Business Goa March 2022

MARCH 2022

RNI No.: GOAENG/2015/59955

VOL 8 ISSUE 3 PANAJI GOA

GOA’S ONLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

POSTAL LICENSE No.: G-2/RNP/Monthly/Goa-19/2021-23

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INDUSTRY DOSSIER

MAMA MISO: PAN ASIAN FUN DINING

COVID IMPACT ON WOMEN IN BUSINESS

GOA BUZZ

WOMEN’S DAY FOCUS

UTTOR: THE KONKANI WORDLE

“Young girls need to work towards financial independence”

GLOBAL GOAN

PROF DR SUSHILA MENDES

THE LUXURY SYMPOSIUM 2022 EVENT

INFLUENCER MARKETING BUSINESS TRENDS

DR. EMANUEL GRACIAS

AT THE FOREFRONT OF WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE

Dr. Emanuel Gracias, obstetrician, gynaecologist and minimal access surgeon at Gracias Maternity Hospital gives an insight on his vision to transform healthcare, redefine doctor-patient relationships, all while navigating a legacy and manoeuvring his own tryst with destiny

NEWS VIEWS ARTICLES INTERVIEWS PROFILES FOCUS ANALYSIS OPINIONS EVENTS FEATURES

CONTENTS Cover Story 12

Dr. Emanuel Gracias, obstetrician, gynaecologist and minimal access surgeon at Gracias Maternity Hospital provides an insight on his vision to transform healthcare, redefine doctor-patient relationships, all while navigating a legacy and manoeuvring his own tryst with destiny

Focus Goa / Influencer Marketing 18

Influencer marketing is anticipated to expand to an enormous $16.4 billion industry in 2022 and thus it becomes important to understand some of its key aspects and functions

Focus Goa / Women’s Day 20

12

As we celebrate women this month, a few of them speak up on issues faced by them as entrepreneurs and professionals in a postcovid scenario

18

Startup 24

With an aim to revolutionize the eating habits of Goa and the world, Brunch Bites is serving meals that are fresh, healthy, hygienic, and delicious

Event 26

28 32

An inspirational event by professionals, for professionals with leading insights from key players in the luxury industry

34

Global Goan 28

Alden do Rosario, elaborates on creating Uttor, the Konkani version of the hit, daily game: Wordle

Professional Dossier 32

48

Vilino Rajiv Fernandes speaks about the photography business and the details that go into shooting the perfect picture

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24

Lady Power 34

Prof Dr Sushila Mendes is a historian and educator, winner of State Award for Excellence for teachers 2021. A daughter of a freedom fighter, she was part of the students’ movement, too

Goa Buzz 48

Mama Miso brings Pan Asian food to the coastlines of Goa, promising a unique and enthralling dining experience

COLUMNS

40 People Tree

46 Beyond Classroom

42 Wise Words

47 Invest Right

Kishore Shah speaks about a 21st century healthcare solution through visionary philanthropy

CA Santosh Kenkre elaborates on the most efficient style of working based on his work experiences

44 Cabbages and Queen

Nandini Vaidyanathan speaks on why failure is stigmatized and advocates the importance of embracing one’s failures

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Dr. Pradeep Salgaonkar explains the different roles of an employee that help in building an organisation

Mahesh Pai writes about Fixed Deposits and questions whether they are a popular investment choice as they once were

06 Editorial 08 Corpo Scan 30 Campus 31 BookShelf 33 Accolades 38 Biz Bytes 50 Newsmakers 50 BG Quiz

Shree Mahalakshmi Damodar Prasanna

EDITORIAL

MARCH 2022 Group Director Urvija Bhatkuly Publisher & Editor Harshvardhan Bhatkuly Business Head Annalise Gouveia Chief Reporter Sybil Rodrigues Graphic Designer Rakshama Naik Accounts & Admin Ashok Kolvekar Circulation Mayur Santineskar Contributors in this Issue CA Santosh Kenkre Dr. Pradeep Salgaonkar Kishore Shah Mahesh Pai Nandini Vaidyanathan Prajal Sakhardande Sweta Sharma PRESENTED BY

Editorial, Advertising & Administrative Office

Business Goa

409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji, 403001 Goa India Tel.: 0832-2437822 Email: businessgoa.media@gmail.com Unsolicited material may not be returned. The opinions in columns and other stories expressed in Business Goa Industry Dossier are not necessarily that of the publishers and the Publisher/Editor shall not be held liable for any inaccuracy or otherwise.

While great care is being taken to ensure accuracy of information, the publishers are not responsible for omissions or incorrect information. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers.

Industry demands answers

Harshvardhan Bhatkuly

The recently concluded state assembly elections have been an eye opener for many reasons – this was an unprecedented contest of electoral hopefuls. There was huge spend of money, if one has to believe the grapevine.

The participation of five to six candidates in most constituencies could only mean fracture of votes of some to their detriment and to the advantage of their rivals.

However, from Goa’s perspective the decisive result (I am not using the word ‘mandate’) is a positive step for many reasons.

Goa, being a small state, with meagre resources, has hardly any accruals from internal sources. The huge developmental and infrastructure projects in the state are at the mercy of the central government – in fact, the ruling dispensation made the support of the central government their electoral war cry with their ‘double engine sarkar’ advertising campaign.

Pollsters may attribute various reasons as to how and why the results turned up the way it did. But many in the business fraternity have heaved a sigh of relief, as the fear of a hung Assembly was rife in the air right up to counting day.

The elected representatives have their work cut out for this term, in so far as its attention to industry and business is concerned. In fact, many industry organisations had petitioned various political parties, the incumbent included, to plead before them their case, aspirations and demands.

The mood and disposition of candidates facing elections is quite different from victorious MLAs. However, industry demands await redressal, as pressing issues have been on a back burner for quite a while.

What the government speaks and does are two different things. The people in power make the right noises at business events and conclaves. Strangely, Goa has often been awarded for its industry merit at various forums. The test of the pudding is however to sit down and listen to stakeholders of industry,

people working in industrial estates, investors who are vary of engaging their capital in Goa, mining affected contractors, small-time travel and tourism businesspersons who have had to face the brunt of covid and its aftermath. The list is long.

I am quite certain that the government harbours no ill-will to the industry. However, any prudent person will know that industry does not feature on the priority list of the government. Maybe industry persons have failed to sensitize the rulers about the importance of backing industry. After all, industry provides a huge platform for job creations and pays the bulk of state taxes.

Why is it that the government ends up neglecting industry? Why it is then that ease of doing business and its single window sibling is just a buzzword at industry events attended by sarkari top bosses? Why is it that dynamic sectors like technology and the startup ecosystem left in the cold? The answer could lie in the fact that decision makers often rely on cronies who have vested interests in playing favourites and denying meritorious players who can up the game for the state.

There are umpteen Goans, many who are in the technology space in the United States, who can play catalysts to re-positioning Goa as a technology and startup hub. But they often don’t find anyone willing to listen to their ideas or cut through the red tape or cronies in the upper echelons of power. The ensuing loss is of Goa’s industry and youth.

The government must listen to professionals and those who truly wish to work for Goa’s economic prosperity. One lament that I have heard over the last few months is the big public debt that the state owes; and how the state cannot function without the centre’s blessings. Post-elections nothing much has changed – except the belief that electoral fortunes of Goa can be unsettled with a few hundred votes. People chosen to govern must not take this golden opportunity for granted

Printed, published and owned by Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly and printed at Elegant Offset Printers, D2-31, Tivim Industrial Estate, Karaswada, Mapusa Goa 403526 and published at 409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa 403001. Editor: Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly

06 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

CORPO SCAN

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SUSPENSION OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM RUSSIA CURTAILS GOA’S CHARTER

With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, flights by Russian airlines have been suspended, which is a big blow to Goa’s charter season, as the same was already struggling due to a slowdown in bookings from Russian destinations due to the pandemic. Charter arrivals from Russian destinations last till mid-May, but resumptions of flights in April will depend on the normalisation of the situation between Russia and Ukraine.

Vice President of Concord, Sheikh Ismail stated that if the war stops, a few flights would arrive in May and though they are still getting bookings, they were comparatively less as compared to the previous years.

Currently the State is

receiving charters from Kazakhstan only, once a week.

Ralph De Sousa, President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that all operators from Russia take charters on lease and if due to the sanctions a fleet of charters leased to operators in Russia are withdrawn, it will be a problem for these operators. Goa used to receive tourists from Belarus, Georgia and other CIS countries, but it is unlikely that these tourists will come as they are too close to the warring countries.

The announcement of the Indian Government to restart international flights after a gap of two years, from March 27, may bring some footfalls to Goa but again that will depend on the war, industry sources said

Setback for convention centre as state cancels letter of award The State government has cancelled the letter of award granted to the DCS SolarVascon consortium for the development of an over `800 crore mega convention centre at Dona Paula, after the consortium failed to furnish the performance guarantee of `16.2 crore. A senior government officer said that the company had provided a bid security of `50 lakh; which the department of public-private-partnership (PPP) encashed; after they failed to pay the performance guarantees. It is learnt that the company was supposed to pay the performance guarantee within 30 days of receiving the letter of award.

However even 45 days later the performance guarantee has not been furnished, the

officer said. “We gave them multiple extensions as they cited covid as a reason, but even after that they have failed to provide the performance guarantee, which resulted in the termination of the letter of award,” the officer said.

Though the government had received an overwhelming response at the pre-bid meeting with 15 firms evincing interest in the project, only two companies had shown interest to take up the project. In the first phase along with the convention centre, a multiplex and a five-star hotel were proposed at Dona Paula in an area of around 97,000 sqm. Earlier, the project was proposed on a 2.9 lakh sqm property, which was earmarked for setting up the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat

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Goa relaxes all Covid norms for businesses but wearing masks is compulsory As covid cases have dropped in the state, the state government has permitted all activities to be carried out at a full capacity, including schools, casinos, cinema halls, multiplexes, theatres, auditoriums, large closedbusiness establishments, spas, massage parlours and swimming pools among others, subject to adherence to covid protocol. The government also stopped covid tests at state borders, airports, railway stations and ports.

Revenue Secretary, Ramesh Varma, in his order, said that the prescribed seating capacity of a cinema hall shall not be exceeded and only covid vaccinationeligible persons with two doses or with a covid-negative report will be allowed entry.

The order also said that all persons will be checked at the entrance for fever with thermal scanners. Also, hand sanitisers will have to be provided and that all persons should compulsorily wear face masks at all times during a show.

The order said that physical distance of 2m shall be maintained between persons, and that halls and rest rooms be sanitised frequently.

Regarding entry into Goa he said that only those with both doses or a negative report for a test done a maximum of 72 hours prior to entry or those entering for medical emergencies on production of proof, shall be allowed.

Schools are permitted to conduct physical classes for all levels of schools and colleges with 100% of its seating capacity subject to the separate SOPs to be issued on this behalf by the Education Department.

Varma also said that any person contravening the order shall be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Recently the State’s expert committee on covid-19 recommended that indoor commercial business activities start with 100% capacity for those who are double vaccinated

Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel to head reconstituted Smart City Board

The State Government has reconstituted the term of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL), appointing Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel as the chairman of the board.

Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate and his son Rohit, who is the mayor of the city, are ex-officio members on the board.

Gurudas Pilarnekar, Secretary for Urban Development said that

the Department of Urban Development will issue notifications reconstituting the Board in respect of ex-officio members of the Board as and when there is a change of the incumbents holding the posts and for the other members as per the government orders from time to time. With polling complete, IPSCDL has begun to give fresh impetus to long delayed projects. The special purpose vehicle has approached the ECI and has obtained permission to float fresh tenders for projects that were cleared several years ago but which were never pursued. IPSCDL has floated eight tenders with most of the contract running in crores www.businessgoa.in

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Container movement hindered at Mormugao port Container movement for export and import continues to be hampered at Mormugao port, despite the assurances given by the port authorities and the Union shipping ministry.

A GCCI delegation visited Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, intending to determine the solution for the same. Since geared vessels with cranes are not available to berth at Goa,

a reliable harbour mobile crane is required. Thus, Naik assured the delegation that he would meet Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister

Goa Coastal Zone Management Plan delayed again December 31, 2021, was the final date given to the state of Goa to complete its coastal zone management plan (CZMP) by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The State’s plea seeking relaxations for Goa have been further rejected by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA). The NCZMA has also suggested some alternative changes to be incorporated in the original coastal plan which will require the state to take some more time in order to include these changes.

The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had asked that the port limits should not be depicted on the coastal plan. However, the NCZMA has asked Goa to show all the major and minor ports in two opposing colours.

The state had also asked that

only archaeological and other important structures and sites be marked on the CZMP. Now these structures will also include lighthouses, ramps, and fishing jetties.

The secretary for the Union Ministry has asked the GCZMA to document and submit the data of the structures that are to be shown and those which are to be deleted from the CZMP by 15 March, 2022, to the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)

for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, in Delhi and converse over the prospects of sanctioning funds under the Sagarmala Mission in order

to purchase a mobile harbour crane.

Port authorities have admitted that the Mormugao port lacks the efficient infrastructure required to meet the needs of modern container vessels. Rajiv Jalota, the interim chairman of port, has assured the stakeholders that the Port would purchase an efficient harbour crane through the funds received from the Sagarmala Mission

State Govt notifies Mining Dump Policy

Goa government has notified the Mining Dump Policy consequently permitting the handling of low-grade iron ore generated between 23 November, 2007, and 11 September, 2012.

In accordance to the policy, mineral rejects, subgrade ore, or by products will be disposed off as determined by the state government.

The Mining Dump Policy was approved in December 2021 by the Goa government in a bid to restart mining activities in the state. The policy will allow handling of mining dumps outside and inside leases through auctioning by the Goa government and allows lessees to handle the dumps.

According to the policy, the mineral rejects, sub-grade ore, or by products generated before 11 September, 2012,

stacked within the lease area and below the threshold value of ore at the point in time has become marketable in the present. The policy states that the Directorate of Mines and Geology may permit the lessee to transport this ore upon verification of relevant documents. The ore can be handled on the condition that the applicant obtains the necessary legal clearance and permission from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Directorate General of Mines Safety, and makes the payment as specified in the schedule of charges

PROGRAM ORGANISED TO BOOST EXPORTS OF ENGINEERING PRODUCTS FROM GOA Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) along with Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) organised a capacity building programme that focused on boosting product exports and bringing a majority of State export industries together for enhancing the exports from Goa.

The key objective of the program was to provide various opportunities for growth through exports to existing as well as prospective exporters.

Alternative markets and products available for Goan engineering industries were also brought to the fore.

The meeting helped and discussed the issues facing the exporters, manufacturers, industries, CEOs of export firms, new exporters, and

10 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

entrepreneurs looking for proper guidance in order to explore the potential of export markets.

The program explored and discussed a wide variety of topics covering all the queries of state exporters on the ways in which the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce (DITC) can help exporters, industries, export opportunities and schemes for MSMEs, risks in exports, finance for exporters, export process and export promotion schemes by Government of India, and new export markets

COVER STORY

12 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

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WHEN MEETING YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T FEEL LIKE MEETING A DOCTOR: DR. EMANUEL GRACIAS Dr. Emanuel Gracias, obstetrician, gynaecologist and minimal access surgeon at Gracias Maternity Hospital shares an insight on his vision to transform healthcare, redefine doctor-patient relationships, all while navigating a legacy and manoeuvring his own tryst with destiny

I

t’s all that I know, all I am, and all that I will ever be, remarks Dr. Emanuel Gracias, reflecting on the genesis of his calling as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Not a vocation, not a profession, but a ‘calling’.

While that does sound like a philosophical punch line meant for lyrical relief, one would see through the sentiment if they jogged down his memory lane.

“Doesn’t everyone live at a hospital?” A young, wideeyed Emanuel would ask his friends at school. As absurd as it appears, this interrogative streak stemmed from his home, which quite peculiarly, was the hospital itself. “With a family of gynaecologists, frequent emergency calls were scarcely surprising, and attending to patients promptly was easier if you just lived at the hospital”, says

Margao based Dr. Emanuel, attempting to explain why it seemed bizarre that none of his friends lived at hospitals, or at least, on the top floor of one like he did until the age of five. Besides, this homely maternity hospital was a happy place – a haven of healing; a space where countless first cries clamoured through the corridors – a promising place where good news had no closed doors.

“Who wouldn’t want to live at this hospital?” the OBGYN chuckles with childlike wonder.

So occupied were his parents with running Gracias Maternity Hospital in Margao, tending to patients, and partaking in the miracle of birth, that he was startled every time someone told him that their parents spent plenty of time with them at home.

“It’s a 24-hour commitment”,

In an attempt to mitigate the woes of patients coming in from remote regions, Gracias Clinics were set up in Canacona and Quepem

Dr Emanuel during a surgery

he adds with a matter-of-fact interlude, “Not a mere job that wraps up with the sun at dusk.” While his grandfather and father ran their usual

errands as gynaecologists, his mother oversaw the administration of the entire hospital, right from handling patient queries to handling accounts, as well as managing all the staff.

In the course of all these commitments, an aspiring doctor was sprouting under the wing of his dear nanny Philomena. Recollecting his fondest memories of his nanny and the hospital, he reminisces, “There was a special chair for me in the OT, on which I would fall asleep only to be carried home, wrapped in the arms of Philomena, who is now no longer with us.”

Being the youngest of the five children of Dr. Carmo Gracias and Mrs. Fernanda Gracias; a young Emanuel found refuge in the idea of using medicine to bring joy

Newly opened Gracias Clinic at Quepem

MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 13

COVER STORY into the lives of people. So when he says that medicine is all he knows and all that he is, it is not just the legacy of his family, but his time old tryst with the wonders of medicine that forged him a path in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

While subconsciously, he always knew where his destiny would lead him, Dr. Emanuel once considered the thought of becoming a pilot – a thrill-seeking pursuit of his travelling mind that sought to travel the world.

“For me, nothing compares to the gush of happiness on parents’ faces when a baby is delivered”, he adds, “Not even the electrifying thrill of flying a plane.” The wholesome feeling of spreading joy in itself is a truly rewarding yet grounding experience that inspires him every day and pushes him through the hardest of days.

Addressing this aspect, he says, “It can get incredibly challenging sometimes, but it’s the path I’ve chosen and ultimately, the juice is worth the squeeze.”

Knowing what he always wanted to be, he left for the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) in Belgaum at the age of seventeen, only to return when he was twenty-seven. A six-year MBBS degree didn’t

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Dr Emanuel along with his wife Jessica Gracias

Dr. Emanuel exclaims, “She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

This steadfast pillar of strength is none other than Jessica Gracias, his wonderful wife deter him from running to be an obstetrician and gynaecologist for the next five years. “Those eleven years in Belgaum were extremely crucial,” he shares, “they taught me everything I know.”

In those eleven years, Dr. Emanuel observes that his professors had the most profound impact on him.

“Your professors can make you or break you, mine certainly

made me who I am and I owe them my life for that,” he remarks. So cordial is his relationship with his mentors that one of his professors from JNMC even attended and spoke a few words of worth at the conference of The Margao Obstetric and Gynaecological Society organised by Dr. Emanuel last year. His time in Belgaum was definitely not a dalliance.

Dr Emanuel along with his team

Dr Emanuel along with Staff Nurses

14 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

For him, a deeper connection with the city springs from poignant patronymic ties.

“Incidentally, my father is also an alumnus of JNMC, having joined the very first batch of the institution even before Goa attained liberation from Portuguese rule,” he reveals.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that he has a Belgaum shaped hole in his heart, would it?

One would assume that his family was overjoyed when he decided to pursue his super specialisation in OB-GYN. They were well aware of how strenuous it could get and they were concerned and insisted that he should rethink his choice.

His father, being one of the first gynaecologists in Goa to perform minimal access surgeries, was well aware of how strenuous it could get.

“They knew the pressures that came along with this line of work,” he explains, “But I was firm in my resolve. I knew the price I’d have to pay, and so did my family.”

Dr. Emanuel spent a year both in Germany and France training in minimal access surgery and IVF (In vitro fertilisation).

Things were different back in the day when his parents ran the maternity hospital. With come-of-age systems and networks in place along with a reliable

COVER STORY support staff, managing the hospital has become a whole lot more convenient now. He is ever-grateful for the graces bestowed upon him; those graces that help him do his best.

Striking a work-life balance is hard, but when you have the right support system, it all falls into place. On the edge of his seat to pour his heart out about his biggest ally, Dr. Emanuel exclaims, “She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.” This steadfast pillar of strength is none other than Jessica Gracias, his wonderful wife.

“She’s helped me through the most difficult of times,” he says with promising eyes, shedding light on how Jessica became his rock and refuge, his emotional centrifuge.

“During my residency in Belgaum we had to do 800900 deliveries in a month, sometimes 25 in a single night; All this by just 4 resident doctors followed by piles of paperwork. We also had to assist new doctors pursuing an MBBS degree. Fatigue took the better of me. I suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for months after my return to Goa. Even basic sleep was a luxury,” he reveals. However, it is with Jessica’s unconditional love and support that he got past that daunting phase. In a demanding line of work like his, the line between personal and professional life often gets blurred. He attributes his mastery of this delicate balance to the worthy efforts of his wife.

Jessica Gracias is literally and figuratively the elixir of his life. A Stanford trained dietary counsellor, she synthesises her passion with his calling, whilst nurturing both, their relationship and her individuality. She administers the Gracias Maternity Hospital in Margao, along with the peripheral clinics in Canacona and Quepem. Her natural managerial instincts have infused new life into

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Dr. Emanuel during this residency days

the hospital affairs. From new management techniques to boost productivity and encourage responsibility to building personal relationships that make both patients and employees feel valued. Because of her amiable nature, Jessica is adored by the patients and staff alike.

“They love her more than me!” he exclaims with an ever-widening grin, “If there’s anyone in this world I envy for their beauty, wit, and pure kindness, it’s Jessica.”

Well, Dr. Emanuel isn’t less of a favourite. His spirited camaraderie with his patients has played a major role in establishing a firm foundation of fidelity.

It all boils down to personal relationships – connecting, bonding, and understanding.

It is this dynamic with patients that build trust and loyalty. Re-inventing this very dynamic; this doctor-patient relationship, has always been the conscious effort of Dr. Emanuel Gracias and his team.

“When meeting a doctor doesn’t feel like meeting a doctor, my mission will be accomplished,” he ascertained.

No judgement, no fear, and no embarrassment – this involves the development of a mutually respectful yet friendly equation between him and his patients. In this safe space, patients’ judgment and choices are never questioned or ridiculed. They are free to express all their

16 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

concerns and worries, joys and sureties.

With a 21st century ethos of sorts, not just the technology, but also the thought trajectory at maternity home is an avantgarde manifestation. “We believe in women having complete control over their reproductive rights,” he says, “Their choices have to be respected under all circumstances.” That means, whether or not a woman wants to have a baby – that’s her choice. It also entails her choice in the outcome of pregnancy – a normal or c-section delivery.

While normal deliveries are widely encouraged, Gracias Maternity Hospital, that prides itself in being Pro-Normal in its delivery approach, never critiques a woman if she opts out of it and chooses a c-section.

Moreover, these contemporary considerations, combined with worldclass technology, coalesce to conceptualise new ways of enhancing patients’ convenience.

‘Gracias Connect’ is one such initiative that seeks to enable seafarers and partners away at home to “never miss a moment” of their wives’ pregnancy journey. The use of videoconferencing and visual aids to demonstrate the progression of pregnancy or complications, if any, has helped so many fathers get involved in the process despite

being miles away. Similarly, another pioneering initiative called ‘Birthing Buddy Program’ allows mothersto-be the option of having a birthing buddy accompany them in the labour room and assist with the birthing process.

All in all, a holistic approach is adopted in all avenues. “Besides the medical courses of action, several nonpharmacological therapeutic modalities are incorporated into our functioning,” Dr. Emanuel explains. These include dietary guidance, lifestyle modifications, mood elevation practices, and counselling among other things.

Along with deep, evidence-based medicine, the constant availability of doctors and careful attention to patients’ needs is what draws many to the Gracias Maternity Hospital.

Additionally, in an attempt to mitigate the woes of patients coming in from remote regions, Gracias Clinics were set up in Canacona and Quepem. This made reproductive healthcare accessible to those women who would have to take a day off from work to travel to Margao for consultation.

A paradigm shift is what he seeks to bring about in the medical landscape. “Let’s make healthcare affordable, accessible, and enjoyablethat’s the motto,” a hopeful Dr. Emanuel exudes

FOCUS GOA / INFLUENCER MARKETING

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How Influencer Marketing is changing the game Influencer marketing is anticipated to expand to an enormous $16.4 billion industry in 2022 and thus it becomes important to understand some of its key aspects and functions

T

By SWETA SHARMA

he collaboration between the Swedish clothing giant H&M and the wellknown Indian fashion brand Sabyasachi was all in the news until recently. The announcement of H&M x Sabyasachi took the internet by storm and their website nearly crashed with the collections almost sold out.

Even though some pieces in the collection were mocked for their ordinariness, the collaboration was a massive success.

Now the question arises.

Why and how did it happen?

The answer to this is social media marketing. With the use of various social media platforms and collaborations with numerous up and coming influencers, H&M x Sabyasachi managed to effectively reach and engage its consumers. Their collaboration is a prime example of using the power of social media and influencer marketing in order to build up a brand.

What is Influencer marketing?

Influencer marketing involves a brand collaborating with an influencer to promote one or more of its products or services. It uses endorsements from individuals who have a devoted social media following and are viewed as experts within their own fields. According to Influencer MarketingHub.com, an influencer is an individual who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience.

Influencers improve brand recognition and increase customer traffic.

Thus, collaboration between brands and such content creators allows businesses to develop and expand.

“I do give-aways to express gratitude to my followers for supporting my content throughout the years” NYEREE VIEGAS

Food and travel influencer, Conrad Barreto, says, “I think influencer marketing works because it provides more visibility, feedback, and sales.

Followers are very likely to trust our opinions and try out the different products and services that we promote via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.”

Indeed, due to the very same reasons, the market that amounted to about $1.7 billion in 2016 is projected to expand to an enormous $16.4 billion industry in 2022.

“My experience in various fields serves as an interesting and appealing combination to brands looking to break the mould and carve an identity for themselves”

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SHAWN KENNETH FERNANDES

How do they do it?

Social media influencers moreover share content about a wide range of topics such as art, beauty, fashion, health, fitness, food, travel, and technology. Some influencers, besides being content creators, are also employed in various day-time professions.

One such individual is Dr. Linoshka D’Silva, who is not only a certified doctor but also a talented Youtuber and make-up enthusiast. She has promoted many brands over Instagram as well as on her YouTube channel. When asked about the main reason

that brands approach her, she opines, “Brands approach me because I offer a unique form and style of story-telling using reels, posts or videos in a way that’s relatable to most people.”

Thus, there has been a boom in the number of companies investing in influencer marketing. It is proving to be a cost effective marketing method that generates more customer traffic and is much more effectual than other marketing mediums.

This form of social media marketing essentially works due to the bond and trust that influencers have developed with their followers. Hence, customers thus attained turn out to be more loyal to the brands as compared to those acquired through traditional marketing and advertisements.

Shawn Kenneth Fernandes, a well-known digital creator, is approached by a multitude of brands due to his experience in the business, technology, and music industry. He states, “My experience in various fields serves as an interesting and appealing combination to brands looking to break the mould and carve out an identity for themselves.”

According to Shawn, there are different ways in which certain brands are promoted.

www.businessgoa.in

“I think influencer marketing works because it provides more visibility, feedback, and sales” CONRAD BARRETO

“Most corporate brands find coverage on LinkedIn or other business-oriented platforms while a variety of lifestyle brands typically benefit from social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. I usually promote and assist in development across sectors that have the biggest impact on people. Having worked with more than a hundred brands for over a decade now, I can definitely say that it is a very intriguing and diverse mix of audiences!”

Driven by customer values This diverse mix of followers is transformed into a loyal customer base through the use of give-aways. Influencers give away free products in order to increase the number of followers as well as augment brand awareness.

Nyeree Viegas, an Instagrammer and the creator of the YouTube channel The Nyeree Diaries, only promotes brands that align with her values. When questioned about give-aways, she says, “I do give-aways to express gratitude to my followers for supporting my content throughout the years.” True to her words,

she has collaborated with various brands and services including Flydining Goa that has not only increased her fan following but also enhanced the brand’s recognition.

As people, we are often influenced by the things and individuals that we come across. Hence, we endorse those products and services that have been recommended to us by influencers whom we devoutly follow. Since it is the modern age of advanced technology and global

communication, it becomes easier to be influenced thus giving influencer marketing a real edge in the present scenario. In conclusion, influencer marketing is turning out to be the go to solution for all marketing problems. Gone are the days when product promotions only involved high-profile celebrities and sportsmen, now it revolves around individuals who are wellrecognised on social media platforms and are followed by thousands of enthusiastic people!

“Brands approach me because I offer a unique form and style of story-telling using reels, posts or videos in a way that’s relatable to most people” DR. LINOSHKA D’SILVA

MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 19

FOCUS GOA / WOMEN’S DAY

@businessgoamagazine

How are business women faring in a Post-Covid world?

As we celebrate women this month, a few of them speak up on issues faced by them as entrepreneurs and professionals in a post-covid scenario

By SYBIL RODRIGUES

M

uch has been discussed about employment and entrepreneurship in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, which led to nation and statewide lockdowns starting in March 2020.

The lockdowns left an approximate 17 million to 19.3 million women unemployed in the immediate aftermath, between March and April 2020. It is noteworthy that the highly impacted sectors such as trading and services are dominated by women. Personal and non-professional services, comprising operators of small-scale enterprises such as tailors, dressmakers, small shopkeepers, barbers and beauty-parlour owners, as well as domestic helps and part-time workers witnessed relatively high volatility compared to other sectors.

The effect of the lockdown was clearly evident as male employment fell by 30% of

“Women entrepreneurs have been saddled with additional responsibilities”

C

onsidering the impact of the pandemic through the eyes of women entrepreneurs, it shows that we have been hit

its pre-lockdown level, while female employment fell by 43%!

Self-employment may have served as a ‘cushion’ for those who lost jobs both in the formal and informal sector.

Of those who had formal or informal jobs before the pandemic, about 20% shifted to self-employment. As a result of this unprecedented pattern of employment transitions, the overall composition of employment

in India shifted noticeably.

Notwithstanding this optimism, and even as the economy recovers and enterprises get back on track, women entrepreneurs are facing several challenges.

Women’s domestic workload has increased, thereby increasing their share of unpaid work.

Moreover, several support services for entrepreneurs have shifted online, cutting access to those entrepreneurs

the hardest.

More specifically, womenowned business sectors have been through a lot of downswing such as retails, restaurants, boutiques and domestic services.

We are generally more likely to be found in service industries rather than manufacturing or technology.

These sectors faced the initial disruption from the pandemic and I must say a real bad one.

Women entrepreneurs regardless of their socioeconomic status were typically disadvantaged by additional child-care, additional homeschooling, household burdens and even money could not buy the ‘additional’ support that was needed. Post covid, now when things are on the verge of normalcy, but the span taken in coming to terms with the new normal will definitely take a while for

“Working capital challenges were severely felt in the pandemic”

20 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

who are not financially and digitally literate, skills that are found to be wanting among women.

In Goa, the scenario is a more positive one with many women entering the business scene and most of them setting up their business at home. We spoke to a few women entrepreneurs and professionals who weighed in on the challenges faced by women in a post-covid scenario

W

hilst the pandemic had its adverse effects almost on all businesses and self employed, it has made the never ending problem of getting access to finance, for women entrepreneurs, even bigger. Shrinking of capital markets during the pandemic has reduced availability of working capital.

There has been a challenge of establishing and growing enterprises but here’s to those strong and successful women who can build a firm

us to come back. Though with the educational institutions and work organisations getting started, it marks a positivity to release us from the pressure as well as gives

foundation with the bricks that life has thrown at her

Flory Gracias Entrepreneur

us the time to rethink and rework on projects and new prospects of our business needs and requirements

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FOCUS GOA / WOMEN’S DAY Re-building businesses is a struggle”

W

orking in this field I can see that covid has made an impact on women entrepreneurs in both ways.

Some women-led businesses have been affected during the pandemic and rebuilding them is a struggle.

After speaking to a few women entrepreneurs, especially those who are mothers said that they got responses such as, ‘business has failed, now

you can spend more time with your family and kids’ so it demotivates them to start their business again.

While for some multitasking is something they are used to with managing home and work so the whole ‘work from home’ helped them in a big way and personally I saw a lot of women-run businesses flourish during the pandemic be it baking, jewellery, painting, creating wedding hampers etc. the ‘Vocal for Local’ took a big turn especially post pandemic I can see many women in particular put up more stalls for these pop-up bazars that happen, or create new Instagram pages where they sell their items and a few of them have even opened up their own café or restaurants with the little that they have learnt during the lockdown

Ashlesha de Noronha

Community Manager at Forum for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (FiiRE)

@businessgoa

The pandemic has made us tougher

P

ost pandemic, times have been both tough and trying for us all and for sure it has taught us to toughen up and bring to light our creativity and our ability to survive.

Covid-19 has presented some unprecedented changes, such as an acceptance of remote working models; acceleration in the use of digital channels on both the demand and the supply side; and a shift towards digital versus physical interactions, all of which have the potential to level the playing field, especially for women. The challenge is to get through and, at the same time, design interventions that will enable us women to take advantage of these transformative changes. Despite near-term shrinkage, I as a woman entrepreneur am optimistic about the bounce back. Covid

is not yet in the past, so let’s all be optimistic and put into practice what this pandemic has taught us

Sandra Sousa Menon, Entrepreneur

Time is ripe to pivot business models

W

omen have always faced challenges and covid was no exception. I have a few pointers on how we as women should operate in a post-covid world.

Women should pivot their businesses to post covid consumer era. Consumption and purchase decision has moved online – so a baker would have to find ways to market online or perhaps teach online. This would require learning technology or being tech savvy or moving out of your comfort zone which has been challenging for women entrepreneurs.

Competition has increased in the post-covid era. Many who lost their jobs moved into entrepreneurship or used the covid period to transition into entrepreneurship. This is a good challenge to have as competition drives quality up and inspires risk taking.

I see more women willing to take risks and venture into unknown territories.

Policies empowering women are on the rise in the Startup

22 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

ecosystem. Many first time entrepreneurs lack knowledge and experience in investor relations, raising equity or valuation.

Women entrepreneurs need to now step up and increase their knowledge base in these domains to ensure they don’t undervalue their business, give too much equity away and get taken for a ride by investors”

Priyanka Row,

Professional Mind Coach

STARTUP

business-goa

BRUNCH BITES

Healthy and tasty!

Brunch Bites is serving meals that are fresh, healthy, hygienic, and delicious – with an aim to revolutionize eating habits of Goa and the world,

Amruta Onsker

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By SWETA SHARMA

un by the husband and wife duo of Pritam and Amruta Onsker, Brunch Bites is an app that delivers meal boxes to individuals, schoolgoing children, corporates, industries, and a variety of events. The enterprise has been serving Goa since 2018 and endeavours to deliver tasty and nutritious food to all its recipients.

Brunch Bites was originally founded by a couple of Pritam’s friends. Having worked in the corporate world for well over two decades, Pritam was invited by his friends in order to guide and help them execute their plans for the company.

The two founders initially had a very capital expenditures (CapEx) heavy plan and wanted to invest in their own kitchen and appliances. However, with the arrival of Pritam, Brunch Bites adopted an asset light model with the goal of leading the company towards success.

Thus, the meals are outsourced from various cloud kitchens that have to follow the standard operating procedures set up by the company. Brunch Bites has partnered up with the right set of partners in order to deliver quality meals and services.

Taking into consideration the

expertise of various cloud kitchens, a menu is carefully put together that not only satisfies the customers’ palates but also provides nutritional benefits.

For example, your Bengali meals will be especially sourced from a Bengali kitchen and the Parsi dishes from a Parsi kitchen.

With the unique selling point of health, hygiene, and homeliness, Brunch Bites takes a different approach to the assortment of cuisines found across Goa. Each meal includes a delicious main course, a tasty side dish, and a dessert to placate your sweettooth. The cloud kitchens use only fresh ingredients and prepare the food in a hygienic environment. The menu is changed periodically and includes items that engage and excite the customers. The meal subscription plans are flexible, customer centric and can be booked at discounted rates.

Brunch Bites tries to maintain a combination of meals that are healthy as well as delicious. In the instance of school-going children, it provides food that is colourful, filling, and appetizing. For example, their mini burgers come with beetroot patties which are in equal parts enjoyable and healthy.

24 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

Even though the advent of the covid pandemic came with its own trials and tribulations, Brunch Bites managed to stay in business.

The company tweaked its business model and started catering to industries. This vertical was a huge success and as a result Brunch Bites serves more than 2,200 meals per day at present.

As Pritam says, “The company maps its success not only with the number of people we deliver meals to but also the number of people that are actually satisfied with those meals.” Brunch Bites provides its customers not just with what it has but what they want. They have a high level of customisation when it comes to their customers.

In addition to this, the enthusiastic and dedicated team ensures that the meal is delivered on time through a meticulously designed delivery network.

This network has not failed since the time of its conception and maintains a 100% successful track record.

Brunch Bites is also one of the only three startups to receive a seed capital of `25 lakh from the Government of Goa under the new StartUp Policy. Consequently, Brunch Bites is all geared up for future expansions. After

Pritam Onsker

Goa, they have set up a base in Pune and are looking to move on to other major cities like Bangalore and Chennai. As the population in these cities is mainly one which prefers to order meals online, the company plans to capitalize on this opportunity with the help of their app.

Brunch Bites’ main motto is to provide scrumptious meals that can be savoured and its taste embedded in the consumers’ memories for times to come. When asked about his advice to other startups in order to build a successful enterprise, Pritam says, “Since many companies fail because they have a lot of capital invested in various assets, emerging startups should build business models which have a relentless focus on execution of ideas that are capex light. With this, startups can evolve as well as sustain the business for a longer period of time.”

A company whose winning formula centres around a flawless execution of its plans and a relentless focus on its objectives, Brunch Bites has succeeded in establishing itself as a sustainable startup ecosystem. It proves that the best strategies can be successful if they are executed with the right culture of ownership

EVENT

www.businessgoa.in

THE LUXURY SYMPOSIUM 2022

Promoting Indian brands, globally

An inspirational event by professionals, for professionals with leading insights from key players in the luxury industry

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rand India is about compassion, sustainability, luxury, craftsmanship.

So why are Indians unable to leverage the soft power of Brand India? From basmati rice, cold pressed coconut oil or haldi milk. Where is the global branding of India’s authentic treasures?

The Luxury League is a not-forprofit foundation, India’s first most powerful and influential platform for branding culture as luxury engaged in branding India, globally. The foundation endeavours to promote Indian arts, craft and heritage as luxury.

The Luxury League is organizing its sixth edition, The Luxury Symposium 2022, on 26th March in Goa. The event will also see the third edition of The Showcase 2022, a pop up of global talent

Ritu Beri with Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India

Ritu Beri with Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of Culture and External Affairs

Ritu Beri with late Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, former President of India

Ritu Beri with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

from 26th March-27th March 2022.

Minister of Culture and External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi will be the Chief

Ritu Beri with late Sushma Swaraj, Former Minister of External Affairs of India 26 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

Guest at the event. The event also has the support of the Ministry of Tourism of India.

The Luxury Symposium (TLS 2022) is a finely crafted event, a dynamic podium with interactive discussions between stalwarts, world class creative thinkers, international business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and government officials on one platform. There will be renowned names attending the event from India and abroad.

The objective of the pop up is to promote brands that bring glory to India and strengthen the voice of India, globally.

Powered by The Luxury League, the event has the support of several Goan brands.

Parcos is the Principal Partner. Hilton Goa Resort is the Hospitality Partner and Posro the Showcase Partner.

The other associates of the event are Kingfisher, Sun Estates, Sunset Getaways, Marc Robinson, Jasbir Gill, Business Goa, Barney’s Hard Seltzer and Cryptomize

Ritu Beri with dignitaries at The Luxury Symposium 2019

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@businessgoamagazine

ALDEN DO ROSARIO

Uttor: Wordle is now playable in Konkani

Alden do Rosario elaborates on creating Uttor, the Konkani version of the hit, daily game: Wordle

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By SYBIL RODRIGUES

orn and brought up in Goa, Alden do Rosario is a computer scientist turned entrepreneur, and is now settled in Boston. Growing up, he loved two things, math and sports. At one time he had a chance to play table tennis professionally, but like most Indian kids, fell back to becoming an engineer.

As luck would have it, he chose Computer Science, which was a growing field at that time. After graduating from VNIT Nagpur, Alden worked in India for two years before moving to the US. In his initial years in the US, he worked as a senior research engineer and in parallel completed his MS in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Alden now lives in Holliston, Massachusetts with his wife Michelle and four kids.

Alden speaks on his entrepreneurial journey. “The roots of my entrepreneurial journey were sown after the 2003 Internet bubble burst.

While I had no intention of starting a business, my partner Dr. Venkat Kolluri convinced me that in America, we needed to own – rather than work for someone else. That got us thinking and after borrowing $7 from our wives, we started Chitika. It took us 18 months to make our first $1, but after that, we managed to launch our first product in the contextual advertising space which was dominated by Google Adsense. Over the years, with zero dollars of additional funding, we bootstrapped our way to become number 2 behind Google Adsense in the contextual advertising space.”

Recently, in collaboration with his daughter, Anna do Rosario, Alden co-founded Poll the People, a software service that offers microsurveys for making data-

Alden do Rosario

backed decisions for various business dilemmas.

Alden is also the creative genius behind UTTOR, the Konkani version of Wordle, the minimalist online game taking the world by storm, which has gone viral, with many Goans playing the English version game daily and displaying their results on social media.

A few months ago, Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn, New York-based software engineer, created the game and made it available to the public.

Wardle initially designed the word-guessing puzzle as a gift for his partner, but after it proved popular with family and friends, he placed it on a simple public website. Since then, the game has attracted millions of fans and become a household name. Its emojibased result reports – stacks of coloured squares representing how many attempts it took to guess the five-letter word – have flooded our social media feeds.

Having translated the game, Alden has made it available for free on the website: uttor.org Wordle has captured our imagination with many Goans playing the game daily and waking up to this refreshing mental exercise.

The game’s success

28 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

has been attributed to its simplicity: it asks you to guess a five-letter word, and gives you six tries, showing you whether any of your chosen letters are in the secret word and whether they are placed in the right position.

And now with the game becoming available in Konkani, many Goans are finding it creatively refreshing to wake up to a Konkani game.

This is increasingly true for the Goan diaspora who need to brush up on their Konkani.

“I think Goans kind of appreciate that Wordle is now available in Konkani”, says Alden. “It’s not trying to do anything shady or make money with ads. It is just a game that is fun and made freely available for the Goan public.”

Who created the Konkani Wordle?

The original English version was created by Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn, who knew his partner loved word games, so he created a guessing game for just the two of them. As a play on his last name, he named it Wordle.

The Konkani version was created by Alden. On a cold Boston Sunday morning, Alden woke up and realised that the family had been snowed in, thanks to a big snowstorm. Having been obsessed with the English version, he asked himself the question “Why don’t we have this in our native language of Konkani?”

“The biggest challenge in porting the game over to

Konkani was the availability of a good Konkani dictionary.

I had to search far and wide on the Internet to find a good Konkani dictionary,” said Alden. After testing out the game with a few friends and family, and making some much-needed enhancements, Alden made the game available on uttor.org. You can play Konkani Wordle on the web at https://uttor.org/ And while there is no official mobile app for Konkani Wordle, you can easily play the game in a web browser on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. There is only one Konkani Wordle puzzle per day. If you don’t guess the word of the day, you will have to wait until tomorrow to guess a new 5-letter word.

How to play Konkani Wordle?

You have six chances to guess the 5-letter Konkani word of the day, so make every guess count! Try using a word that contains many different letters to narrow down your future guesses.

Konkani Wordle is a great way to improve your Konkani vocabulary and spelling skills. The game involves creating Konkani words out of a selection of letters. This is a great way to improve your Konkani vocabulary because you are forced to remember and use Konkani words that you may not normally use.

It is also a great way to improve your concentration and focus. Similar to meditation or yoga, a lot of Konkani Wordle lovers like to play it in the morning. It helps to relax and improve focus.

For the Goan diaspora that is getting rusty with their native language, this is a great way to stay in touch with Konkani and maintain the Goan culture.

The Wordle game’s popularity has also created Continued on Page 41>

CAMPUS

@businessgoa

Goa Institute of Management joins hands with SkillTech platform SkillSir Goa Institute of Management (GIM) has collaborated with the SkillTech platform SkillSir, to offer certification courses in Healthcare Management, Data Science, Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data.

The Post Graduate Certification Courses are designed to help working professionals gain knowledge and know-how to apply it across Healthcare and Data Science domains. The ‘Healthcare Management’ programme is for duration of 12 months and the ‘Data Science and Business Analytics’ & ‘Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data’ are for six months each. GIM, ranked among the top one percent of the Management Institutes in India, has designed these courses to bridge the industry

gaps and future needs. The courses are developed by the best faculty in their area of expertise. The Healthcare Management course is ranked among the Top 10 Healthcare Management courses in India (2021) and Analytics Insight rated the GIM course as 2nd best among Top 10 PG programmes on Big Data Analytics in India (2021).

SkillSir is the training and upskilling brand of TASK Initiatives Private Limited, based in Ahmedabad. TASK is an integrated HR Solutions organization that has been

in the employment market for the past two and a half decades. TASK realized the skill gap in the market and launched SkillSir to bridge the gap in employability and provide placement assistance to its participants. SkillSir offers programmes, online and onsite, to corporate, academic institutions, working professionals and students, PAN India, across industries and across levels. SkillSir’s mission is “to enhance careers and employability by bridging the skill gap”.

Dr. Ajit Parulekar,

Director, Goa Institute of Management said “This is the first venture of Goa Institute of Management in the EdTech domain. We are looking forward to offering programmes with SkillSir that will help in shaping online executive education in the Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare sectors.”

Commenting on the partnership Aaron Mathew, Director, SkillSir, said “Through our courses, we want to enable the workforce with the right resources to tackle the challenges of the future.

The partnership perfectly fits with GIM’s mission to develop responsible and agile leaders at the forefront of cuttingedge business practices and SkillSir’s aim to amplify careers by offering niche courses through simplified and experiential learning modules”

V. M. SALGAOCAR COLLEGE OF LAW SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS LEX INFINITUM 2022 VMSCL, Miramar has hosted yet another successful edition of Lex Infinitum 2022 that was held in collaboration with the Association for International Dispute Resolution (AIDR).

Lex provides opportunities to law students across the world to showcase their mediation and negotiation skills.

What is indeed unique about this 7th edition of the international Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) competition is that, it was held entirely online via the Zoom platform, owing to the current pandemic that has struck the globe.

The competition was conducted from 23rd to 27th February 2022 and was bigger and better with 28 colleges (8 international institutions and 20 national institutes) participating in the event.

All the participants had the unique opportunity to interact with trained mediators and negotiators as well as fellow participants from diverse cultures, which was in itself, an exceptional

experience.

Lex Infinitum 2022 was officially declared open on February 23rd, 2022 in online mode via the Zoom platform.

The inaugural witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries such as Dr. Shaber Ali G., Principal of V.M.Salgaocar College of Law, who gave the welcome speech followed by an address by Catherine Davidson, AIDR Representative. Lex Infinitum 2022 flagged off with Knowledge Sessions that were held virtually from 19th to 21st February 2022 wherein experts namely, Kimberly Schrieber who gave an

30 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

introduction on negotiation, E.O. Mendes who talked about the setting of an agenda and opening statements, Gregory Bond spoke about how parties should gather parties, Thomas Valenti, discussed how to deal with difficult negotiators and what once must do when we reach in impasse in a mediation session.

This year also witnessed participation from international teams hailing from countries such as Singapore, England, New York, Ireland, California, Brazil, Poland, Sri Lanka, Russia, Belgium, Nigeria and

many more, besides multiple teams from across India as well.

The Valedictory function of Lex Infinitum 2022 was once again executed virtually via the Zoom platform.

The Chief Guest was Justice Mahesh Sonak, Judge of The High Court of Bombay at Goa. The Prize Winners at Lex Infinitum 2022 are as follows: • 1st Place Negotiating Team: Apiit Sri lanka (T-16) • 2nd Place Negotiating Team: OP Jindal (T-26) • 1st Place Mediator: NUS Singapore (M-13) • 2nd Place Mediator: NLU Jodhpur (M-01) • Dr. MRK Prasad Incentive Award (Negotiating Team): Chapman University (T-07) • Dr. MRK Prasad Incentive Award (Mediator): New Castle UK (M-04) The valedictory ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof.

Pearl Monteiro, Director of Lex Infinitum www.businessgoa.in

BOOKSHELF

business-goa

AUTHOR: HARISH MEHTA PUBLISHER: HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA

THE MAVERICK EFFECT: THE INSIDE STORY OF INDIA’S IT REVOLUTION

beat poverty and rise to the middle-income group.

The Maverick Effect presents a brilliant inside account of how some competitors got together, created an industry body called NASSCOM and transformed a nation. Here is a book that will inspire generations to come.

Harish Mehta, in this exceptionally written book, provides his unique insights on the tireless efforts it took to set up NASSCOM,

I

n the mid-1970s, a young, twenty-something man living an American dream threw away a lucrative job as a database manager and came back to India.

At that time, India had no IT industry to speak of; computers were a novelty, and the nation was trapped in socio-economic backwardness and a labyrinthine License Raj. As young Harish Mehta struggled to find his stride, he realised that India’s nascent and fragmented IT industry acutely needed a unified voice that could speak to the government, change laws and harness the country’s potential.

In an unlikely alliance of headstrong and competing young professionals, he united other IT entrepreneurs to envision a world-beating association that would revolutionise Indian IT: NASSCOM. The Maverick Effect is the extraordinary story of this band of dreamers who joined hands to transform a nation while also changing the lens through which the world looked at India. Valued at a staggering $200 billion today, the Indian IT industry directly employs more than four million people. It is the largest forex earner and has helped millions of Indians

Harish Mehta

The Maverick Effect is the extraordinary story of this band of dreamers who joined hands to transform a nation while also changing the lens through which the world looked at India which played a pivotal role in enhancing the IT sector’s global brand image and in helping create the great Indian middle class. He quotes ‘nothing is possible without men, but nothing lasts without institutions’ and uses it as an allegory to talk about NASSCOM. Harish Mehta is the founder and executive chairperson of Onward Technologies Ltd. He is the founding member and the first elected chairman of NASSCOM, a not-forprofit representing India’s burgeoning IT industry and considered among the world’s most exemplary associations.

As a prominent angel investor, he also spends time mentoring young entrepreneurs and startups

MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 31

PROFESSIONAL DOSSIER

www.businessgoa.in

VILINO RAJIV FERNANDES

Capturing the perfect moment

Vilino Rajiv Fernandes speaks about photography and the details that go into shooting the perfect picture

V

By SYBIL RODRIGUES

ilino Rajiv Photography is a professional photography services company based in Margao and has been in this business for the last 25 years. The man behind the company is Vilino Rajiv Fernandes and he specialises in wedding, events and sports photography.

Having completed his schooling from Loyola High School, Margao, he went on to do his Bachelor in Arts from Rosary College, Navelim.

Vilino’s father used to do video shoots which got him interested in photography. “I got into photography when I was in the eighth standard and from the year 1992 onwards I took up my father’s business.

I started off doing weddings and birthdays; later I got into sports photography and I am tied up with the Traditional Karate Association of Goa (TKAG) and do a lot of shoots for them.”

Vilino loves to shoot events, portfolios and sports.

“When it comes to sports, photography is a different ball game. You have to be quick in your thinking and know when the right moment to click a picture. As for portfolios, I always liked to shoot models; and events are my bread and butter, right up from a young age,” he adds.

Nowadays almost everyone has access to devices with which it is possible to take pictures. Vilino explains the difference between a professional photographer and any other hobby photographer. “A professional photographer has to concentrate more on getting the right moment captured.

He cannot be involved in talking to the people or his subject all the time. He has to keep his eyes open for the perfect moment and in such cases a certain moment comes in a flash and then it is

“I have been very selective about my time and I have stuck to my rates.

Post covid, it has been very tough for us as people are expecting very low rates, which I feel is not correct for us. So I prefer to take up clients who are ready to pay for the kind of services that I offer”

Vilino Rajiv Fernandes

gone. A hobby photographer meanwhile will try to do it just to put up pictures on social media or do stand up shots which are readily available and will not shoot candid shots.”

Vilino says that there are plenty of people who have influenced his work. “There are plenty of photographers who I am influenced by.

Namely Raghu Rai, Dabboo Ratnani, Arjun Mark. I was quite inspired by their works and would try to incorporate their techniques into my work, based on the tips they would give me, especially when it came to certain kinds of shots.”

There are various details that make some of the best photographs and every photographer goes about trying to focus these details into his or her work. “I like to see smiling faces. I make sure that my client is comfortable before I begin a shoot. This involves talking to them and making them feel relaxed

32 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

enough to talk to me. If one is nervous, it shows in the photograph and those don’t make for good pictures.

Pictures shot by professionals should have a feel-good aspect to them,” Vilino says.

Photography techniques and equipments change quickly. It is important to stay up-to-date in order to keep up with the times. Vilino has a few pointers. “I change my equipment every two years.

After covid began, there were a lot of workshops that took place, which I would attend on a regular basis. I am also involved in a lot of courses for photography and this is how I stay updated with the latest trends.”

Like all other professions, photography has its own share of drawbacks. “I don’t get much time to spend with family especially if a shoot clashes with a family function.

That is the only drawback that I see so far. Else I enjoy what I do.”

As a photographer,

Vilino has had his fair share of difficult clients. “It takes time to understand certain clients. Sometimes there is a problem of delayed payments.

My pet peeve is when some clients ask for one kind of a shoot and then when we are shooting, they want something else. This makes it very difficult for us to focus and give our best. I usually tell people to check the work I do before they can book a shoot or if they have come through a reference, I request them to ask the referral as to what kind of photography I do.”

The most rewarding thing about being a photographer, Vilino says, is recognition and the respect that one gets from different people. “Over the years I have learnt how to gain my respect, be it from my clients or friends.”

His biggest support is his wife, Harriet. “If it wasn’t for her I would have given up my business a long time ago.

My children have also been very encouraging. One of my sons, Scott has taken up photography and so has my daughter Sayonee, but for now they are into it as a hobby.”

As far as his future plans are concerned, Vilino says the market has been bad after covid. “I have been very selective about my time and I have stuck to my rates. Post covid, it has been very tough for us as people are expecting very low rates, which I feel is not correct for us. So I prefer to take up clients who are ready to pay for the kind of services that I offer.”

Vilino concludes with a message to aspiring photographers. “Be ready to change as per the demands. In the old days we would stand up and click pictures. Now we have to bend down and click in order to get the right shot.

We have to go with the times and change our techniques accordingly”

ACCOLADES

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Padma Shri awarded to Brahmanand Sankhwalkar

Brahmanand Sankhwalkar

Former India goalkeeper and Captain Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, has been conferred the Padma Shri, making him the eighth exponent of the beautiful game to have won the award Sankhwalkar, was captain of the Indian men’s football team from 1983 to 1986, has been awarded the laurel for his contribution to the game.

He is a living legend in the field of football and is considered to be one of

the best goalkeepers that this country has ever produced. He is the eighth person to win a Padma Shri in the field of football thus joining the ranks of football legends such as Gostho Paul, Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, and Bembem Devi.

Sankhwalkar began his professional career in football at the Panvel Sports Club in 1971. He represented Goa in the Santosh Trophy for well over a decade and he led the team to winning two consecutive Santosh Trophy titles in 1983 and 1984. He played for Panvel Sports Club, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, and Anderson Mariners at the club level.

Sankhwalkar made his debut with the national team against Japan in 1976 and since then represented the country in 42 international matches.

The tournaments that Sankhwalkar played in are: Marah Alim Cup in Kabul (1976 and 1977), the Merdeka Cup (1976, 1981, 1982 and 1986), King’s Cup in Bangkok (1977), and the President’s Cup in Seoul

01/03/2022

MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 33

LADY POWER

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PROF DR SUSHILA MENDES

“Young girls need to work towards financial independence throughout their lives”

Prof Dr Sushila Mendes is a historian and educator, winner of State Award for Excellence for Teachers 2021. A daughter of a freedom fighter, she was part of the students’ movement too. Prajal Sakhardande speaks to Dr Mendes on receiving the award and her plans after retirement You have spent almost a lifetime teaching History. How does it feel on winning this prestigious award?

Thank you, Prajal. After having enjoyed teaching rural students for more than 32 years, the award was a validation of the work done and the work that is expected of me in the future. Teaching in Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem has been one of the best things that happened in my life. We are blessed with students from underprivileged backgrounds, who mostly belong to the Schedule Tribes and OBC category. Today, they are holding important positions of responsibility both in the Government and the private sector. My students are like my children at home, it makes me happy when as a mother or an educationist, and I have made a small difference in enriching young lives to be better individuals and also positive contributors to society at large.

Being the daughter of freedom fighter Luis Mendes, what were your earliest imprints of him?What were your earliest influences in life?

My three elder siblings were a witness to the ups and downs faced by most children of freedom fighters who went against the tide of their times.

My dad passed away at 57 when I was still in middle school. I do remember my dad, (now that I look back as an academician) as a philosopher who discussed with me Buddhism and the fact that Ksatriyas are a race of fighters who need to fight against injustice.

My mother would cook and send food with the Bombay dabbawalas

Board of Studies in History (Undergraduate) Goa University we worked as a team to introduce innovative papers for the Choice Based Credit System. The history students now have many choices both at the General and the Honours levels.

Prof Dr Sushila Mendes

for Goans who worked in Bombay. With my father’s involvement in Goa’s freedom struggle there was never enough money in the house.

She always told me that the first money that she received because of my dad was the pension as his widow.

My life was more sheltered as my parents returned to Goa after liberation, (as I was born the very same year) and my father worked as Goa’s first Public Prosecutor in the Court of the Judicial Commissioner, Hon. Tito Menezes.

Both my parents were very particular that the children should be well educated; my brother Jai was a Master Mariner, Babu an engineer, and Jahan was in Govt. College of Law, Mumbai. I was educated in J.B. Petit High School, one of Mumbai’s very prestigious ICSE schools. St. Xavier’s, Mumbai was a learning experience in itself. So it was my family, friends and the liberal space provided in these educational institutions

34 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

that were the early influencers in my life.

Tell us about history and of your experience teaching the subject?

I enjoy learning history, teaching history and writing history. This love for the subject is automatically transferred to young minds and when they are convinced that they can earn their living with history, as it opens so many avenues for each one according to their talent and likes, the enthusiasm spreads.

Ours was the only college in Goa which conducted study tours both for the students and the history faculty of Goa as well as of our college with officers of the Department of Archives & Archaeology for over two decades. We have, before this pandemic conducted three tours a year for the students of history as well as the generic elective non-history students from the Science & Commerce faculty. Our students once drew beautiful rangolis of petroglyphs.

As Chairperson of the

You were a participant in the students’ movement in the 70s.

You have been hugely impacted by socialistic ideals, how was your path different from your contemporaries?

I came to Goa from St. Xavier’s College in Bombay to look after my ailing mother as at that time the Goa colleges were also affiliated to Bombay University. I represented Carmel College for many Inter-College elocution competitions. It was at one of these competitions that I spoke on the topic ‘Why students should keep out of politics’. It bagged me my first trophy and it was also the first time that I met student leaders like Desmond D’Costa, Felicio Esteves, Mohandas Loliencar, Cleofato Coutinho who spoke with the required courtesy that the occasion demanded although they held views contrarian to mine. From then began my involvement in study circles, participating in street plays, writing for Udent, participating in struggles which went beyond the books of classroom learning and extended to social concerns, like helping the villagers of Thane get their ration cards, protesting for a school teachers dignity in Collem, writing for Udent after observing the ground realities, e.g. visiting the areas of Baina in Vasco and even selling Udent to far away Higher Secondary Schools in Velguem. We were influenced

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LADY POWER by the Vidyarthi Pragati Sangathana of Bombay The student movement of that period was based on an ideology and was apolitical.

The Progressive Students Union broke away from the All Goa Students Union precisely on the point that a student’s union should not be affiliated to any political party.

There were some among us who left the movement and joined party politics and went on to become ministers. The positive fall out of this was that most of us were well qualified in our respective areas and secured jobs on merit. As I look back, most of us have done well in our respective areas of work; and many of us were fortunate to meet individuals ‘off the mainstream’ as life partners.

Did your research on the pioneering tall leader Menezes Bragança, stem from there, was it a conscious choice that you chose Menezes Bragança and how was your experience on researching on his life for your Ph.D and your subsequent book on him?

My first topic of choice was the ‘Role of Freedom Fighters in Goa’s Liberation Struggle’.

I camped in Canacona and even visited Delhi to the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) for the field work. My mentor for this topic was Ravindra Kelekar, my father’s colleague in Sabarmati and in the freedom struggle.

Unfortunately, personal reasons and the untimely death of my guide Prof. Joseph Barros in Lisbon stalled this project for good.

After my mother passed away and my daughters reached their final years of school and were both hardworking and doing well in their academics, I decided that I could now re-register for research. My first experience taught me an important lesson that the topic one chooses should not make me swim in an ocean but rather be a topic within one’s reach to both begin and

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end. Research is all about learning more about little and searching for new knowledge.

Menezes Bragança’s writings were only in the Portuguese Language and most of these writings were hidden in the dust of old newspapers.

I was happy that the decision to publish my Ph.D thesis into a book was taken by the Directorate of Art & Culture, represented by its then Director, Prasad Lolyekar even before I was conferred with the actual degree. It added to my happiness that Dr. Maria Aurora Couto agreed to pen the foreword for my book. To Merle Almeida Kurein, my classmate from my Carmel College days, I am grateful for the editing of my manuscript.

It took me more than a year to hone the book from my Ph.D thesis as I had to convert it from an academic text to a book meant for public reading.

Any social causes that you have dabbled in or are dear to you?

I was a trustee at the Manovikas English Public School. At present I am a trustee of the Silver Star Appeal which is an International NGO which works for raising awareness about diabetics.

We conducted many camps in Quepem College as well as many other places in the rest of Goa. At present, I am the Convenor of the Tribal Development Committee of Quepem College. We are working at present on a twenty-five lakhs sponsored project in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Dept. and the Directorate of Higher Education on, ‘Tribal Cuisine of Goa’.

I have worked as an external member on

36 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

Committees against Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace in many local educational and social institutions of Goa. I have also delivered public lectures on topics of historical importance at many institutions like the Institute Menezes Bragança, Panjim, Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim, Goa Science Centre, Miramar and many colleges of Goa. I pen my perspectives on historical personalities and events in the history of Goa, in the local press.

Was balancing between a home and a career a cakewalk or did you face any hurdles or difficulties? Tell us something about your husband Adv. Cleofato Almeida Coutinho and his influence on your life, and not to forget your daughter Sohani and Naheera?

For a working woman balancing a home and a career is never a cake walk.

I am lucky to have my husband’s sister Sisera who has supported me when the rest of the family has been busy, like accompanying me in the important milestones of my life like submission of my Ph.D degree or even submission of my papers for professorship. Life becomes easier for a working woman with a supportive in laws at home.

I am fortunate to have married a hardworking and educated individual. It has been a long partnership of over four decades and has therefore withstood the test of time. I must admit it is his intelligence and logical reasoning that has helped me see things in the right perspective, when in doubt.

His clarity of thought is much better than mine. It was with his and his sister’s encouragement that I could stay in Portugal and U.K for long durations to do research for my thesis.

On my return, Sohani our eldest was in Std. XII and Naheera in STD X. Today,

as engineers, they are my helpline to learn and adapt to the new technology of the day and parenting roles seem to have reversed as I often find myself consulting them on many issues, whenever I need an unbiased opinion.

How do you look forward to your future, your plans for the future, research, social work etc. post retirement?

I do have plans for research – in the pipeline are two books, one on my people of Assolna,Velim and Cuncolim and the second on my late father Adv. Luis Mendes. I hope to put my LLB degree to better use (so far I have coauthored a booklet with my student in Konkani Devnagari on ‘Women and Law’) and with more time at hand, I would like to start a prison mission or join a group.

I was one of the founder members of ‘Bailancho Saad’, but academics sadly took over a passion which I need to revive, as gender equity is a subject close to my heart. I have a strong desire to return back to society what I have gained from it especially post retirement.

What is your message to young girls and boys and especially to women on 8th March, International Women’s Day? It is important to study, to reap rich dividends and grow up in life. I am troubled when education is abandoned so early in life for easy money and the flowering of young minds get stultified.

Respecting all relationships and working hard to make them work is important for the healthy growth of the family and community. Young girls need to work towards financial independence throughout their lives. Respect comes only to those who are educated and independent themselves, only then can they help others.

Most important however is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude towards oneself and others

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BIZ BYTES

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Mahesh Pai is Goa’s 1st Top of the Table member in Financial Services

Mahesh Pai was felicitated for qualifying Top Of the Table (TOT) at Bogmalo Beach resort by Zonal Manager of LIC India, Vikas Rao, Regional Manager J.S Tolia and B. Acharya.

TOT is an exclusive form for the world’s most successful financial services professionals. The aim of

every financial advisor is to reach this esteemed group.

A member of this group can get access to all international trainings, networking, meetings, and development programs.

This recognition is regarded as a standard of excellence in the financial services industry

SWATI SALGAOCAR ELECTED CHAIRPERSON OF CII-GOA COUNCIL ANIRUDH AGRAWAL IS VICE CHAIRMAN

Swati Salgaocar

At the recently held CII Goa Annual Session 2022, Swati Salgaocar, President V M Salgaocar & Bro Pvt Limited has been nominated as the Chairperson CII Goa State Council and Anirudh Agrawal, Managing Director, Agrawal Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd as Vice Chairman to the CII Goa State Council 2022-23.

Swati Salgaocar is Director at the Vimson Group, founded over 70 years ago in Goa with business interests in mineral development (V.M. Salgaocar and Bro. Pvt. Ltd. – India and Singapore, and V.M. Salgaocar Sales International are in the business of mining, export and trading of iron ore), real estate (mixed-use real estate development in Goa

under the brand name Altura Spaces), and financial services (Shivranjani Securities Pvt. Ltd. is Goa’s largest wealth management company and Pyramid Finance Ltd. finances small and medium enterprises).

Swati holds a B.A. (Arch.)

(Hons.) from Yale University, USA and an M.Arch from Columbia University, USA. She is Chairperson of the Goa State Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry, a member of the CII National Committee on Mining and a past CoChair of the CII Startups and Innovation Committee (Western Region).

She is a member of the Goa Industrial Facilitation and Promotion Board as well as a Joint Consultative Group for framing of the Goa State Entrepreneurship Policy. She is a member of the Governing Board and Chairperson of the Campus Development Committee of the Goa Institute of Management. She has been the Co-Director of the Yale India Alumni Schools Committee since 2013. She is a member of the Young President’s

38 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

KINECO KAMAN ACHIEVES MCW CONSOLE DELIVERY MILESTONE

Kineco Kaman Composites India has delivered its 600th Mission Crew Workstation (MCW) Console to BAE Systems USA, marking a milestone.

The company is a joint venture between Goa-based Kineco and Kaman Aerospace Group, which is a subsidiary of the US-based Kaman Corporation. The MCW Consoles are deployed onto the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft built by Boeing.

Kineco Kaman chairman and managing director Shekhar Sardessai said: “Delivery of the 600th MCW Console to BAE is a momentous occasion for the Kineco Kaman team. The support of BAE as a very collaborative customer and Kaman Composites, Vermont as a technology partner has been truly outstanding.

“We owe the extraordinary success on this programme to this three-way partnership.

The MCW Console and the relationship with BAE Systems are important to the Kineco Kaman team and its partners, Kineco and Kaman. We will Organisation and the Owners Forum. Passionate about art and design, she co-curated ‘Panjim 175’, a special project as part of the Serendipity Arts Festival 2018.

Anirudh Agrawal

Anirudh Agrawal is a scion of the illustrious Agrawal family of South Goa. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the Government Engineering College,

Shekhar Sardessai

strive to build on our past success and works to further cultivate our relationship with BAE Systems.” BAE Systems provides mission computer system for the P-8A, which is a long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.

Kineco Kaman produces advanced composite modules and assemblies for aerospace and defence customers.

Manufacturing activities take place at its aerospace and defence composites centre in Pilerne Industrial Estate, Goa, India. The company also supplies parts for India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Advanced Light Helicopter programme and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) satellite and launch vehicle programmes Farmagudi, Goa and then completed his MBA from the U.S.A. On his return from the U.S.A, he joined his family business and aspired to start a new venture. He started the Agrawal Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. to be the first manufacturer of solar panels in Goa. He further diversified into the manufacture of EVA sheets and has expanded his solar panels four times in a short period of ten years. Agrawal is currently the Managing Director of Agrawal Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. He also has a passion for social work.

Agrawal is a founder member of Entrepreneurs Organization in Goa and Margao Youth Round Table.

He also led the CII Goa Panel on Energy as a Convenor in the year 2021-22

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TTAG re-elects leadership team

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa elections for the term 2022-24 were held recently at Fortune Miramar. Nilesh Shah (centre), Jack Ajit Sukhija (left) and Guitry Velho (right) were re-elected as TTAG President, North Goa Vice President & South Goa President respectively

Alila Diwa Goa: First hotel in Goa to install a water bottling plant Alila Diwa Goa, a lifestyle Hyatt resort in Goa, becomes the first hotel to install a water bottling plant in partnership with impact startup, Boon.

The bottling plant installed at Alila Diwa Goa will prevent an estimated 50 tons of carbon emissions and eradicate use of around 350,000 plastic bottles annually.

Alila Diwa Goa, a lifestyle Hyatt resort in South Goa, creates memorable experiences for guests by providing intimate interactions with the people, culture, and traditions of the destination, while also being responsible for the community and the environment.

Furthering its cause of responsible tourism, Alila Diwa Goa is proud to be the first hotel in Goa to install an automated sustainable drinking water bottling plant at its property, in partnership

with Boon (Formerly known as Swajal WaterCube).

Alila Diwa Goa takes pride in supporting sustainable tourism and reducing its carbon footprint by using bio-degradable materials.

The resort takes great care in minimizing its environmental impact by using primarily local materials and working with the environment.

The Zero Mile Water program works on the circular economy principle, where an automated in-house system washes, sterilizes and fills glass bottles, thereby not only cutting down on plastic waste but also eliminating carbon emissions involved in transporting the bottles to the hotel from a plant.

Guests can scan a unique QR code to get insights on the drinking water quality and impact in real time www.businessgoa.in

TAJ, NORTH GOA HOSTS WESTSIDE STYLE RETREAT

This women’s day, the iconic Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa and Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa played host to the first of a series of Westside events.

The ‘Style Retreat’ invited eight of the retail house’s loyal lady patrons to experience the best of both Tata brands over a 2-day staycation.

While attending seminars on fragrance, beauty and home, the women also indulged in culinary curations at exclusive locations across both properties. This ranged from dining under the 300-year-old Banyan Tree at Taj Holiday Village’s specialty Thai restaurant, to overlooking waves crashing against the historic Fort Aguada while getting an authentic taste of Goa with Morisco’s Goan Heritage Thali.

Further rejoicing the spirit of all those present, an exclusive interactive session was also organised with the face of the fashion brand, Sameera Reddy at Villa Siolim – ama stays and trails.

At IHCL’s recently launched premium homestays -ãma stays and trails, the actor and influencer shared her inspiring journey into body positivity, appreciating the manner in which Westside’s new line ‘Limitless’ celebrates authenticity and promotes self-love.

“As a consumer first brand, Westside has always strived to build strong connections and

resonance with its customers by celebrating them, especially women. ‘ Style Retreat’ is an ode to these women who have time and again encouraged our presence by being our highly valuable customers” shared Umashan Naidoo, Head Customer & Beauty, Westside.

Expressing his views on this tie-up, Anmol Ahluwalia, Cluster General Manager,

Taj, North Goa said, “We are thrilled to associate with Westside, which shares the same amount of warmth and sincerity when it comes to creating customer delight.

For us, each guest is an integral part of our journey towards excellence and it is with these unique Tajness moments that we string together our unique offerings of Trust, Awareness and Joy”

MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 39

PEOPLE TREE / KISHORE SHAH

CSR Incubator The writer speaks about a 21st century healthcare solution through visionary philanthropy

I

n this era of the pandemic, it is absolutely imperative for our country to develop a strong base in clinical research but it is easier said than done.

Modern day cutting edge clinical research involves integration and confluence of three sciences namely basic sciences, engineering and technology and clinical sciences.

Medical schools in the US and Europe have successfully integrated these three disciplines and created educational ecosystem resulting into tremendous breakthroughs but has also accelerated in building an emerging business ecosystem which opened up a global market. A prime example is the development of mRNA vaccine for covid-19, this was developed based on the research conducted at Pennsylvania Medical school and had a huge impact on the lives of millions of people around the world.

What does it demonstrate?

That a medical school which is predominantly assumed to confine to clinical curative (largely reactive) service and impart stereotype medical education like conveyor belt mode if transformed by creating confluence of the three disciplines namely pure sciences, engineering and technology and clinical sciences can create a global impact and equally push a strong sustainable business ecosystem to deliver ‘more for less for more’.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to build such integrated educational ecosystem in our country largely because these three disciplines namely basic sciences, engineering technology and clinical sciences operate in silos and they are often practiced in different institutions like AIIMS, JIPMER, IIT, NIT which hampers the performance of sustainable high end medical research in the country there by slowing down the growth, evolution of ‘MEDTECH’ segmentan emerging industry sector.

IISc, a 112 years old pre-eminent research institution for Science and Engineering based at Bangalore was the first to sense this need to build a medical school which will integrate all the three streams – basic sciences, engineering and technology and clinical sciences.

The Visionary Director Dr. Govindam Rangarajan and his team set out to create

a blueprint with no legacy to guide them. The team reached out to experts worldwide, the core of this initiative was to provide quality and affordable healthcare for patients, quality medical education and state-of-the-art research to build innovative solutions. To do all this, the team would need a certain required quantum for advanced diagnostic research which called for a minimum 800 bedded super specialty hospital alongside state-of-the-art labs, world class faculties, funds for internship etc.

The project projection grew exponentially both in terms of complexity, financial outlay as it unfolded from concept to Blueprint. Enthusiasm coupled with anxiety and at times its humongous nature was exhaustive and overwhelming but the team at IISc were all set to break the ceiling, their determination, zeal and energy could not be eclipsed even when they realised that the entire project cost was in tune of INR 900 crores!

It is rightly said that if you desire something passionately the entire universe conspires to make it happen.

The IISc team started to network with the community and in one such outreach they were introduced to Parthasarathy, Founder of MindTree Consulting and his better half Radha, who were exploring to fund education and healthcare projects under CSR/philanthropy.

The entire concept of Medical Research School resonated and energised them to an extent that Parthasarathy roped in Subroto Bagchi, co-founder

The writer is the Managing Trustee GDP Foundation www.gdpideaz.org Email: managingtrustee@gdpideaz.org 40 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

MindTree and his better half Sushmita Bagchi. The quadrant met the IISc team and the entire atmosphere was charged with energy, joy of co-creation, the shared values bonded them instantly and created the required momentum to propel the project. The overall feeling was of building an institution which will shape the history of science and transform the healthcare.

The outcome of their discussions, deliberations was that both Parthasarathy and Bagchi family assured a donation of `425 crores! A single largest funding ever received by IISc in several decades and this may also be the single largest donation given to any academic institution in India by a donor who is not running that academic institution.

The project is moving ahead for ground breaking in April and aims to launch academic program (dual degree MD – Research and PhD program/dual degree MD-MTech) which will steer the post-graduate students to do clinical research in India.

The PG students will be rotated in all the three verticals – the biology lab, nanotechnology and computers (data sciences and AI) for few months, so as to enable them to explore the area of research. They will spend the next four to five years both in hospital focusing on patient care and also at research labs almost on a daily basis and this is a perfect recipe for bringing out innovative solutions, the first batch is likely to be inducted in June 2024.

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What can we learn, internalise and implement from this unique visionary philanthropic initiative?

We are at crossroads in Goa, a new Government will soon take over and will have next five years to reinvent, rejuvenate the state, coupled with a new Chief Secretary and a renewed hope among the community.

We have Goa Medical College, Asia’s first medical school, now armed with a super specialty hospital, we have GEC, NIT, IIT and Goa University which has a rich legacy for offering courses in pure sciences under leadership of a new VC. Goa is also a pharma hub with 28 plus units, few of them have global research centres and a promising MSME cluster.

Goa now has excellent infrastructure with six lanes highways, two international airports, ports and extremely conducive socio-economic and cultural indicators making it a perfect place to replicate such projects and programs.

Goa’s population density, blessed with bio diverse nature, topography makes it an ideal place to build something similar.

Parthasarthy-Bagchi Hospital in IISc is a picture-perfect example of welfare

based growth and development. It is an offshoot of simple awareness of felt needs, community involvement and long term focus towards prosperity and well-being of all the stakeholders.

Such interventions not only create diverse and inclusive employment opportunities but they support existing industrial clusters, MSME and startups and since their impact is global, it rubs one and all to raise the bar leading towards sustained prosperity and building a ‘MEDTECH’ industry segment.

The CSR and philanthropy in Goa is still in nascent stage, the intent is good but it clearly lacks in fundamentals which I will touch upon in my next articles, there is no doubt that philanthropy and CSR in Goa has a huge untapped potential.

Goa is blessed with philanthropists who have contributed towards education /sports/art in past but now we need a paradigm shift and a more integrated and long term approach in CSR and philanthropy.

I am sure as you read this article you may be inclined to try out something similar it would be a measure of success.

But as a philanthropist/CSR head if you

truly and seriously understand the underlying principles and fundamentals through the story of ‘ParthasarathyBagchi Hospital - IISc’ and then chart your CSR initiatives < from Page 28

Uttor: The Konkani Wordle

new opportunities to promote indigenous languages. Besides Konkani, the game has been translated into hundreds of different languages. It’s an added honour that Konkani was the first Indian language to which the game was translated.

When asked whether he would develop more such games so as to encourage Goans to speak Konkani, Alden says, “One thing I might do is, create some features which will help kids play the game. Like a ‘Hint’ system.

I want to see the educational benefit of stimulating games like this. These not only relieve stress, but also create connections in the brain when kids and adults play such games. I benefitted tremendously by playing Scrabble when I was a kid – and those ‘mental connections’ help exercise the brain

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SANTOSH KENKRE / WISE WORDS

Tips for Efficient Working and Living The author elaborates on the most efficient style of working based on his work experiences

W

e all work for almost 50 years of our lives. But we realise the most efficient style of working towards the end. I give below a few tips/tactics which I have learnt over the last 40 years or so.

Delegation The single biggest tip to succeed is delegation. It is said that one who delegates, multiplies himself. Delegation creates leaders and reduces work load of the boss. The biggest delegator I have seen personally is our Hon. P.M. Narendra Modi. When I met him in February 2013, he was sitting virtually free although the Legislative Assembly was in session!

One practical golden rule is: ‘Never do anything what others can do for you’.

Many bosses are afraid to delegate fearing that the subordinate will make mistakes.

Here, the boss should allow subordinates to make mistakes, say once or twice, but thereafter they will be of immense help.

A boss needs to train the subordinate and give him or her full information and power to carry out the delegated tasks.

The boss should handle only extremely important tasks and delegate the rest to subordinates/colleagues. Having a smart secretary goes a long way in delegation.

N Chandrashekhar, Chairman of Tatas was formerly executive assistant to S. Ramadorai, the then head of TCS. Processes/Standard Operating Procedures Define these clearly with detailed steps, stages, and timelines so that minimum human intervention is there. Revise these from time to time and importantly, train the staff as to exactly what they should do in respect of these. This saves a lot of time, smoothens the work flow, keeps the stakeholders (importantly customers/ suppliers) happy, and eventually boosts profits as well as morale and image of the company. There should be total objectivity and minimum subjectivity.

These should be well documented and available to all stakeholders.

Automate/Mechanise Automate any operation/work which can be automated. Be it by using computers or other equipment/machines. Do this on a continuous basis. Internet can give you many tips on automating. Automating increases quality/accuracy enhances speed and most importantly releases the

Rs. Company A Turnover for the day ………..

Collection from ……….. debtors for the day Bank balances/ ……….. money available Production for the ……….. day QTY Qty

Rs. Company B ……….. ………… ………… …………

Qty

time of the bosses. So, the moment any work arises, a boss should ask himself two questions (a) can anyone else do this for me (Delegation). And (b) Can we automate this work? (Automation).

Prioritise At any point of time a boss will have anywhere between 10 to 100 different tasks to be done. Time is always short.

So the boss must prioritise say five tasks which he will do on a particular day and focus thereon rather that spreading himself too thin on tens of tasks. This tip was given to me by a CFO who was adjudged best CFO of the year. A common mistake is to prioritise urgent work and postpone important work which is not urgent. One needs to strike a fine balance between urgent and important. This requires monumental expertise and maturity. Worst is when the boss does any work which surfaces from time to time without bothering about other work which could be more urgent and/or more important.

Pennywise - Pound Foolish The boss should never use his time on minor matters. He should focus on important things and time permitting, go on to handle any lesser important tasks.

But, I have seen over last 40 years, many bosses who use up precious time, money, effort on minor matters due to which the business suffers. Imagine a family is shifting and the truck (carrying their luggage) is filled up with small goods, there will be no place for big furniture/ equipment! When one handles major matters, big money is saved or earned.

But when one indulges in minor matters, little money is saved or earned and worse, major decisions suffer!

Now, determining what is major work and what’s minor requires experience, skill and more importantly an open mind

ABNORMAL LOSS 1. Location ………….

2. Departments’ chief …………..

3. Amount in Rs. …………..

4. Details of the loss …………..

along with the will to do so.

Reports Devise an appropriate reporting system which covers the most important aspects of your business. Some could be daily reports, some weekly, and some monthly.

Most importantly, keep the reports simple. Complex reports preparation consumes time of subordinates and soon the boss stops reading complex reports.

The Boss need not read all reports.

Even if he reads 20% of the reports randomly, that suffices. The very fact that boss is reading the reports will keep the subordinates on their toes.

I am told that a top politician in Delhi does not normally read any document/ report of more than one page. He asks someone else to read these and report to him. Another important and innovative report is as below: Above report will make the boss aware as to how much he has lost, due to abnormal reasons from time to time, Rely on Experts/Outsource Typically a small entrepreneur does all possible work himself. He has to realise that in case he hires experts and/or outsource part of his work, he can focus on more important work. Secondly, experts will do quality work which will help the business and save his time and that of subordinates. Outsourcing is a form of delegation. Globally outsourcing is in vogue in order to cut costs.

Timelines/Deadlines When you ask anyone to do a task, always take a completion date from him and if possible, stage wise completion dates.

Thereafter ask the person to email to you the stage wise progress with time over runs. This will keep him on his toes. This stands, even if you see a mere 10% of the said emails and your executive secretary sees rest of the emails. Instead of OR in addition to emails, you can ask for Continued on Page 44

The columnist is a senior chartered accountant. He is Chairman of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Goa; and Director of EDC, Goa. Email: srkgoa@gmail.com 42 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

CABBAGES AND QUEEN / NANDINI VAIDYANATHAN

Flaunt your failures – they are your battle scars!

The writer speaks on why failure is stigmatized and advocates the importance of embracing one’s failures

I

saw a post on LinkedIn a few minutes ago that read, ‘failure is an event, not a person’. It made me wonder why failure is such an orphan. No one, just no one, wants to own failure. It is everyone else’s baby, therefore nobody’s baby! I don’t think the world had obsessed with failure so much before the era of internet startups. Neither as a teenager nor as an adult was it ever a Damocles sword, hanging over my head, threatening to slit my throat! It entered my life when I started mentoring entrepreneurs and their startups. And for the next 13 years, it kind of remained like the shadow of holocaust in my life. Not because failure worries me, but because it worried my mentees so. In fact, they signed up for mentorship as a risk-mitigation strategy – the biggest risk being failure!

Look at all the loaded statements in the startup world. Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward (John Maxwell).

Failing is an option. Failure and invention are inseparable twins (Elon Musk). I have not failed. I’ve found 10000 ways that won’t work (Thomas Edison). A single defeat is not final defeat (Fitzgerald).

Celebrate success but heed lessons of failure (Bill Gates). Man is not made for defeat (Ernest Hemingway). Failure is the end only if you decide to stop (Richard Branson). It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed. You only have to be right once (Mark Cuban). My best success came on the heels of failure (Jeff Bezos). Making your mark in the world…. comes with plenty of failure along the way (Barbara Corcoran). My favorites are: There is no such thing as failure. Only results (Albert Einstein).

Get to a place where your failures are just yours, then they get a lot less scary (Gary Vaynerchuk).

I particularly love Vaynerchuk’s quote because it nudges you to take ownership

of failure as much as you do, success.

I have sat across many investor court martials of entrepreneurs where the latter is hell-bent on deflecting failure to the whole world but him. He has a plethora of excuses. You didn’t give me money when I needed it. The customer is an idiot.

The agenda of my staff is not aligned to my company’s vision. Our partners let us down. Technology became obsolete.

Competitors stole my source code. God forbid if someone dares stop him in his tracks with the question: where were you when all this was happening? Who me? I was busy running the company!!!

Since the beginning of mankind, every civilization has worshipped success but no civilization has disowned failure as much as the internet economies. Once upon a time, it was par for the course that when you set out to do something new, there was an equal probability of success and failure. There was also tacit understanding that the more you do things right, the more you reduce the probability of failure.

But internet made entrepreneurs demi-gods who could not have feet of clay. I remember a well-known entrepreneur said to me after his company had collapsed: I didn’t fail. My company did. So in all innocence I asked him, 3 years ago when you were receiving the Best Startup of the Year award, I don’t remember you saying, I didn’t succeed, my company did!

Failure is the antonym of success.

Strangely, all dictionaries define failure as not succeeding. It’s a logical fallacy to define a term by way of its opposite. My definition of failure would be, not being able to do what I set out to do. And sure enough, this makes me the owner of my failure. I am not operating in a vacuum, right, therefore there are ambient influences on my decision that make

me vulnerable to failure. BUT THOSE FAILURES ARE MINE. Not to be laid down at someone else’s door.

In India, given that we live in an intrusive society, failure is most stigmatised because what will the neighbours say! What if people we know point fingers at my husband and say, his company shut down, he is a failure! What if they avoid socialising with us as if we have Corona?

Branson said, face failure head-on. If you live so cautiously that you don’t fail, you have failed by default. A cliché of the high seas is a ship was not built to stay in the harbour. Both are saying, live life as it should be lived, taking the highs and lows in your stride. In other words, you win some, you lose some but don’t glorify what you won by shoving what you lost under the carpet. I will share a very personal story here that makes my point.

I am a seasoned mountain climber now, but ten years ago, when I was on my third climb, I hung out at a climbers’ café in Kathmandu. Here every dude (and dudette) was tall, tanned, broadshouldered and sinewy. I was listening to their stories of various climbs with abject wonderment and at some point, felt compelled to open my mouth, even though I had nothing to contribute. I said, I love climbing but I hate what the sun does to my skin, see (and I put both my arms in front of me) the brown patches?

I used to love my skin, but not any more.

One dude walked up to me, took both my outstretched arms and said, these brown patches mean that the mountains like you. They will never let you climb if they don’t like you. Stop whining, woman, and wear them like a badge of honour! Oh yes, since then not a word about my skin.

You can wear failure like a badge of honour and say, they are mine!

The columnist has commenced her fourth professional avatar with her bakery and restaurant business in Jaipur (www.concoctions.fr) with her French Michelin-star chef life partner. Email: nandini@carmaconnect.in

Continued From Page 42

reports by WhatsApp. Use Technology I know of a professional who learnt a computer course at the age of almost 80 years!

One should always tune oneself to latest advances in technology. The biggest gain of working in this pandemic is the video conferencing.

44 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

People can meet and converse or even give training by using video conferencing. This saves massive time, money, and effort. One should go beyond the thinking that a personal meeting is always better! Similarly, WhatsApp, of which I am a huge fan, the conversations can be done on groups on WhatsApp. One can use an idea as follows Send a clear, detailed WhatsApp message

and then follow it up by a phone call to clarify if needed. In most cases such phone call is not needed. It needs to be noted that one can dictate a message on whatsapp something which I do quite frequently. Reminders on the mobile, checklists on mobile (in notes compartment) can relieve the stress on your mind. An immensely preoccupied mind tends to forget. Forgetting an important task can be costly

BEYOND CLASSROOM / DR. PRADEEP SALGAONKAR

Unstated Employee Roles in Organisation Building and Branding

The writer explains the different roles of an employee that help in building an organisation

D

o your employees know their roles and responsibilities clearly? This sounds to be a weird question, isn’t it? As most would say that ‘Yes my employees certainly do know their roles and responsibilities. They are clearly told and also given in writing what they are supposed to do on the job.’ Yes, that’s right.

The job description given to employees says it, the majority of it, but not all of it. There are certain critical roles that are unstated and which employees ignore, or at times these roles are performed purely ‘for sake of doing’ without understanding its consequences. Yet at times, employees act subtly and unknowingly and most of the times these actions are not in the interest of the organisation’s overall goal and vision.

These employee roles and actions, if performed correctly and on time, can contribute indirectly but immensely in building a better organisational brand image, organisational culture, environment within the organisation, customer relations etc. Here, I am referring not to the job description that’s given to employees, that forms the primary roles and responsibilities, but to the secondary roles and responsibilities that are most of the times unstated.

Primary Roles The primary roles of employees are the duties, roles, and responsibilities; those are stated clearly in the job description of the employees. This is normally given in writing to the employees at the time of the employees joining the said position.

Sometimes the job description is changed, normally upgraded, or modified, during the course of employment depending upon the job requirement. In other words, these duties and responsibilities are the bare minimum that any employer reasonably and legally expects from any employee. And, efficient employees having adequate skills and motivation follow these guidelines sincerely, and are considered as good workers in an organization.

Secondary Roles These are unstated duties, roles, and responsibilities associated with positions in an organisation – those are not stated orally or in writing anywhere.

These roles and responsibilities do not

It is the responsibility of the top management to take special efforts to make every person associated with the organisation to understand their roles and responsibilities, specially the unstated ones contribute directly to the job that an employee is performing, but these tasks contribute indirectly to the overall organizational goals. Most employees do not understand this important fact, nor does the management take efforts to make employees understand this aspect.

Many times, employees live within their departmental limits, forgetting and ignoring other departments. They say this is my job and once I am done with it, my responsibility is over. I have nothing else to do with the work of the other departments and what happens either next, or the ultimate consequences that may result and impact customer satisfaction.

Role towards Customers Ultimately every employee should understand that they are working in the organisation because there is a customer and they all need to work to meet customer expectations and needs.

Imagine a consignment reaching the customer late due to delay caused, may be not in executing the task but due to carelessness in communication, down the line in some department that may result in customer dissatisfaction and at times loss of the customer permanently.

The concerned employee is happy that he has executed the job on time; however, he has not ensured that the finished work has reached the concerned department for onward processing and despatch. This unstated role and responsibility is more critical than merely executing the stated job.

To cite an example, few days back we ordered pizza and some snacks directly via the app of a newly set up pizza chain outlet at Porvorim. The outlet promised delivery within 45 minutes after the confirmation of the order. On earlier instances this very same outlet had delivered the pizza much earlier than the time it promised. It was 50 minutes and there was no sign of the delivery person.

No messages or any update from the outlet. We waited for 10 more minutes but still no sign of the pizza. We then called up the outlet. We were told that the order was ready half an hour earlier and was sent for despatch. And, just like us the person on the phone was also surprised that the food was not received by us. He then enquired with his people and profusely apologising, informed that it was lying at the despatch counter and that the delivery person has just left to deliver the order.

What must have happened here is that the food must have been prepared, packed and the parcel must have been left in the despatch area in some corner without informing the despatch person.

Moreover the despatch person must be busy with despatching other orders and this order remained unnoticed, unattended. It is exactly doing the stated job – that I have done my job, I am not responsible whether the order goes or not. I am not concerned about the customer’s feelings. Well, the unstated role and responsibility is – going a step ahead from your stated role to taking action to do what you are required to do in the interest of the organisation’s goal, i.e., ensuring that the customer order is despatched on time.

Role towards Branding Indirectly every employee has an unstated role and responsibility to contribute towards building the brand of the organisation. Every employee is a brand ambassador of the organisation, both internally through their customer

The writer is a Founder Director, Saldots Academy, Corporate Trainer and Facilitator, Former Chairman, Goa Management Association. Email: pradeepsalgaonkar@gmail.com 46 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

INVEST RIGHT / MAHESH PAI

Are fixed deposits still the best investment today?

The writer explains about Fixed Deposits and whether they are a popular investment choice as they once were

T

here are three things you are guaranteed in India: rich heritage, delicious street food and the fact that your elderly relatives/parents will tell you to invest in fixed deposits. This traditional form of investment is usually part of every other Indian investor’s portfolio because of the fixed returns and safety. Income certainty and capital protection features of bank FDs also make them immensely popular among investors with low-risk appetite and those investing to meet their short-term financial goals. However, the millennials do not prefer this form of investment due to its low interest rates in these recent years.

Sounds almost absurd, but there was a time when bank fixed deposit interest rates were as high as 13% during 1995 to 1997. It was not just a safe investment option but the best investment plan for higher returns during the period. After the peaks of the nineties, FD interest rates started a downhill journey. Historical data suggests that Indian investors are moving away from FDs. There has been a decline from 63.5% to 54.7%.

Also, in the last few years we have been seeing bank defaults. Whenever such an incident occurs only `5 lakhs per person per bank is guaranteed by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). This includes the principal and interest. Any amount over `5 lakh is subject to risk. According to the survey and research only 49% of the banks are paying the DCIGC protection, so be careful while choosing your bank even if you have FD’s less than `5 lakhs.

Fixed Deposit Taxation Interest from FD are not tax-free, Interest earned from bank FDs, including tax-

payout by the banks. There are also other investment products which keeps the investors capital 100% protected, has tax benefits, a fixed interest rate just like FDs, and gives guaranteed regular income monthly/yearly.

saving FDs are eligible for a tax deduction under section 80C, it is taxed according to the investors tax slab. Thus, for the ones falling in higher-income slabs, their post-tax returns generated from most bank FDs may not exceed the average inflation rate during the FD tenure.

Inflation: The Silent Killer Rising inflation can impact FD returns.

For example, the rate of inflation is 5.6% and you invest in an FD with 6% returns (considering the highest) and if you come under the 30% tax slab then your net returns post tax will be 4.2%. Considering the inflation and your interest from FD your post inflation returns will be - 1.4%, you are losing money every year in FD. That’s why market related investments like stocks, mutual funds and other guaranteed investment plans are becoming popular - they are known to comfortably outperform inflation.

FD for Regular Income If an investor wants his investments to give a regular income then there are still better options than FD. There are debt funds that are better than bank FDs due to the long term tax efficiency. You can keep withdrawing from your debt fund corpus or set up automatic withdrawals instead of relying on the monthly interest

Future Interest Rates India is a developing country and the interest rates earlier were as good as 13% in the 1990s; however as India started developing faster, the interest rates kept falling. If you look at developed countries like Switzerland, Japan, Denmark etc their interest rates today are in negatives or zero. The near future of India will also lead to interest rates falling more and more. Now would be the best time to find the best alternative that works well for you and shift your money to a better place.

Fixed deposits do have their advantages as well. They provide easy liquidation, guaranteed yearly returns which can be a source of income, tax benefits up to `1.5 lakh under Section 80C of Income Tax Act, capital stability up to `5 lakhs, loan facility against FD; and is a hassle free investment.

Is FD the best investment option today?

The answer to that is that there is nothing called as the best investment product.

Fixed Deposits have their advantages as well as disadvantages. There is no much of wealth creation under this investment as there is no risk involved. Having a sufficient amount in fixed deposits in your portfolio is a necessity to tackle any kind of financial emergencies or so but investing a huge chunk of your savings in FDs is not advisable for most of the people of any age group

The writer is an investment consultant and business coach. Email: mahesh@maheshpai.in

focussed actions and externally via positive word of mouth that they spread about the organisation. Every action that an employee takes in the interest of the customer contributes to customer satisfaction and thus branding.

Role towards Building Culture The employees play an important role in deciding the culture of the workplace.

Their behaviour, attitude, and interests at the workplace form the organisation’s culture. It is the style of working, the thought processes, and assumptions

of the employees that contribute to an organisation’s culture. An employee who understands his roles and responsibilities clearly, both stated as well as unstated, would promote a healthy culture at the workplace that’s directed at customer focus and achieving organisational goals.

In conclusion, it is the responsibility of the top management to take special efforts to make every person associated with the organisation understand their roles and responsibilities, specially the unstated ones. The top management must spend time and money in making

every employee, irrespective whether it is the gatekeeper, sweeper, worker, supervisor or the management team member, realise and appreciate their secondary roles and duties towards the organisation. If possible, those critical roles which could be stated in clear words, wherever possible, need also to be converted and communicated as primary roles to employees. Management needs to do everything that will enable every employee to participate, directly or indirectly, in achieving the organisation’s higher goals and vision MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 47

GOA BUZZ

@businessgoa

Fun modern Asian dining in South Goa

Mama Miso brings Pan Asian food to South Goa, promising a unique and enthralling dining experience

S

erving a delectable selection of dishes, greatly inspired by the Asian streetfood culture, Mama Miso (at Heritage Village Resort & Spa, Arossim) will take you on a whole new culinary adventure like never before.

Enjoying an Asian beer or Sake after a day full of exploring the beaches and streets of South Goa is as good as it can get!

Their Tea Bar also showcases a variety of teas and coffees, along with classic Asian drinks as well as whimsical cocktails like the Asian Pearl Mule, Bees and Flowers, the Umami Mary, and many more such drinks, making sure there’s something for everyone. The Live Kitchen is one

48 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

among its many interesting features. This culinary art form where the customers can watch as their food is being prepared and also interact with the chefs makes for a very intimate dining experience.

Mama Miso offers multiple seating areas for every mood, from a beautiful garden seating that makes for the ultimate spot to dine al fresco to a deck that gives you a stunning view; and of course the classic indoor seating, coated in pastel pink makes for a warm and serene atmosphere to peacefully enjoy your meal. With dishes like Rock Shrimp Tempura, Crispy Chilly Lotus, Butter Garlic Miso Lobster, and many such

mouthwatering options, you are going to be spoilt for choices. Mama Miso will find its way to the traveler’s itinerary with its handcrafted offerings. It’s trendy, it’s chic, it’s fun modern Asian dining, removing the frills but keeping the thrills of delicious authentic dim sum, sushi, and small plates, setting an all-new benchmark for Asian Dining in South Goa. Mama Miso has beautifully brought together Chinese simplicity along with Japanese aesthetics, merging to create the perfect space, made even better with scrumptious food and a welcoming and comfy ambiance to soothe and recharge your stomach and your soul

@business-goa

The launch party of Mama Miso saw an eclectic gathering of food and travel professionals who chit chatted the evening, enjoying the fine pan-Asian fare on offer, along with live entertainment. Guitry and Andrea Velho played perfect hosts to the gathering

Guitry Velho

Andrea Velho

Urvija Bhatkuly

Harshvardhan Bhatkuly

Carl Costa

Marushka Costa

Dr Lenny da Costa

Mario Sequeira

Jean Sequeira

Mahak Sachdeva

Ami Shroff

Ruchika Davar

Nilesh Shah

Anika Noronha

Suveer Sodhi

Marsha Sodhi

Nakita Fernandes and Alister Martins

Viresh Vazirani and Alexandra Faye

Rini

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NEWSMAKERS Sanjay Amonkar is Director General of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Sanjay Amonkar has been appointed as the new Director General of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI). A student of Bombay University and an alumni of IIM Bangalore, Amonkar is a qualified Mechanical Engineer. He started his career in mechanical maintenance and has multiple work experience in chemical production, foreign trade, procurement, logistics, supply chain, and SAP. Amonkar has over 32 years of experience in the Chemical and Fertiliser Industry as a Senior Techno – Commercial lead. He has also worked in seven major Ports in India and is knowledgeable in Bulk Rail Cargo Movement

Gautam Kamat Bambolkar wins gold at the World Nature Photography Awards

An alumnus of Goa College of Art, Panaji, hailing from Mahalaxmi, Bandora-Ponda, Gautam Kamat Bambolkar has won the gold prize at the World Nature Photography Awards 2021 held in the United Kingdom (UK).

The World Nature Photography Awards, UK, commemorate and applaud the world’s finest nature photographers, while at the same time showcasing the planet’s magnificence to a diverse number of people. There are a number of categories like photojournalism, landscape photography, animal portraits, and urban wildlife, etc. Amateur and professional photographers send their entries from across the world and are selected on the basis of artistic merit, subject, originality, and style. Bambolkar’s photograph of an abandoned house in Raia was selected from among the many other entries that were submitted. This photograph titled ‘The Abandoned’ won the prize under the ‘Plants and Fungi’ category

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Sanjiv Verenkar wins Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 for Konkani literature

Sanjiv Verenkar, a renowned Goan poet and senior journalist has won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 for his collection of poems in the Konkani language titled Raktachandan.

A social poet, Verenkar has been an active contributor to the growing body of Konkani literature since 1978. He is the author of 17 books, nine of which are poetry collections; some of his poems have been translated into English and published in a collection titled Village Evening.

The title of his poetry collection, Raktachandan, is the name of an herbal ointment that would have been used as an analgesic in the olden days. Verenkar believes poetry to be a sort of analgesic which when applied relieves the person of their pain.

The poems represent the way in which Verenkar views his literary creations and convey his philosophy of life by providing the readers with ideas to tackle the problems in their lives

Pallavi Arondekar appointed Director of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has appointed Pallavi Arondekar as Director of GCCI. Arondekar started her career in Mumbai as a manager of Corporate Communications for a public limited company. A science graduate from Parle College, a Diplôme de langue from Alliance Française de Bombay, and an alumnus of the Xavier Institute of Communications, Arondekar has conducted workshops on communication and image for college students as well as corporate employees. Arondekar began her stint in GCCI in 2009 as Assistant Director handling Education, Tourism, IR and HR Committees of the Chamber. She also edits the Chamber’s monthly bulletin

Dr. Vinaykumar Pai Raikar to receive Rotary Intl’s ‘Service Above Self Award’

Rotary International’s highest honour, the ‘Service Above Self Award’ 2021-22 will be awarded to Dr. Vinaykumar Pai Raikar. A gynecologist by profession, he is the founder of, and presently practising at Raikar Nursing Home at Panaji, Goa. Raikar is an active Rotarian of Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown since 1999 and has served in various capacities at club level. His achievements at District level were Best Secretary (2004-05), Best President (2007-08) along with 6 district awards and making his club a 100% PHF club and contributing over 100,000 USD to The Rotary Foundation with a per capita contribution of USD 1570. He has served at the district level as District Chairman Coordinator (community service, club service, TRF assignments viz, District Simplified Grants, Annual Giving, GSE outbound). He has been a proficient speaker and has been on many a platform of Rotary in the district as keynote speaker, facilitator or as a pilot faculty. Raikar served as the Rotary District 3170 Governor in 2016-17 50 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MARCH 2022

153 1. What icon of design did the Chapman Root Glass Company of Indiana, USA introduce in 1915?

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5. On which scale is the proportion of gold in jewellery measured?

6. Which was the last category to be introduced in the Nobel Prize?

7. Where was the first station of the Indian Broadcasting Company set up?

8. Who wrote Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, published in 1844?

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