarenhas's 'local in focus' on artist and sculptor Tyrell Valladares is informative and well written. Both his metallic displays at Bandra's periphery are superbly artistic and conceal in depth talent of vision. Even the locations of these erections are eye catching and perfect. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. However and of recent there appears to be a horde of migrants who have taken shelter under the Bandra Reclamation bridge, next to the RTO office, almost a stone's throw from Tyrell's masterpieces of art. This unlawful habitation of homeless men, women and children is an eyesore. They live, eat and sleep there right next to the police chowki. The mangroves nearby are an escape for sanitation. Where is our governance and civic responsibilities? Scores of people pass that way including elected representatives, but turn a blind eye on this encroachment. Our leaders have money to spend on lavish Iftar parties in 5 star hotels, but a 'no care attitude' to the plight of the homeless. 'Wake up India' should take precedence over 'Make in India.' Amar Singh
BANDRA BUZZ
VANDRE MUSEUM In reference to Amar Singh's observation on Bandra Post office in May 2016 edition. I have always felt that this quaint building is a heritage no doubt, but it would be ideal to have the photos of old Bandra - and how the people lived in the gaothans or villages; with photos of old buildings and other artefacts, for posterity. It could be a museum for the people to see & learn of the days gone by. Bullock carts watered the dusty roads of Bandra - and this could encompass all aspects, even of Dr P.A. Dias - the eminent Doctor, whose name is still on the streets in Bandra. I know that there was just one car in Bandra, owned by Mr. Khona & he walked to the station. My maternal grandfather Felix Rodrigues worked for the British & his office was situated at Colaba. They all walked to work in town and returned walking. There was no Mahim Causeway and the ferry boat took them across. I am sure Mr. Ashish Shelar , who is the most prominent person in our area would be glad to put in his efforts. Email your letters to news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com
Dear Reader, Grey skies greet us as July gets going. With temperatures dropping, it is much more pleasant now to move outdoors, in spite of other adverse conditions - and comparatively speaking, Bandra and surrounding spots are “good”. The world comes to shop here. Then after kicking up an appetite, it is time for a cozy lunch or a delightful dinner - complete with chatter about how you tricked that salesperson and got the best deal. Yes, it is time to switch gears - mindset & action. It is already happening - the switchover has started. Look around and see how the tide is turning. Power play is increasing by leaps & bounds - and this is evident everywhere. Religious & cultural events are great excuses to send subtle messages across. Issues are blown beyond imagination by vested interest and divisions created to divert the public mind from real issues. Alliances are in the process of being formed, on the logical principal that, “your enemy’s enemy should be your friend”. An excuse is needed. In fact, any excuse is enough to push your agenda and gain visibility. And, just like the monsoon, we are witnessing changes too, from drizzles to downpours.
JULY 2016 13
Being an unbiased newspaper, Bandra Buzz will always be fair, to give our dear readers information from both viewpoints. Rest assured that, wherever possible; you will get the whole picture - especially of controversial news. Your interaction, by way of letters to the editor is of prime importance to the vitality of your neighbourhood. Do not hesitate to contact us, if you have any information that is newsworthy with documented proof. As I conclude, let me take this opportunity to greet our Muslim brothers & sisters a Ramadan Mubarak. This holy month has seen community connect coming to a crescendo - a great sign of camaraderie between communities in Bandra and beyond. Something, that the world needs more of. Till next time, take care.
Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief
DEVELOPER & CONSENTING TENANTS JUSTIFY FERNANDES CHAWL DEMOLITION
14 JULY 2016
BANDRA BUZZ
NEWS
In our last edition, you read the testimonies of those who were rendered homeless, due to the Fernandes Chawl Khar demolitions. We meet up with the tenants who have agreed to the developer’s terms, the developer and their advocate. Here, the other side of the story unfolds: TENANT:
Ex-Secretary, Thomas D’Silva: “In 1992, we (our parents and other elders) registered & started this project in the name of St. Anthony Co-op. Housing Society. Initially matters were moving slowly, with Mr. Gadiyali, Richard D’Silva & others in the committee. When our oldest committee member Mr. Gadiyali expired, this project came to a standstill. Then in 2002, all members wanted to re-start matters - since this was in the SRD (Slum Rehabilitation Development). We met the developer (cum owner) Darisa Builders and got an assessment done, wherein properties (houses) were measured and a debate started on how to develop this project. In this process, we realized that some had around 50 sq.ft., some around 100 sq.ft. & 2 or 3 having 500 sq.ft. Then, we decided to put this project in SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority), so that each one of us get 180 sq.ft. - which is good for everyone, as all get equal without any misunderstanding. The SRA paper work was done with proper measurements of each house - and in 2006 we signed agreements, with photographs taken by the developer. At that time we got 80% agreement signatures, with 20% left - all done by our Adv. P. Vas. The developer started processing permissions & plans - and the transit camp was built in 2009. To be fair, we had a lottery system for the 20 flats and 5 shops. Those who wanted to stay could do so. Those who wanted to stay elsewhere could take the stipulated rent amount. Most of us agreed, but some disagreed - asking for elections. As per SRA law, our society was registered in 2008. I told them to let us finish our term, but they went to the registrar, did their paper work & had elections which they won. After this I do not know what happened. Then court cases and litigation started - and they accused us of taking money. I agreed to hand over papers, telling them that if they find anything amiss, please come back to us. Now about 5 years have passed and they have not reverted. Let me put on record that from 2002 till 2010 we have not even taken any payment from any tenant, as all lawyer’s fees for agreements, etc. were paid by Darisa Builders.
“We had purchased this slum-declared property in 1992, from the Fernandes Chawl owners. We did not start the project earlier because initially it was SRD, where we were getting a 2 FSI sanction - which was not feasible and the tenants were getting 180 sq.ft. Currently, under SRA we have a 3 FSI we are giving 269 sq.ft. per tenant - so it is a win-win situation. 1.5 FSI goes back to the society & 1.5 FSI consumable.” Karl D’Mello - Director of Darisa Builders There was no money transaction between the society. We did not support them and some were already in the transit camp, as we were for the success of the project. In June 2015 they lost the case and started appealing. On 29th Feb 2016, the High Court demolition order was given. Our advocate told us to remain calm, as everything would be in black and white, inspite of any protest from people with vested interest. Today, the demolitions have taken place as their appeals have gone to Supreme Court, where it was rejected. At this stage, we are for the developer - with about 7 of us have already signed the agreement and the rest to will follow soon, for completion of this project. As an ex-gratia, it was agreed that every flat owner (in their new residences) would get Rupees One Lakh each - paid in parts: five thousand when signing the agreement, five thousand when shifting to the transit camp and ninety thousand would be credited to the society for building maintenance, in each tenants (now owners) account. My target is that the project gets completed.” DEVELOPER: Director of Darisa Builders, Karl D’Mello: “These are the tenants in support of the project and they are in majority. The current committee (new) with vested interest - for example Anita: She has
a ground plus one structure that is illegally built. She has rented out the upper floor as a godown. Others from the current committee have been using this chawl for business purposes. Rafiq Mussafar & Iqbal Patel have illegally put paan-bidi wallas. They have illegally rented out areas which are not allowed to be rented or leased - even in the transit camp. They have made a business out of keeping it a chawl. So these 4-5 people, who were interviewed by Bandra Buzz (including children) prior to this (published in our last edition) have made this into a business. Development needs to take place. We can’t have slums in the Khar-Bandra area anymore. There has to be change to avoid water logging. Few people who have vested interest, do not want change and progress. As of now, some days back I had my JCBs and digging crew ready to start digging for the double basement and putting up the ‘patras’ immediately - so that the basement is dug before the monsoon kicks in full swing, or my expenses increase. Now, they’re protesting and creating a ruckus - and then will eventually end putting the blame on the builder for stalling the project. We are fully ready - everybody’s rent is kept in a bank account declared SRA for the two to three years duration. I’ve got rent amount for all 44 tenants. They keep saying my IOA is cancelled. It is not cancelled. It needs to go for re-validation because of change in DC rules. My prior plans were passed with flower
beds, which are now illegal. You need to pay for it. It is fungible FSI & TDR. I am revalidating my IOA with fungible FSI & TDR, for which I will be paying around 6.5 crores - with the same plan. Regarding the alleged FIR forgery case, confirmed by the Khar Police; I do not dispute that there is a forgery. But, if you look at the FIR in detail; Darisa Builders is not a party to it. The FIR is between the landlords and their power-of-attorney holder. If Darisa Builders were made a party to it, I don’t know how and what influence was used. Whether there is a forgery or not, that case will go on. There is a High Court Order, to this effect. The main matter is that we have a new registered power-of attorney. Just for the sake of these false claims, the project will not stop. We are not the kind of builders who have influence & to get this far it is obvious that we are legally right. We would not have reached here and the demolition happened. We do not have political backing. We’ve reached here, because we are legally correct. We had purchased this slum-declared property in 1992, from the Fernandes Chawl owners. We did not start the project earlier because initially it was SRD, where we were getting a 2 FSI sanction - which was not feasible & the tenants were getting 180 sq.ft. Currently, under SRA we have a 3 FSI we are giving 269 sq.ft. per tenant - so it is a win-win situation. 1.5 FSI goes back to the society and 1.5 FSI consumable.” Contd. on Page 15 >>
NEWS
BANDRA BUZZ
Contd. from Page 14 BUILDER’S LEGAL ADVISOR: Developer’s Advocate, Trivankumar Karnani: “First, when the SRA had passed an order; they had challenged the order before the HPC (High Powered Committee - after they themselves giving consent. The HPC is the appellate authority to the SRA. So the HPC heard the case and finally passed an order in favour of redevelopment of the project and disposed off the case. Now, the appellate authority to the HPC is the Bombay High Court. So, these 3 to 4 opposing tenants then filed an appeal against the HPC order in the Bombay High Court, before a Division bench. The matter was heard at length & finally a consented order was passed. This says that the new committee were present before the judges in the courtroom, along with the developer & other competent authorities. After listening to both sides at length, the same tenants gave their consent to the HC judges & subsequently an order dated 27th Jan 2016 was passed by the Bombay High Court.
peal) shall vacate their existing premises on or before 29th February 2016, peacefully - and hand them over to the developers for demolition. The direction is issued because of a request of the petitioner to grant them four weeks time - and also an undertaking that none of the other petitioners and their family are in possession of its existing structures - and no third party has been inducted. It is stated that the petitioners.
Here are some relevant points from this High Court order: Point 9: The petitioners (people who ap-
Point 12: In cases of recall of a consented order, we find that this is one more attempt to avoid the demolition by voluntary hand
Fernandes Chawl tenants who agreed with Darissa Builders for the redevelopment over premises as part of the rehabilitation scheme. The petitioner is using irresponsible & casual allegations - so this review petition is being dismissed with costs and a penalty of Rs 1 lakh, which has to be paid to the statutory authorities and shall be recovered by the collector in the event that they are not deposited within four weeks. When the demolition order was issued, the tenants tried to politicise the situation. On 21st April, the first attempt was made by the Competent Authority to demolish as per the HC orders. When the deputy Collector & SRA officials went there, they were mobbed, attacked, assaulted, pelted stones
JULY 2016 15 at, as there was no adequate police protection for their safety. Being public servants, acting on judicial orders - they were insulted & abused. This was a failed mission and they had to go back. Therefore the Deputy Collector’s office and the police themselves decided a date where the police could have adequate protection for the Competent Authorities to prevent them from being assaulted and attacked. Therefore on 8th June, the Dy. Collector came along with the police; and before they carried out the demolition, they explained the orders. When some tenants went to assault the officers, the police stepped in to protect them - and had to arrest them. Also, multiple notices have been served by registered AD, to all the tenants about the demolition. So their allegation that no notice was given is completely false, baseless and an attempt to sabotage the redevelopment. My client has complied with all that is offered - to all tenants. We are ready to talk and give the same offer to those who are protesting now. With 89% consenting tenants, how long can the developers delay the development?” For more info visit bandrabuzz.com/khardevelopers-view.html We will update you, as the story unfolds further. Ahmed Syed
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