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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2011
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EDITORIAL www.seasonalmagazine.com
MAGAZINE
Seasonal Vol 10 Issue 8 August 2011
What Anna Hazare Should Learn From USA’s Tea Party
Managing Editor Jason D Pavoratti Editor John Antony Director (Finance) Ceena Senior Editorial Coordinator Jacob Deva Senior Correspondent Bina Menon Creative Visualizer Bijohns Varghese Photographer Anish Aloysious Correspondents Bombay: Rashmi Prakash Hyderabad: Iqbal Siddiqui Delhi: Anurag Dixit Director (Technical) John Antony Publisher Jason D
On the last day of July 2011, India had come closer than ever before to the killing of a promising anti-corruption movement with grassroots support. On the same day, the world had come closer than ever before to an unprecedented financial crisis, thanks to another grassroots movement in the USA. Indian Parliament’s crucial monsoon session began on August 1st, whose prime agenda is to pass an alternate Lokpal Bill than the anti-corruption movement’s Jan Lokpal Bill that aimed to give sweeping powers to the proposed people’s ombudsman. US Congress has passed a resolution on August 1st, overcoming hardline Republicans, without which the country’s treasury would have defaulted on its payment obligations, that would have cut American debt’s famed AAA rating, and caused a global debacle that would have shamed the Lehman crisis and its aftermath. Both the Indian and US crises were driven by the so-called grassroots movements. But there ends the comparison.
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While the Anna Hazare led ‘India Against Corruption’ movement stands for the masses, the infamous ’Tea Party’ - the hardline Republican faction that caused the US standoff stands for a hardline economic policy that will effectively crush the American middleclass and poor even more. But that is only about ideology, philosophy, or concepts like fairness and unfairness. What about operational tactics or strategy? Sadly for the Indian movement, the comparison with its US counterpart shouldn’t have stopped there, at being a grassroots movement. Because, even while it wasn’t for a noble cause, there was much to learn from the US Tea Party, not only for India, but for any democracy, and for any grassroots movement in democracies. The strategic edge of Tea Party as against Hazare’s IAC, is that it penetrated the ‘system‘, worked with the system, hijacked the system and then defeated the system. India Against Corruption, on the other hand shunned the ‘system’, and the system used that avoidance to its advantage in killing off IAC. But to fully understand how Anna Hazare and his team would have benefited from the strategies of Tea Party, it needs a quick recap of the stunning growth in influence of this radical US movement. Today, it would be difficult to believe that Tea Party started off from a web chat forum. Yet, that is precisely how it started - soon after Obama was sworn in, on an influential stock market discussion forum called MarketTicker, which was one among a few prominent sites hosting discussions on the new government’s policies. The site owner was upset by the kind of people Obama had chosen to head his finances - Larry Summers and Tim Geithner - who had allegedly followed the
kind of economic policies that led to the 2008 financial crisis. Sensing that many of his forum members were of his opinion, he started a discussion thread on what could be done in protest. An anonymous poster suggested that each of them sent tea bags to their legislators. The idea clicked instantaneously, due to the recall of Boston Tea Party, the iconic and influential event in 1773, in which colonists (forefathers of Americans) protested the huge tea taxes by the then ruling British Government, by getting into their tea carrying ships and throwing the tea to Boston Harbour. An influential forum member backed the tea-bag mailing idea, and on her support, the movement gathered some momentum. It soon caught the fancy of influential CNBC commentator Rick Santelli, and in a now infamous rant televised from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the ultra right-wing Santelli brought the issue before the attention of the whole nation, and it launched the Tea Party movement into a massive country-wide momentum. Tea Party’s policies were popular among the upper middle-class and upper-class Americans. The movement identified successive governments as the chief culprits behind the economic debacle, and sought to strictly curb government funding especially for corporate bailouts like AIG, GM, Citigroup etc, as well as to social-support programs like in healthcare and education, and to cut taxes payable by individuals and corporations, and to put a definite ceiling on government debt to control fiscal deficit (which was incidentally the cause for the recent crisis). With a significant portion of US debt being held by China, the movement also garnered a patriotic fervour. Does India lack web forums? We have plenty, most of them more populous than US ones, and the kind of unequivocal support Anna Hazare is getting in Internet space is second to none in India. But why hasn’t it translated to anything substantial? That brings us to the striking difference in strategies employed
by the Tea Party. Going by the principles it advocate, Tea Party can neither be Republican or Democrat, America’s only two mainstream parties. Simply put, they are rightist than the most right-wing of Republicans. They were advocating a third line that almost made the Republicans look like as though they were standing at the centre. Yet the brains behind Tea Party were prudent enough to realize that they didn’t stand a chance against the formidable Democrats or Republicans. So, even as they spread their voice through techdriven, non-political forums that spoke directly to the grassroots, their candidates silently penetrated Republican ranks. What made things easier was that some of them were already second-tier leaders in the Republican Party or former Party affiliates. By the 2010 mid-term elections to the Congress, things had come to such a stand that the Republican Party which was reeling under President Obama’s charisma, had to accept the support of Tea Party in lieu of several of their nominees getting candidature. And the support was not without results. Republicans routed Democrats to wrest control of Congress. And then they receded somewhat from the political landscape, but not from the public landscape. The Tea Party caucus members continued to work on their individual capacities in reaching out to the public, and during the recent debt crisis, this around 50member party-within-the-party could hijack not only its parent Republicans, but hold to ransom Obama and the entire US, if not the global economy. How was it possible? Though they are only 50 in number, they had built up influence in almost all constituencies, and most Republican Congressmen and Senators were plain afraid to stand radically against Tea Party’s declared policies on a subject put up to vote. Too bad that it was not for a noble cause, as most of the sensible economists, including Paul Krugman, rubbish Tea Party’s policies as voodoo economics. But for a moment imagine what would have been Tea Party’s momentum if it were for a rational, noble cause? Anna Hazare badly needed to do that. If he was reluctant to learn from Tea Party, he could have learned from VP Singh, who did something like that, not too long back, in this country itself. Maybe Anna was worried at VP’s Janata Dal also going by the drain eventually. But is that an excuse? Nobody can expect to prevail as the one and final option in this complex, difficult world. Another striking difference Tea Party has with Team Anna is that it has never been a one man show, or even a one organization show. Just like the free market theories on which it is based, Tea Party itself is a movement of free market organizations and leaders, that support, learn from, and compete with each other, with no central leader or organization. The track-record, profit motives, and integrity of many of these leaders, as well as the corporate funding on which many of these organizations thrive are questionable, but together they have proved a point on how to organize a grass-roots level movement in a formidable democratic system in the new millennium. Leaders working on nobler causes, like Anna Hazare, have much to learn from their strategies. John Antony
MAGAZINE
Seasonal
Contents
FIRST QUARTER ANALYSIS - BANKING SECTOR
The Banks Going to Surge, The Banks Going to Shock, The Banks Going to Stagnate It is doubtful whether there is any better time than Q1 to analyze banking stocks. It is not only due to the well-begun half-done theory. Of equal importance is the specifics about how each bank actually wound up the preceding fiscal, which gets clearer from the annual reports, which is also being published these days. Ever since the year-end results, and till now, things were more about headline figures. But starting now, analysts are getting to know - and think over - behind-the-scene figures like Return on Equity, Return on Assets, NAV, Free Reserves, Cash Flow, NPAs, and lots more. Of course, Q1 results add much to the complex story, and here also, it is important to look beyond easily achievable targets like year-on-year progress, and focus on the tougher objective of continuing the sequential momentum without dips. Banks are also not finding themselves in any easy space with regards to stricter regulation or the tightening interest rates. But with inflation likely to peak out within months, and the high-interest regime soon to hit a cap, if it hasn’t already, banks undoubtedly present themselves as one of the most compelling investment..
MIOT to Dominate Oncology, Much Like its Track Record in Ortho, Cardiac, & Pinhole Surgery Chennai based MIOT Hospitals is constructing a brand new hospital in its fold. The 15-floor, 500-bed affair, will not only double the existing hospital’s capacity..
B for Boys? Not Anymore! The traditionally male-dominated classrooms in business schools are set to see more women. Across the country, B-schools are trying to raise female enrolment. The Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB), for example, is offering the Novartis Scholarship for..
10 Awesome SUVs Coming Soon to India The SUV (sports utility vehicle) segment starts at around Rs 500,000 and goes right up to a crore of rupees or even more, but that hasn't stopped people from gobbling them up. Riding this wave are..
BMW's Superbike Arrives in India The German manufacturer is all set to make the pulses of Indian consumers go racing with the launch of their K 1300 R
10 Hottest Indian Start-ups A glimpse into 10 most promising start-ups from India selected by Proto.in in association with Sequoia Capital and BSE Small and Medium Enterprises Exchange. These start-ups were selected on the basis of the people behind them, the impact of their products in solving real world problems, the future potential of the product in terms of market size, the scalability of the start-up, business model, execution and wow factor. Proto.in is a support platform for the Indian start-up community and these start-ups have been picked up after sifting through 101 entries. Here are the hottest 10...
Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial
When it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that count it’s what you put in your body, too. "Lather, rinse, repeat" may be standard advice, but shampoo and conditioner alone won't give you the healthy hair you crave. For the most luxurious locks possible, you'll need to step out of the shower, and into the kitchen..
Nahar has Versatile Options for Mumbai Homebuyers
No Equipment Strength Training Strength training exercises, even if performed twice a week (on alternate days) can maximize your overall fitness, says the American Council on Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association. One can perform strength training exercises with the help of free weights, machines and other kinds of special equipment. But, today we are going to reveal the top 6 no-equipment strength training..
The path breaking Nahar Group has completed 38 towers in their flagship Nahar’s Amrit Shakti township. Still, the.. PURAVANKARA OCEANA, MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI
Reading Your Favourites, Watching Yachts Sailing by Purva Oceana stands testimony to a unique aspect that has hit the minds of Kerala homebuyers only recently - that homes from reputed national level..
World’s Biggest and Busiest Projects Tallest, longest, busiest -- the world has a number of record breaking projects. Here's a look at some of the most amazing manmade structures.
Bill Gates on Family, Charity, & INDIA This is not the way I'd imagined Bill Gates, says Caroline Graham of Daily Mail, who was allowed a rare nterview with the world's second richest..
SJR CELESTIA, SARJAPUR ROAD, BANGALORE
Break Free from the Ordinary Bangalore based SJR Group is only around a decade old in residential space, but their projects and the expertise these projects project before the beholder is much higher. Though many reasons can..
AUTO
BMW's Superbike Arrives in India accessory list for the K1300R and the S. It works in the same way, allowing the rider to change gear without full throttle or shutting off; just applying a little pressure to the lever is enough. The system worked best if you made the change deliberate but unhurried not always easy to do at full throttle. Conclusion Even though you have to love and appreciate the engineering and quality that BMW has integrated in this bike, you are left wondering if it is worth your dough for Indian roads. If money is not an object, then it should not even matter. If it is, then you would be well advised to look for other options.
he German manufacturer is all set to make the pulses of Indian consu mers go racing with the launch of their K 1300 R superbike. The power of the engine has been pumped up, the looks have been touched up, and overall this version of the bike looks and feels a lot better than the predecessor. All that should, however, not matter to the Indian buyer, who will anyway get a taste of a beamer superbike for the first time here.
Seasonal Magazine
Build and looks The overall looks of K 1300 R really get your attention, as you would expect from any superbike. But, the thing that BMW has really excelled in, is the muscle power it seems to have added in the looks compartment of this particular R version. The K1300R rolls on a 1mm longer
wheelbase than its predecessor due to the lower mounting point of the revised Duolever front end. It helps in saving 1kg of unsprung weight, but it transforms the wheel of the front end.
Pros: Excellent handling even at high speeds, raw power for extra thrill, awesome road presence Cons: Fuel consumption Specifications Engine: Liquid cooled, 16 valve, inline four, 1,293cc
Overall, it's very well built, but it's certainly not the prettiest. Just bold and raw muscle power.
Power: 173bhp @ 9,250rpm
Engine and performance
Front suspension: BMW Duolever
With an upgraded engine producing 173bhp at 9,250 rpm you would expect this bike to be a beast on the road. And that's exactly what it feels like, most times. The only question is: would an Indian buyer find enough good roads here to enjoy this powerhouse of a bike? BMW have done a cracking job of integrating great features from other bikes in the BMW range into this new machine. The quirky quickshifter first experienced on the HP2 Sport has found its way onto the
Torque: 103 ft.lb @ 8,250rpm
Rear suspension: BMW Paralever Front brake: 320mm discs, four piston calipers Rear brake: Single 265mm disc, two piston caliper Dry weight: 217kg Seatheight: 820mm Fuel capacity: 19 Litres Top speed: 165mph Colours: Silk metallic, Lava Orange and Light Grey Metallic
INFRASTRUCTURE
Tallest, longest, busiest -- the world has a number of record breaking projects. Here's a look at some of the most amazing manmade structures.
Burj Khalifa (The United Arab Emirates) Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world's tallest building. With a height of 828 metres (2,717 ft), Burj Khalifa is an extraordinary architectural feat. The building has the highest number of storeys and the highest outdoor observation deck in the world. It also has the tallest service elevator in the world. Designed by Adrian Smith, the total cost for the project was about $1.5 billion.
Seasonal Magazine
Millau Viaduct (France) The world's highest bridge, the Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, its mast's summit is at 343.0 metres (1,125 ft). The cost of building stand at a whopping 400 million euros. The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award. The Millau Viaduct consists of an eight-span steel roadway supported by seven concrete pylons.
Ritz Carlton (Hong Kong)
The world's tallest hotel, Ritz Carlton, has opened in Hong Kong. With spectacular views of the Victoria Harbour, the 118-storyed architectural marvel is a sight to behold. The Ritz-Carlton occupies the top 16 floors from 102 to 118 of Hong Kong's International Commerce Centre which is 490 metres high.
(The United States of America) The world's tallest rollercoaster, Kingda Ka, is located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, USA. It was also the world's fastest until Formula Rossa opened in November 2010. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. The train climbs the main top tower, reaching a height of 456 feet (139 m). Kingda Ka is 3,118 feet (950 m) long.
(The United Arab Emirates)
This is the world's tallest residential building. Built by Mumbai-based Hiranandani Group, 23 Marina is currently under construction in Dubai. The tower is set to have 90 floors and will rise to 395 metres (1,296 ft). The tower will have 57 swimming pools, and each duplex in the tower will have its own private elevator. The world's highest bridge, the Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, its mast's summit is at 343.0 metres (1,125 ft). The cost of building stand at a whopping 400 million euros. The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award. The Millau Viaduct consists of an eight-span steel roadway supported by seven concrete pylons. The handing over of the apartments is likely to commence in August, 2011.
Seasonal Magazine
23 Marina
Kingda Ka
Nurek Dam (Tajikistan) At 300 metres (984 ft), it is currently the tallest dam in the world. The construction of the dam began in 1961 and was completed in 1980. The dam includes nine hydroelectric generating units. Located in a deep gorge along the Vakhsh River in western Tajikistan, it has a generating capacity of 300 megawatts each.
Kharagpur Railway Platform (India)
Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge (China)
The longest railway station platform is in Kharagpur in India. It also has one of the biggest railway workshops in India. This railway platform in the world stretches across 1,072 metres(3,538 feet).
The world's longest cross-sea bridge, spanning 36.48 kilometers across the mouth of the Jiaozhou Bay in China's eastern Shandong province, opened to traffic in June 2011, just four years after construction started.
Seasonal Magazine
The bridge, connecting urban Qingdao with the city's less-developed district of Huangdao, cost about 14.8 billion yuan ($2.3 billion).
Shanghai Port (China) Shanghai Port is the busiest seaport in the world. It has a deep-sea port and a river port. In 2010, Shanghai Port overtook the Singapore port to become the world's busiest container port.
Gothard Base Tunnel (Swiss) The Gothard Base Tunnel located beneath the Swiss Alps will become the longest railway tunnel in the world.The $12 billion project will be longer than the undersea Seikan Tunnel in Japan and is expected to be completed by 2017.
Shinjuku Station (Japan) The world's busiest passenger station, in terms of daily passenger throughput, is Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. Ikebukuro in Tokyo has the world's secondbusiest station.
Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia) The Trans-Siberian Railway which stretches across a distance of 5,777 miles (9,297 kilometers) runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. In this picturesque route, there are 9 tunnels, 139 large bridges and 3,762 smaller bridges across the route.
Pan-American Highway (United States)
The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest motorable road. Its length is about 47,958 kilometres (29,800 miles). Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (United States) It has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic and number of landings and take-offs since 1999, serving 88 million passengers per year. The airport is the primary hub of AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Seasonal Magazine
10 HOTTEST INDIAN START-UPS
A glimpse into 10 most promising start-ups from India selected by Proto.in in association with Sequoia Capital and BSE Small and Medium Enterprises Exchange. These start-ups were selected on the basis of the people behind them, the impact of their products in solving real world problems, the future potential of the product in terms of market size, the scalability of the start-up, business model, execution and wow factor. Proto.in is a support platform for the Indian start-up community and these start-ups have been picked up after sifting through 101 entries. Here are the hottest 10...
Company Name: EFarm
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EFarm
Product Name: EFarm Direct Founder: Venkat Location: Chennai Incorporation Year: 2009 Stage of Funding: Seed invested by Mumbai Angels Revenue Situation:
Product Summary: Efarm is an innovative start-up based in Chennai which is both online and offline presence. We; physically work with farmers help market produces to key B2B buyers in city and have built the most sophisticated but yet simple to use technology platform to manage entire agri supply chain. The efarm direct platform has farmers supply data, purchase order/sales order data, logistics, mobile based front end apps, and local language POS for shop fronts.
Making revenues.
Market Need: Though there has been several innovative products / solutions of IT in various industries, strangely India's largest industry -- Agriculture -- still runs predominantly on paper and pencil! Lack of data, low literacy of primary users have been key challengers for technology adoption. Target Market: India's Agriculture Sector Proto.in for: Series a round of funding
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Product Summary: Welcome to Fetise.com, India's premier online designer outlet dedicated to men. Our mission is to make men's online shopping experience secure, fun, convenient, lowcost, and most importantly hassel-free! Fetise.com is an exclusive 'by invitation only' club that offers its members that best seasonal fashion finds with an exclusive collection of clothing shoes and accessories from the most prestigious international brands. We have a network of buyers from around the world to bring you the best labels at
reduced prices. We've done the bargain hunting for you so that you enjoy upto 80% on retail prices on all high-end fashion brands through limited time based events. Fetise comes from Fetish -- an extreme craving. Market need: International Luxury and Fashion brands at affordable prices and home dilevery! Target Market: Indian males Revenue Model: Margins on sales Proto.in for: To network within the start-up ecosystem.
Seasonal Magazine
Company Name: Fetise Retail Pvt. Ltd. Product Name: Fetise.com Fetise Retail Founder: Abhishek Shah Pvt. Ltd. Location: Mumbai Incorporation Year: 2011 Stage of Funding: Seed Capital (Angels and early stage Vcs) Revenue Situation: Having revenues, but not profitable yet. Team Size: 30
10 HOTTEST IND IAN START-UPS
Company Name: Techno purple IT Solutions Pvt Ltd Product Name: TechnoPurple Asset Tracking Founder: Amit Jain Location: Mumbai Incorporation Year: 2010 Stage of Funding: Personal, Friends and Family Funds Revenue Situation: Having Revenues, but not profitable Team size: 20
Product Summary: Just imagine a world where every movable asset communicates with us 24/7 via web /SMS! echno Purple's award winning Asset Tracking Application makes this dream a reality with live, accurate and proactive monitoring using the widest range of GPS tracking devices. From the world's most compact tracker to the most rugged one, we have it all. We ensure safety and optimum utilization of all resources by application customization for user defined alerts. Market need: India is unpredictable and this unpredictability offers reasons to fear about. Car Theft, Kidnapping, Accidents, Traffic Snarls no longer make news. Just in a city like Mumbai, on an average 5000 Vehicles get stolen each year and the recovery rate is
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i2V Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Product Summary: nextLeap is a recommendation engine which acts as a virtual career counselor to help students make smarter career decisions. It involves a suite of applications, which use psychometric evaluations and math models on past admission patterns, to give out personalized suggestions. Applications like University Suggestor and College Suggestor help students increase their chances of admissions into
meager 20%. People are concerned about the safety and security of their assets be it kids or cars and a technology which offers proactive location based monitoring is need of the hour. Target Market: India has one of the fastest growing automotive industries in the world having sales of over 3 million new vehicles just in FY 2010-11. Rising concerns about vehicle theft and misuse has opened a huge opportunity in vehicle tracking space. In corporate sector too, vehicle tracking can help companies in optimizing the utilszation of their fleet and keep customers informed about shipments. Government source to desired destination. As crime against kids is on the rise, parents are increasing concerned about safety of their kids. In case of emer-
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Techno purple IT Solutions Pvt Ltd
gency, at the press of SOS button on GPS Personal Tracker, kids can send their location to parents. Revenue Model: Vehicle Tracking Services for individual car owners, transport companies, security, infrastructure, school, hospitals. Personal Tracking Services for kids' safety and safety of the elderly, safety of baggage and pet tracking. Proto.in for: Techno Purple wishes to showcase its innovative Asset Tracking service portfolio to corporates and investors. Also it is a big opportunity to collaborate with other Start-Ups and increase the reach as well as spectrum of services. We feel Proto.in can help us attract talented guys to our top management too.
Company Name : nextLeap Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Product Name : nextLeap Founder : Suruchi Wagh Location : Pune Incorporation Year : 2010 Stage of Funding : Personal, Friends and Family Funds Revenue Situation : Having Revenues, but not profitable Team size : 9
colleges and Branch Suggestor helps students choose stream of study. Market need: Students often make uninformed decision based on peer pressure and limited anecdotal information. The virtual counselor helps students make smarter career decisions based on analysis of past admission data; thus increasing their chances of admission into desired colleges and streams. Target Market: The target audience consists of several million students
which vary from high school students to graduates and young professionals. Revenue Model: nextLeap makes money on a freemium model, where the basic recommendations are free and advanced suggestions are paid for by students. Proto.in for: To share our learning of building a good product and connecting with like-minded people.
Company Name : i2V Product Name : i2V Systems Pvt. Ltd. Founder : Sumit Aggarwal Location : Gurgaon
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i2V Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Incorporation Year : 2010
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Artoo IT Solutions Pvt Ltd
Stage of Funding : Only Personal fund Revenue Situation : Having revenues, but not profitable Team Size : 7
Product Summary: i2V is a Intelligent Integrated video security software with Video Management System, builtin video Analytics options to integrate third-party devices and/or applications. I2V is designs to be a pro active Surveillance solution by dding Intelligence to Surveillance solution to Detect Events from different devices and to take actions thought different devices. Market need: Problems with currently Prevalent human guard and CCTV surveillance: Current CCTV surveillance is totally PASSIVE Still continues human monitoring of live video feed is needed Often leads to human fatigue and restlessness No real Time event alerts and alarms when abnormal event is detected, later manual actions are needed like making emergency Phone calls, Sending Sms, emails costly installation and maintenance Lack of integrated solutions with other security devices Majorly dependent on physical cable technology for data transfer which makes it difficult to expand the security and surveillance to large geographical areas. Target Market: i2V is aimed at providing security solutions to following sectors: Public security Sector : City Surveillance, defense and Border Survillance, Nuclear power plants, Coastal Security, museums, National highways for traffic management, Govt offices Industrial security sector: large Machinery Industries, Assembly Line surveillance, Hotels, banks, Schools. Retail security sector: Point of sales (POS) surveillance, shopping mall, Super markets, Homeland Security sector: Low cost integrated solution for homes Revenue Model: We have opted a mixed revenue module by by building a global distribution partner Network with companies who will serve as following players: * Premium Distributors * Value added resellers * System integrators * Solution Partners
Company Name: Artoo IT Solutions Pvt Ltd Product Name: Artoo Slate Founder: Sameer Segal Location: Bangalore Incorporation Year: 2010 Stage of Funding: Personal, Friends and Family friends Revenue Situation: No revenues yet Team Size: 6
Product Summary: Artoo Slate is a software solution that tries to remove paper from any field intensive industry like Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Rural Healthcare. It captures rich data from the field, dose away with the back and forth of paper, avoids innumerable delays and drastically reduces expenses. Our framework enables field agents to operate remotely and helps distributed enterprises to centralize their operations. It is an intuitive interface that has been designed keeping in mind the field staff's limited educational training and exposure to technology. Market Need: If you try to pitch to a Microfinance borrower a marginally lower interest rate product, they are most likely to ask you return "That's ok, but, how quickly can you get me my loan?" We are trying to removing the inefficiencies in field processes by talking the entire process online. We have validated through a pilot with Ujjivan Financial service pvt. Ltd that we can increase productivity by 35%, save them INR 74.4 Crore annually and reduce Turn-Around Time on loans to 2 days. Target Market: Based on our pilot with Ujjivan Financial services Pvt Ltd, we can save the Indian Microfinance industry at list US $ 2.3 Billion in 2015. Our technology is not only portable across geographies and but could also be used in other industry verticals very easily. Revenue Model: We have a volume based subscription fee (per field agent per month), which works out to less than 10% of the field agent cost. This fee covers hosting and basic customization while the enterprises can choose any Android enale device.
10 HOTTEST INDIAN START-UPS
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XLabz Technologies
Company Name: XLabz Technologies Product Name: GeoSocials Founder: Krishna Prathab R V Location: Pondicherry Incorporation Year: 2010 Stage of Funding: Only personal funds Revenue Situation: No revenues yet Team Size: 5 Product Summary: Geosocials is a hyper-local, locating based, real life social networking game that lets you play, win and socialised all the same time, unlock real and virtual goodies and move up life's leader board anywhere and everywhere you are. In short, GeoSocials is a social game that helps you find friends, fortune, and fame at a place near you. Market Need: Social context existing social networks doesn't facilitates social connections which are relavant in real life and relevant to the place where you live, work or study. Location Gamining on text Almost all location based games are restaurant focused and lack fun except for the badges you receive. Would you be friends with someone just because you both like chinese food? Deals have to be relevant to the place you live/work and people like to buy things other than just food. Brands need relevant "local" exposure which doesn't cost them a lot. Target Market: As per data shared by Navteq, the global market place for Location Based Services is Slated to cross $16 billion by 2014. Gartner's top 10 consumer applications to watch in 2012 include Location based services (LBSs) and social networking. Expects the total user base of consumer LBSs to reach 1.4 billion users by 2014 and spending on gaming to exceed $74 Billion in 2011. Group buying market in the US is estimated at $2.7 billion in 2012 (up from $1.1 billion last year) Since GeoSocials focused on multiple aspects like social, gaming and deals, the total addressable market is too broad to be defined. Revenue Model: Virtual Goods (in-app purchases), brand marketing and advertising, group buying and deals We are at Proto.in for: Product feedback, to find mentors/ co-founders who share our vision and to seek investment.
Company Name : Optinno Mobitech Pvt. Ltd. Product Name : smsBlocker Founder : Sagar Bedmutha Location : Pune Incorporation Year : 2009 Stage of Funding : Personal, Friends and Family Funds Revenue Situation : Having Revenues, but not profitable Team Size : 3
8
Optinno Mobitech Pvt. Ltd.
Product Summary: smsBlocker is the world's most advanced and effective spam SMS blocking mobile app. It's unique intelligence identifies if an SMS is a spam and blocks it automatically if detected so. smsBlocker functions intuitively and can be customised as per specific needs. If you want to get complete freedom from unwanted, untimely and irritating spam SMS, get smsBlocker. Market Need: All existing SMS blocking apps need the user to always feed in (changing) number/titles of the spammer, which itself is painful than actually deleting the spam. Moreover, their inability to distinguish between a legitimate SMS (ex. Bank alert) and a spam, makes them almost useless. Target Market: Our target customer is a smartphone user who wants to get relief from unwanted and spam SMS. Since spam is growing big time and prevalent in most of the countries, there are more than a billion potential customers across the world. Revenue Model: Our Company will make money in 3 ways: * One time download charge * Ad revenue (free version) * Revenue share from the mobile operator (monthly subscription based VAS) Proto.in for: Launching the Android version of smsBlocker, getting guidance from the experts on scaling and fund raising.
Company Name : Ossian Agro Automation Pvt Ltd Product Name : Nano Ganesh Founder : Santosh Ostwal Location : Pune Incorporation Year : 2010 Stage of Funding : Personal, Friends and Family Funds Revenue Situation : Profitable Team Size : 9
Product Summary: Nano Ganesh is an electronic hardware system based on mobile technology allowing farmers to remotely control and monitor their water pumps from any place. A mobile phone has been innovatively used as a low cost wireless device along with Nano Ganesh unit in the existing system. With a simple calling and punching of particular key numbers any illiterate operator can use this system with ease. Market Need: The need of Nano Ganesh aroused from the routine problems faced by the farmers or irrigation operators in operating the pumps viz. fluctuations in power
10
Fermentech Biologies
supply, difficult terrain, fear of animals on the way to pumps, hazardous locations of the pumps along rivers or water storage beds. Target Market: The demand for Nano Ganesh is a derived demand from the demand for irrigation pump sets. Estimation of Indian pump industry is around $ 980 million and is expected to grow by around 7 per cent in the medium run. There are currently approximately about 25 million irrigation pumps in rural area and 0.3 million water pumps in drinking water supply schemes. We have decided to focus on 1.5 million water pumps for Nano Ganesh.
9
Ossian Agro Automation Pvt Ltd
Revenue Model: With the investments of INR 5.5 Cr, a revenue of INR 7.5 Cr is estimated in the first year. The growth rate would be 100% in the first year but rising to 250% from the second year leading to the revenue of INR 150 Cr in the fifth year. The specialty of rural technology business is that it takes slow pace in the beginning but rises rapidly once the market has been. Proto.in for: Let the business potential of telecom applications in the irrigation market and educate in the investors about opportunities in this sector in India and overseas.
Company Name : Fermentech Biologies Product Name : NutriBran Founder : V R Sarath Babu Location : Bhimavaram Incorporation Year : 2009 Stage of Funding : Only personal funds Revenue Situation : No revenues as yet Team Size : 10
Product summary: NutriBran, anovel Biotech based feed stuff for livestock. This low cost, high efficiency feed will lower the feed costs by 30 per cent and increase productivity like meat and milk yield by 25 30%. This feed is manufactured using a high end Biotechnology process from very low cost, nutritionally poor agricultural. Market Need: The present market is suffering from fluctuations in price, quality and quantity of feed stuff available, and depends on several feeds stuffs which are not available
throughout the year. Nutribran provides a one stop solution for all feed consumers by offering a consistent quality, availability and price all round the year. Target Market: Aquaculture farms, Dairy farms, Poultry farms, small farmers reaching milch and meat animals. The present market in the organised sector is valued at Rs 10,000 crores per year, and the unorganised feed sector is valued at around 60,000 Crores per year and is growing at per cent AAGR. Nutribran fits into both thease sectors and targeting around 2 per cent of the
market initially we will be able to have revenues of Rs 80 million by the third year. Revenue Model: By manufacturing and selling 7200 tonnes of NutriBran annually to 3000 acres of Aqua farms, 2000 tones of NutriBrans to feed industries as a raw material, and 8001000 Tonnes through institutional sales, government Tenders etc., we expect to break even within the 12th month of operations. Proto.in for: Seeking investment, mentoring, expousure of NutriBran to the world.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair
Seasonal Magazine
hen it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that count -- it’s what you put in your body, too. "Lather, rinse, repeat" may be standard advice, but shampoo and conditioner alone won't give you the healthy hair you crave. For the most luxurious locks possible, you'll need to step out of the shower, and into the kitchen. "Your hair grows about 1/4 to 1/2 inch every month, and the foundation of all of our new hair, skin, and nail growth is the nutrients we eat," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago-based dietitian. "If you eat a healthy diet, you will grow stronger and healthier cells throughout your entire body -- inside and out." If you were born with fine, thin hair, you'll never have rope-thick tresses -- no matter what you eat -- but a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of growth-promoting protein and iron can make a difference, say nutrition and hair experts. And beware of dietary supplements often marketed to thicken hair or make it grow faster. They may backfire. "Even though you can find beauty supplements on the shelves of most stores, try to get the nutrients you need from foods whenever possible," Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist in Vallejo, Calif., tells WebMD. "In rare instances, excess supplementation of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A, has been linked to hair loss." Read on for the 10 top foods that should be the foundation of your healthy hair diet.
When it comes to foods that pack a beauty punch, it's hard to beat salmon. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron. "Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look." Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.
2: Dark Green Vegetables Popeye the Sailor Man didn't eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily
substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.
3: Beans Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair? Yes, it's true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair. Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.
4: Nuts Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.
Seasonal Magazine
1: Salmon
5: Poultry Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave. "Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD. Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.
6: Eggs
If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.
9: Low-Fat Dairy Products Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources.
They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.
For some healthy hair foods "togo," try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.
7: Whole Grains
10: Carrots
Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins.
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a
When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn't matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find.
A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.
8: Oysters Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair -- and who doesn't love that? Seasonal Magazine
The key to their love and hairboosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant.
healthy scalp along with good vision. Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you'd be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad. The Big Picture: A Balanced Diet for Healthy Hair When it comes to foods for healthy hair and beauty, variety is the best way to go. "An overall balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fatty fish like salmon and low-fat dairy will help keep hair healthy," Giancoli says. If you're tempted to drop pounds fast with the latest fad diet, it could leave you with less-than-healthy hair -- along with a growling stomach. Low-calorie diets are often low in some of the most important nutrients for healthy hair, including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A. In addition to stunting hair growth and leading to dullness, super-low calorie plans may even cause hair loss. "Crash diets can affect the hair cycle," Mirmirani tells WebMD. "Losing a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time can affect that normal hair rhythm. Two to three months later, you might notice a significant increase in shedding. This is a temporary problem that you recover from with a well-rounded diet."
A Truly Global Indian Company
Sobha Developers Ltd
www.sobha.com
Real Estate & Construction
IT’S WHERE A SENSE OF BELONGING EVOKES THE FEELING OF BEING SECURE
There is nothing like coming back home to the world of familiarity. The sweet smell of earth, the calm green fields, the sounds of happy festivities and the warmth of good old friends. Sobha City, a 55 acre metropolis built around a 6.5 acre lake is just the home you will love to return to. A self-contained community which fulfills your need for an international lifestyle, top-notch security services, family entertainment, world class shopping, recreation, caring neighbourhood, open spaces and a child-friendly environment. Experience the ultimate luxury of a modern life style and the joy of bonding with like-minded people. Sobha City, Thrissur – Come home to community living.
Amenities:
Global Mall
Luxury Business Hotel
Entertainment Centre
Gaming Arcade
Ayurvedic Spa
Food Court
Restaurants
Seven Screen Multiplex
Club House
Bookings open for Sobha Sapphire super-luxury apartments and Sobha City Mall Super-luxury waterfront apartments. Rs 60 lakh* onwards Call: 96 33 90 90 90 *Conditions apply
Sobha Developers Ltd., Sobha City, Puzhakkal, Thrissur – 680553. Call: + 91 487 2389770 / 1, 1800 425 0006 (Toll Free) Fax: +91 487 2389773, SMS: SOBHA<space>THRISSUR<space><EMAIL ID> to 56767. Dubai: +971 50 5574095 (Lavanya). An ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 & OHSAS 18001: 2007 Certified Company
Today there is widespread recognition within business circles that economic or financial success is directly linked to environmental and social performance. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), one of the largest Public Sector Units in India, joined hands with the Bombay Natural History Society to combat impacts of sea level rise due to climate change by undertaking an ambitious Project Cover Green in 2007. This project is based in two states – Maharashtra and Gujarat – and aims to effectively establish mangroves as coast stabilizers. The project also involves spreading awareness about mangroves among students and coastal people. Mangrove forests are among the world’s most productive and diverse ecosystems. These salt-tolerant plants thrive in sheltered shores, islands and estuaries of tropical regions. Mangroves have adapted themselves to survive in areas where other plant life cannot grow. To survive they need to overcome extremely variable situations of high salinity, tidal variations, strong winds, high temperatures and muddy oxygendeficient swamps. To overcome such adverse environmental conditions, mangrove plants have developed remarkable adaptations such as salt glands, and various root modifications such as stilt roots and pneumatophores. The seeds start germinating while they are still attached to the mother plant, which increases their chances of survival in the harsh environment. Mangrove forests have rich plant and animal biodiversity. According to a study by the National Institute of Oceanography, over 1,600 plant and 3,700 animal species have been identified residing in mangrove habitats. Mangroves have enormous ecological and economic value. They protect the coast from tropical cyclones. These
forests help to prevent soil erosion, enrich the coastal waters and contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle. They provide breeding, nursery & feeding areas for aquatic plants and animals. These forests are a source of firewood, timber, tannins and medicines. They also provide food and shelter to the local population. Though natural damage due to tropical storms is common, human activities are the single major threat to the survival of these forests. ONGC has undertaken a massive mangrove afforestation programme in Gandhar, Gujarat. Three large nurseries were developed in Gandhar with about 300,000 saplings. The mangrove propagules and seeds were planted at test-sites and promising results were observed. Subsequently over 120 hectares of planting has been done successfully with 5 lakh saplings at various locations in Gandhar since 2007. The task of Mangrove restoration is incomplete without educating the locals about the importance of these forests. In order to reach out to the villages all along the coast, two fully equipped mobile units are being developed each for Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Units visit various coastal areas organizing mangrove education programmes for students, fisherman and other coastal communities.
For the large number of enthusiastic children various fun-filled activities like nature trails, slide shows, exhibitions, film shows, games, painting competition, quiz etc are organized. The education units are equipped with resource material in local and regional languages. During the very first year, the team of Project Cover Green was successful in reaching out to over 1000 teachers, 10,000 students and an equal number of local community members. This is just the beginning. The true value of mangroves has gone unrecognized for many years. Technological advances are now allowing researchers to map and monitor mangrove habitats to get a full extent of the damage done. The results of such studies are disturbing as mangrove cover continues to shrink rapidly in many parts of India. Thus, it is absolutely essential that we take positive measures before the mangrove forests are forgotten and lost forever. Bioethics is an integral part of ONGC’s corporate credo. In 2007, ONGC took the prophetic step ‘Cover Green’ to save the coast. Brimming with life, mangrove forests in the Gandhar Coast are now biological powerhouses. Project Cover Green continues to energise the environment.
Seasonal Magazine
Cover Green - ONGC’s Project for Coastal Vegetation Revival
COVER STORY
Seasonal Magazine
The Banks Going The Banks Going The Banks Going
is doubtful whether there is any better time than Q1 to analyze banking stocks. It is not only due to the well-begun half-done theory. Of equal importance is the specifics about how each bank actually wound up the preceding fiscal, which gets clearer from the annual reports, which is also being published these days. Ever since the year-end results, and till now, things were more about headline figures. But starting now, analysts are getting to know - and think over - behind-the-scene figures like Return on Equity, Return on Assets, NAV, Free Reserves, Cash Flow, NPAs, and lots more. Of course, Q1 results add much to the complex story, and here also, it is important to look beyond easily achievable targets like year-onyear progress, and focus on the tougher objective of continuing the sequential momentum without dips. Banks are also not finding themselves in any easy space with regards to stricter regulation or the tightening interest rates. But with inflation likely to peak out within months, and the high-interest regime soon to hit a cap, if it hasn’t already, banks undoubtedly present themselves as one of the most compelling investment avenues, aided also due to the significantly corrected position in which they stand now. But, of course, only a handful of banks are going to truly outperform, with the rest are going to stagnate investors’ money or probably dip even deeper. And needless to say, the fact that the strongest brands in any sector by way of innovation, diligence, aggression, corporate governance, social commitment, respect for equity, and customer service, will come to play in banking sector’s next bull run. Seasonal Magazine’s brings a concise yet in-depth analysis on the prospects of each of India’s public and private sector banks.
Seasonal Magazine
to Surge, to Shock, to Stagnate
Bank of India’s Revenue Jumps, Margins, Exceptional Items Drag Down Profit
Revenue
: +34.88%
Net Profit : -28.63% Core NPM : 7.80% Net NPAs : 1.27%
India’s fifth largest public sector bank by revenue, has delivered exceptional returns to investors during a couple of time-frames in its listed history. But what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Bank of India’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 5407.62 crore to Rs. 7293.68 crore, which is a 34.88% robust jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 7130.07 crore, which is a modest 2.29% increase. The year-on-year Q1 net profit dipped from Rs. 725.13 crore to Rs. 517.53 crore, which is a troubling 28.63% dip. However, the sequential profit grew from Rs. 493.64 crore, which is a modest 4.84% growth. The net profit margin has taken a hit on an year-on-year basis, almost halving from 15.04% to 7.80%
now. Exceptional items that affected profits this time include employee benefits, pension option, and gratuity limits, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.27%, up from 0.91% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell marginally from 0.61% to 0.59% sequentially, and significantly from 1.05% year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 14.39%, which is healthy if not outstanding. Since current valuation is at 1.35 times the book-value, new investors should wait for the upcoming quarters to see whether the strong performance in revenue eventually permeates to a turnaround in profit. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’ or ’sell’ depending upon the entry price, and considering the tough interest regime.
Seasonal Magazine
Union Bank’s Revenue Growth Impressive, Higher Provisioning Affect Profit India’s sixth largest public sector bank by revenue, has delivered good returns to investors during several time-frames in its listed history. But what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Union Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 4120.66 crore to Rs. 5399.68 crore, which is a 31.04% robust jump. The quarter-onquarter growth is from Rs. 5215.81 crore, which is a modest 3.53% increase. The year-on-year Q1 net profit dipped from Rs. 601.42 crore to Rs. 464.42 crore, which is a troubling 22.78% dip. Sequential profit has also dipped from Rs. 597.57 crore, which is also a disappointing 22.28% dip. The net profit margin has taken a hit on an year-on-year basis, from 16.32% to 9.45% now. Exceptional items that
affected profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, pensions, gratuity etc, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.32%, up from 1.19% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell from 1.05% to 0.86% sequentially, and from 1.22% year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 16.31%, which is quite healthy if not outstanding. Since current valuation is at 1.70 times the book-value, new investors should wait for the upcoming quarters to see whether the strong performance in revenue eventually permeates to a turnaround in profit. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’ or ’sell’ depending upon the entry price, and considering the tough interest regime.
Revenue
: +31.04%
Net Profit : -22.78% Core NPM : 9.45% Net NPAs : 1.32%
Oriental Bank’s Revenue Growth Good, Profit Dip Not Deep
Revenue
: +28.72%
Net Profit : -2.37% Core NPM : 9.86% Net NPAs : 1.09%
India’s tenth largest public sector bank by revenue, has been a steady if not outstanding performer for its investors in its listed history. But what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Oriental Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared year-onyear from Rs. 3045.54 crore to Rs. 3920.36 crore, which is a good 28.72% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 3532.13 crore, which is also a good 11% increase, which outclasses some bigger peers. The year-on-year Q1 net profit dipped marginally from Rs. 363.31 crore to Rs. 354.70 crore, which is a 2.37% dip. However, sequential profit has improved from Rs. 333.66 crore, which is a reasonable 6.31% growth. The net profit margin has taken a hit on an year-on-year basis, from 12.83% to 9.86% now. Exceptional items
that affected profits this time include provisioning for NPAs and pensions, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.09%, up from 0.98% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell only negligibly from 0.89% to 0.88% sequentially, and from 1.03% year-onyear. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 13.54%, which is barely healthy. Current valuations at 1 times the book-value is attractive, but for the long term. New investors can make small entries on deep corrections, and wait for the upcoming quarters to see whether the strong performance in revenue eventually permeates to a turnaround in profit. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are not very expensive.
India’s 13th largest public sector bank by revenue, has delivered reasonable returns to investors during a few timeframes. But what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Allahabad Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared yearon-year from Rs. 2701.68 crore to Rs. 3835.77 crore, which is an impressive 42% jump, almost. The quarter-onquarter growth is from Rs. 3588.68 crore, which is a modest 6.89% increase. The year-on-year Q1 net profit has jumped from Rs. 347.14 crore to Rs. 418.13 crore, which is a healthy 20.45% increase. Sequential profit has surged by 62.31%, but that is largely due to the low base of Rs. 257.61 crore last quarter. However, the net profit margin has taken a hit on an year-on-year basis, from 14.45% to 11.78% now. Exceptional items that
reduced profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, pensions, and gratuity, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 0.60%, improving from 0.79% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets improved from 0.74% to 1.12% sequentially, but dipped marginally from 1.16% year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 16.73%, which is healthy. Current valuations at 1.30 times the book-value is fair and new investors can make small entries on corrections, and wait for the upcoming quarters to see whether Q1’s strong performance is sustained. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are fair.
Revenue
: +42.00%
Net Profit : +20.45% Core NPM : 11.78% Net NPAs : 0.60%
Seasonal Magazine
Allahabad Bank’s Revenue Soars, Profit Growth Healthy
Maharashtra Bank Shows a Turnaround, But Return Metrics Need to Improve Much
Revenue
: +28.64%
Net Profit : +3.00% Core NPM : 7.42% Net NPAs : 1.15%
India’s 19th largest public sector bank by revenue, had delivered reasonable returns to investors during the last surge in banking stocks, but has since then pulled back. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Maharashtra Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 1412.98 crore to Rs. 1817.63 crore, which is a healthy 28.64% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 1702.61 crore, which is a modest 6.76% increase. The yearon-year Q1 net profit has marginally improved from Rs. 118.43 crore to Rs. 122.04 crore, which is just over 3% increase. However, sequential profit has surged by 75.82%, which is largely due to the low base of Rs. 69.41 crore last quarter, but is still impressive. However, the net profit
margin has taken a hit on an yearon-year basis, from 9.25% to 7.42% now. Exceptional items that reduced profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, pensions, and gratuity, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.15%, improving from 1.32% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets improved from 0.47% to 0.66% sequentially, but slipped marginally from 0.69% yearon-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was just 8.32%, which is unattractive. Current valuations at 0.90 times the book-value is safe and new investors can make small entries on corrections, but better would be to wait for the upcoming quarters to see whether there is a marked improvement in NPM, RoA, & RoE. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are fair.
Seasonal Magazine
SBT’s Revenue Growth Strong, Profits Slip Sequentially & Year-on-Year India’s 20th largest public sector bank by revenue, had delivered excellent returns to investors during the last surge in banking stocks, but has since then pulled back. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? SBT’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 1300.89 crore to Rs. 1720.40 crore, which is a robust 32.25% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 1620.46 crore, which is a modest 6.17% increase. The yearon-year Q1 net profit has dipped from Rs. 149.80 crore to Rs. 139.25 crore, which is a just over 7% dip. Sequential profit has dipped by 41.57%, which is largely due to the bigger base of Rs. 238.32 crore last quarter, but which proves that the last quarter’s turnaround is not holding. The net profit margin (NPM) of the core business has
taken a hit on an year-on-year basis, from 12.77% to 8.87% now. Exceptional items that reduced profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, and other assets, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.19%, worsening from 0.98% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell significantly from 1.12% to 0.77% sequentially, and dipped to a lesser degree from 0.99% year-onyear. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 21%, which is attractive compared to peers. Current valuations at 1 times the book-value is relatively safe, but new investors should wait for next quarters to see whether there is a sustained improvement in profits. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are fair.
Revenue
: +32.25%
Net Profit : -7.00% Core NPM : 8.87% Net NPAs : 1.19%
SBBJ’s Year-on-Year Revenue & Profits Good, Sequential Revenue & Profits Troubling last quarter’s turnaround is not holding. The net profit margin (NPM) of the core business has dipped marginally on an year-onyear basis, from 9.48% to 9.13% now. Exceptional items that reduced profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, pensions, and gratuity, with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.21%, worsening from 0.83% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell from 0.96% to 0.83% sequentially, but improved from 0.76% year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 19.32%, which is attractive compared to peers. Current valuations at 1 times the book-value is relatively safe, but new investors should wait for next quarters to see whether there is a
: +21.00%
Net Profit : -42.3% Core NPM : 5.46% Net NPAs : 1.42%
Revenue
: +21.41%
Net Profit : +24.14% Core NPM : 9.13% Net NPAs : 1.21%
SBM’s Revenue Growth Healthy, Profits Dip Alarmingly
Revenue
sustained improvement in profits. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are fair.
India’s smallest public sector bank by revenue, has delivered good returns to investors only on a few occasions, mainly on rumours on merger with SBI. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? SBM’s Q1 revenue has improved year-on-year from Rs. 1067.57 crore to Rs. 1291.81 crore, which is a healthy 21% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 1218.33 crore, which is a modest 6% increase. The year-onyear Q1 net profit has dived down from Rs. 111.39 crore to Rs. 64.28 crore, which is an alarming 42.3% dip. Sequential profit has dipped by a shocking 60.76%, which is aided also by the bigger base of Rs. 163.83 crore last quarter, but which proves that the last quarter’s
turnaround is not holding. The net profit margin (NPM) of the core business has dipped shockingly on an year-on-year basis, more than halving, from 11.56% to 5.46% now. Exceptional items that reduced profits this time include provisioning for NPAs, various taxes, pensions, gratuity, other employee benefits etc with indication that pressure from such items would continue. Net NPAs stood at 1.42%, slipping from 1.38% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets fell drastically from 1.03% to 0.48% sequentially, and from 0.95% year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 13.60%, which is unattractive compared to peers. Current valuations at 0.9 times the bookvalue is relatively safe, but new investors should wait for next quarters to see whether there is a sustained improvement in profits. For existing investors, it is a ’hold’, as the current valuations are fair.
Seasonal Magazine
India’s 21st largest public sector bank by revenue, has delivered good returns to investors only on a few occasions, mainly on rumours on merger with SBI. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? SBBJ’s Q1 revenue has improved year-on-year from Rs. 1232.51 crore to Rs. 1496.36 crore, which is a healthy 21.41% jump. However, on quarter-on-quarter basis revenue has slipped from Rs. 1568.38 crore, which is a 4.60% dip, and is troubling as this is quite unlike its peers. The year-on-year Q1 net profit has jumped from Rs. 103.14 crore to Rs. 128.04 crore, which is a healthy 24.14% growth. Sequential profit has dipped by 31.80%, which is largely due to the bigger base of Rs. 187.76 crore last quarter, but which proves that the
HDFC Bank’s Revenue & Profit Growth in Momentum, Pressure Continues on its High Margins
Revenue
: +32.42%
Net Profit : +33.67% Core NPM : 18.15% Net NPAs : 0.20%
India’s second largest private sector bank by revenue, has delivered excellent returns to investors during most time-frames. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? HDFC Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 5360.03 crore to Rs. 7098 crore, which is a robust 32.42% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 6724.31 crore, which is a modest 5.56% increase. The year-on-year Q1 net profit has surged from Rs. 811.71 crore to Rs. 1084.98 crore, which is an impressive 33.67% jump. However, sequential profit has dipped by 2.67%, exposing current headwinds. The net profit margin (NPM) of the core business almost stood its ground on an year-on-year basis, dipping only marginally from 18.36% to 18.15% now. Other income, which also maintained YoY
growth, relates to income from nonfund based banking activities including commission, fees, foreign exchange earnings, earnings from derivative transactions and profit and loss from investments including revaluation. Net NPAs stood at 0.20%, unchanged from the previous quarter. Return on Assets remained stationary at 0.40% sequentially as well as year-on-year. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 15.47%, which is healthy. Current valuations at 4.5 times the bookvalue is not safe, and new investors should wait for deep corrections in banking sector stocks to enter this scrip, carefully watching out for slippages in its core strengths of NPAs and NPM. For existing investors, it is a ‘sell’ or ’hold’, depending on the entry price, as the current valuations are very high.
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Axis Bank’s Revenue & Profit Growth Healthy, Core NPM Slips India’s third largest private sector bank by revenue, has delivered good returns to investors during some time-frames. Anyway, what is the outlook now after first quarter results? Axis Bank’s Q1 revenue has soared year-on-year from Rs. 4326.37 crore to Rs. 6049.27 crore, which is a robust 39.82% jump. The quarter-on-quarter growth is from Rs. 5817.06 crore, which is a modest 4% increase. The year-on-year Q1 net profit has jumped from Rs. 741.88 crore to Rs. 942.35 crore, which is a healthy 27% jump. However, sequential profit has dipped from Rs. 1020.11 by 8.25%, exposing strong ongoing headwinds. The net profit margin (NPM) of the core business slipped on an year-onyear basis, dipping from 22.31% to 19.30% now. Other income, which
also maintained YoY growth, relates to gains from securities transactions, commission earned from guarantees/ letters of credit, fees earned from providing services to customers, selling of third party products and ATM sharing fees. Net NPAs degraded marginally to 0.31%, from 0.26% in the previous quarter. Return on Assets slipped from 1.81% to 1.61% sequentially, and marginally from 1.63%. Return on Equity for FY’11 was 17.84%, which is healthy. Current valuations at 3 times the book-value is not very safe, and new investors should wait for deep corrections in banking sector stocks to enter this scrip, carefully watching out for slippages in its core strengths of RoA, NPAs and NPM. For existing investors, it is a ‘sell’ or ’hold’, depending on the entry price, as the current valuations are high.
Revenue
: +39.82%
Net Profit : +27.00% Core NPM : 19.30% Net NPAs : 0.31%
Bank of Baroda Continues Outperformance in Q1, Profits Cross Covetable Rs. 1000 Crore Mark
ICICI Bank’s Revenue & Profits Jump, But Challenges Remain on the Turnaround Path India’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has reported a sharp jump of 30% (YoY) in profit for first quarter of FY12. During the period, net profit of the bank
increased to Rs 1,332 crore against Rs 1,026 crore in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. Net interest income went up over 21% to Rs 2,411 crore from Rs 1,991 crore year-on-year. Non-performing assets (NPAs) at gross as well as net level declined to 4.36% from 5.14% and 1.04% from 1.87% year-on-year, respectively. ICICI Bank has made less provisions in the April-June quarter as compared to same quarter of last fiscal provisions declined over 43% to Rs 454 crore from Rs 798 crore. Consolidated net profit shot up nearly 53% (YoY) to Rs 1,666 crore from Rs 1,091 crore. CASA ratio in the quarter ended June 2011 was 41.9% against 45.1% in the previous quarter. Advances went up 20% (YoY) while saving deposits climbed 18% (YoY). Net interest margin of the bank declined to 2.6% in April-June quarter against 2.7% in the previous quarter.
deposits stood around 34%. Its total loan book grew more than 25% to Rs 2,32,340 crore beating industry average around 22% so far. The Reserve Bank of India has projected a credit growth of 19% in FY12 as against 20% a year back. Total deposits expanded nearly 23% to Rs 3,12,943 crore to Rs 3,12,943 crore. On asset quality, gross non-performing assets (NPAs) increased marginally to 1.46% from 1.36% quarter-onquarter basis. Net NPAs remained unchanged at 0.44. During the quarter, BoB has recorded a slippage of Rs 666 crore as against Rs 530 crore a year back. It has already implemented computer generated NPA system.
PNB’s Revenue Soars, Profit Growth Modest Punjab National Bank has reported its results for the quarter ended Jun ’11. Interest earned for the quarter was Rs 8,315.24 crore and net profit was Rs 1,105.07 crore. For the quarter ended Jun 2010 the interest earned was Rs 5991.86 crore and net profit was Rs 1,068.29 crore.
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Bank of Baroda’s first quarter net profit rose 20% to Rs 1,033 crore, driven by a 24% jump in net interest income. However, its global net interest margin sequentially fell from 3.45% to 2.87%, due to higher cost of funds. For the first time, the bank’s net profit crossed Rs 1,000 crore mark in a single quarter. Its other income too rose 4% to Rs 641. Core fee-based income rose 28% yo-y to Rs 398 crore. Net interest income or the difference between interest earned and spent stood at Rs Rs 2,297 crore as vs Rs 1858 crore in April-June, 2010. Its global cost of deposits rose 5.36% from 4.79% quarter-on-quarter. The bank’s CASA ratio (current account and savings account) to total
Karur Vysya Bank’s Q1 Impressive, Revenue Grows by 41%, Profits by 38% Karur Vysya Bank has reported its results for the quarter ended Jun ’11. Interest earned for the quarter was Rs 694.52 crore and net profit was Rs 116.70 crore. For the quarter ended Jun 2010 the interest earned was Rs 492.08 crore and net profit was Rs 84.48 crore.
Central Bank’s Revenue Growth Healthy, Profits Dip on Provisioning, Pension Liabilities Central Bank of India’s first quarter net profit dipped around 17% year-on-year to Rs 281 crore, driven by higher provisioning. Net interest margin or NIM too contracted 48 basis points to 2.99% quarter-on-quarter.However, the net interest income rose 19% to Rs 1,330 crore. The lender’s provisions doubled from Rs 196 crore in Q1, 2010 to Rs 393 crore in Q1, 2011. The bank has given effect to RBI’s higher provisioning norms while it also provided for incremental NPAs. Moreover, provisions were also made on account pension liability for employees and treasury losses. On asset quality, the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) increased by 47 basis points to 2.29% qo-q while the net NPAs rose by 22 bps to 0.87%.
Syndicate Bank’s Profit Growth Impressive, Revenue Growth Just Healthy Syndicate Bank has declared its first quarter results. The company’s Q1 consolidated net profit was up at Rs 343 crore versus Rs 266 crore. Its consolidated net interest income (NII) was up at Rs 1,110 crore versus Rs 964 crore.
IDBI Bank’s Profit Jumps, Pressure on Margins, NPAs Evident Indian Bank’s Revenue Growth Modest at 11.23%, Profits Even Leaner at 10.6%
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Indian Bank has declared its first quarter results. The company’s Q1 net profit was up at Rs 407 crore versus Rs 368 crore. Its net interest income (NI) was up at Rs 1,030 crore versus Rs 926 crore.
IDBI Bank’s first quarter net profit rose nearly 34% yearon-year at Rs 335 crore, driven by a jump of 36% in its net interest income (NII) at Rs 1,152 crore. However, the net interest margin or NIM contracted marginally from 2.10% to 2.07% quarter-on-quarter. Net nonperforming assets (NPAs) increased sequentially from 1.06% to 1.25% while the gross non-performing assets too went up from 1.70% to 2.10%. The bank has made additional provisions of Rs 280 crore on the backdrop of the Reserve Bank of India’s new provisioning norms. However, provisions fell from Rs 502 crore to Rs 426 crore Y-o-Y. IDBI Bank’s deposits grew 12% at Rs 1,54,984 crore. CASA (Current Account and Savings Account) ratio stood at 17.3%.
City Union Bank’s Q1 Robust, Revenue Up by Over 30.43%, Profits by Over 31% City Union Bank has announced its first quarter results. The company’s Q1 net profit was up at Rs 58 crore versus Rs 44 crore. Its NII was up at Rs 120 crore versus Rs 92 crore.
UCO Bank’s Profit Growth Modest, Revenue Shocks by Dipping 14% UCO Bank has reported a rise of over 12% in its first quarter FY12 net profit. During the period, net profit of the company increased to Rs 292 crore from Rs 260 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal year. However, net interest income declined 14% to Rs 808 crore from Rs 937 crore year-on-year.
Dena Bank has announced its first quarter results. The company’s Q1 net profit was up at Rs 168 crore versus Rs 138.8 crore, year-on-year, YoY. Its NII was up at Rs 446.5 crore versus Rs 360.5 crore, YoY.
Dhanlaxmi Bank’s Turnaround Falters, While Revenue Soars, Profits Almost Halve Dhanlaxmi Bank has reported its results for the quarter ended Jun ’11. Interest earned for the quarter was Rs 315.55 crore and net profit was Rs 3.40 crore. For the quarter ended Jun 2010 the interest earned was Rs 167.98 crore and net profit was Rs 6.03 crore.
Corporation Bank’s Q1 Sluggish, Revenue & Profit Growth Modest State-owned Corporation Bank’s first quarter net profit rose marginally by 5% year-on-year to Rs 351 crore on the back of slower growth in net interest income that increased just 8% to Rs 707 crore. Net interest margin (NIM) contracted from 2.48% to 2.10% quarteron-quarter. Total deposits of the bank reported 29% yo-y growth to Rs 1,17,782 crore, indicating that the lender have paid higher cost for term deposits. Total loans grew 22% to Rs 78,904 crore. The bank’s overall asset quality has decreased. Its gross non-performing assets (NPAs) increased from 0.91% to 1.07% quarter-on-quarter. Net NPAs inched up from 0.46% to 0.52%.
Vijaya Bank Reports Difficult Quarter, Revenue & Profits Fall Drastically
Vijaya Bank has reported a fall of more than 58% in its first quarter of FY12 net profit. During the period, net profit of the company went down 58% to Rs 72 crore against Rs 173 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal year. Net interest income too fell 37% to Rs 343 crore from Rs 545 crore year-on-year.
IOB’s Revenue Growth Impressive, Profit Growth Sluggish Indian Overseas Bank has reported its results for the quarter ended Jun ’11. Interest earned for the quarter was Rs 3,992.58 crore and net profit was Rs 205.58 crore. For the quarter ended Jun 2010 the interest earned was Rs 2667.52 crore and net profit was Rs 200.44 crore.
Andhra Bank’s Revenue & Profits Healthy, But Provisions Soar
Andhra Bank’s net profit jumped 20.6% to Rs 386 crore in Q1 against Rs 320 crore in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal year. Net interest income went up nearly 24% to Rs 911 crore from Rs 736 crore year-on-year. However, provisions in the AprilJune quarter was Rs 177 crore, a 240% rise over Rs 52 crore in the year ago period.
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Dena Bank’s Q1 Healthy, Revenue & Profit Growth Percentages in Early 20s
e m o awes
s V U S 10
The SUV (sports utility vehicle) segment starts at around Rs 500,000 and goes right up to a crore of rupees or even more, but that hasn't stopped people from gobbling them up. Riding this wave are manufacturers who are bringing in a slew of new off-roaders and softroaders into the market. We look at which ones are around the corner and tell you whether it might make sense to hold on to your purse strings for a little longer.
IA D N I O T N O O S G COMIN
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Force One Mahindra W201 Ssangyong Korando New Tata Safari Volkswagen Touareg Renault Koleos Renault Duster BMW X3 Mercedes-Benz ML-class Audi Q3
Force One
Mahindra W201
When: August 2011
When: October 2011
How much: Rs 10-14 lakh (Rs 1 - 1.4 million)
How much: Rs 13-16 lakh (Rs 1.3 - 1.6 million)
Force Motors may be a new name to many in the passenger vehicle business, but actually it has been around for ages, with its various iterations of the Trax.
Mahindra, well known for its body-onladder SUVs, is making its first foray in the monocoque space with the W201.
Now, with a new name (Force Motors Personal Vehicles Division) and a new product, it wants the market to take it seriously. The Force One is a Ford Endeavour-sized SUV, with a price tag that will appeal to both Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari and Ford Endeavour buyers.
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Powering the seven-seater Force One is a 2.2-litre commonrail diesel from a two-generation old Mercedes-Benz E-class, which produces 140 bhp and 32 plus kgm of peak torque. The body shell is borrowed from the Guangdong Foday Explorer III, a Chinese SUV, but has been completely developed in-house, with ride and handling fine-tuned by the expert hands at Lotus Engineering.
Designed to take on the likes of the Chevrolet Captiva, but with a lower price tag, the W201 features the tried and tested 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine, but with 140 bhp and a bit more torque. Interestingly, this engine can be tuned to 160 bhp, given the right gearbox. A fivespeed manual may be offered, but we are also betting on a six-speed manual and an automatic to feature on the W201 at some point. Cruise control, ABS, airbags, traction control and LED daytime running lights will be the highlights of the W201. Of course, 4WD will be part of the package, but whether Mahindra opts for a real-time all-wheel drive setup or a shifton-the-fly setup remains to be seen. The W201 will have a competitive price tag, making life very difficult for some Rs 20 lakh (Rs 2 million) SUVs too!
Ssangyong Korando When: December '11-Jan '12 How much: Rs 17-18 lakh (Rs 1.7 - 1.8 million) Now part of Mahindra, Ssangyong is a South Korea-based SUV manufacturer that will set foot in India by early next year. One of its first products will be the Korando. Designed to be a soft-roader like the Chevrolet Captiva and the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Korando is a very stylish-looking SUV that has some high-quality engineering behind it. 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine. Under the hood of the Korando is a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with about 175 bhp, mated to a sixspeed manual gearbox. A sixspeed auto is under development. The Korando will come in as a CKD and will be assembled at Mahindra's new facility on the outskirts of Pune.
New Tata Safari When: October 2011 How much: Rs 16-19 lakh (Rs 1.6 - 1.9 million) The Koleos is a soft-roader, which means it has driving dynamics akin to a car, with a fair bit of off-road capability because of 4x4 and Hill Descent Control. It's got some interesting interior seating options, so you can carry luggage of varying dimensions and, if need be, the odd bicycle. Importantly, the Koleos has received a 5-star EuroNCAP rating which, of course, says a lot about its dynamics and safety. Under the hood will be the 1995cc dCi motor that, internationally, produces 147 bhp and 32.6 kgm of torque. It will be paired to a six-speed auto box, making the engine and transmission package quite a perfect fit for buyers in this segment.
When: October - Dec 2011 How much: Rs 9 to 13 lakh (Rs 900,000 - Rs 1.3 million) Tata's SUV is getting a redesign, a more refined engine, new interiors and improved build quality and dynamicsThe new Safari may appear as an evolution, but this second generation SUV is expected to be quite an improvement. Taking things forward from the Aria, the Safari will have the revised 2.2litre diesel motor from the crossover as well as features like airbags, ABS and possibly even cruise control on the top-end models. New Tata Safari The interiors are expected to be better put together, with better quality materials and improved fit and finish levels. Space is expected to increase marginally and the price tag may see a slight upward shift to account for the changes.
Volkswagen Touareg When: Sept-Oct 2011 How much: Rs 60-65 lakh (Rs 6 - 6.5 million) The Touareg is a little-known luxury SUV in India, with the current generation finding very few homes. But Volkswagen hopes to change that with the new Touareg. This seven-seat SUV will once again feature a 3.0-litre diesel motor with about 240 bhp and an eight-speed auto 'box as standard. The engine is a well-known and proven motor and is even found in the Audi Q7. Loaded with features like adaptive light assist, blind lane information system, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control, the Touareg will be as capable on-road as it will be off-road. Based on the same platform as the new Porsche Cayenne, the Touareg is about 200 kg lighter than its predecessor, which has made it more efficient and quicker too. Expect it to carry a more premium price tag than the outgoing Touareg.
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Renault Koleos
Renault Duster When: March-April 2012 How much: Rs 700,000 - 900,000
When: August 2011 How much: Rs 41-44 lakh (Rs 4.1 - 4.4 million)
The Duster, like the Logan, is a Dacia product. And going by the Logan's rugged build quality and reliability, the Duster won't be one to disappoint.
One of the benchmarks of SUVs with car-like handling is the BMW X3.
It looks purposeful, if a bit understated, and has got the works to make it a fairly capable off-roader.
In profile, the X3 retains its stance despite minor tweaks, while the rear end now has tail lamps more in sync with the new BMW family lineup.
The Duster will primarily share the 1.5-litre dCi engine, as seen in the Fluence sedan, which will produce roughly 110 bhp. A more powerful engine is likely to be added to the Duster's portfolio, although that is not clear as of the moment. The Duster is available worldwide with a 4x4 unit as an option and, because of the 200 mm ground clearance, it can put all that hardware to good use.
Audi Q3 When: April-May 2012 How much: Rs 24.5-30 lakh (Rs 2.45 - 3 million) The Q3 is Audi's answer to BMW's X1. Both are their respective manufacturers' baby-SUVs and the latter has seen a fair bit of success in the country already.
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BMW X3
The Q3 is third in the series of Q cars from Audi, and it is essentially a scaleddown Q5.It sports a distinctive grille and headlamps, with the rest of the car being identical to the Q5, only smaller. On the inside, the Q3 is a proper fiveseater with a boot that won't have you complaining during holiday season.
The 2011 X3 sports smarter headlamps and a mildly redesigned grille and hood.
Mercedes-Benz ML-class When: Jan-March 2012
On the engines front, BMW has an interesting range of options, starting from the xDrive20d, a 1995cc, inline-four cylinder diesel followed by the xDrive30d, a 2993cc, six-cylinder diesel and lastly the 2979cc xDrive35i petrol.
How much: Rs 52-55 lakh (Rs 5.2 5.5 million) The Mercedes-Benz MLclass is quite a favourite in its segment and also one of the most affordable. The 2011 edition of the SUV looks larger, though less brutal, but it's more Euro-chic overall.
BMW's rising sales and popularity in the country will only help the new X3 refresh its fight with Audi's Q5, and we can't wait to pit the duo together.
The ML is quite capable off-road; it is no mountain goat, but will see you through slush and the like with ease.
The 2.0-litre TDI and 2.0 TFSI engines will be the primary sources of propulsion in the Q5, although one can also expect a smaller motor in order to undercut the competition.
On the road, the ML will retain its carlike driving characteristics and you can expect it to be more plush. On the engine front, we expect the ML in the 350 CDI and 350 petrol V6 guise. Expect an AMG variant too!
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Nahar has Versatile Options for Mumbai Homebuyers ambience befitting its name, and each offering a magnanimous view Nahar Group of Mumbai is of Nahar ’s Amrit Shakti’s landscaped gardens, open spaces, synonymous with Nahar’s Amrit exquisitely designed water bodies Shakti, a meticulously planned and its thriving greenery. In fact, modern township at Chandivali near Powai. Recession or inflation, the discerning homebuyers will be the group has continued to launch spoilt for choices, over here. Inside and complete project after project, the homes, living, dining, and bed rooms have best quality vitrified The group’s projects launched in tower after tower in this sprawling tile floorings, extensive electric the last 2 years Jonquille-Jamaica, green township. layouts, TV / cable points, Laurel-Lilac,Water Lily-White One of the main reasons for the telephone points, and decorative Lily have been an astounding Nahar Group’s acceptance has main doors. Bedrooms have success with a record full sell out been the fact that they have additional AC points, kitchens are prior to construction. Another 8 displayed an extraordinary full-fledged with modular fittings magnificent towers, four having 22 versatility in dealing with the tough and piped gas. Windows are of floors and the other four having 21 times for homebuyers, often heavy section aluminum with have also been successfully working in synergy with home loan marble sills. Plumbings are highcompleted in record time. providers. quality CP fittings, electrifications The township’s world-class The gigantic 8 towers viz. Iris, Ivy, used are high-tech modular Nahar Group has completed 14 towers in their flagship Amrit Shakti construction quality, ultra modern Mimosa, Mirabilis, Arum, switches. The safety and security township. theaccess scope Allamanda, of the project is such that it offers more options luxury amenitiesStill, and quick Tilia, Tulipia, are systems include gas leak detectors tofor the Mumbai international & domestic homebuyers than any2/3-BHK other project from and anyfireother developer. alarms. Entrance lobbies spacious homes with airports, multiple rail-heads, and each tower having a unique of each Amrit Shakti tower have While two towers have been launched recently, another eight towers are proximity to both eastern and been done aesthetically and deliver he path breaking Nahar Group has completed 38 towers in their flagship Nahar’s Amrit Shakti township. Still, the scope of the project is such that it offers more options for homebuyers in the Mumbai metropolis, than any other project from any other developer.
western express highways are amongst other positives.
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ongoing, with each having 22 floors. The township’s world-class buildquality, luxury and quick access to airport, multiple rail-heads, Childrens Play Area R-2amenities, Sector and both Eastern and Western Express Highways are other positives.
that exquisite welcoming feeling not just for the proud owners but also their esteemed guests.
Nahar’s Amrit Shakti will also have the distinction of creating an over 9 lakh sq. ft*, Podium, the largest of its kind in India, housing 5.15 lakh sq. ft*. landscaped gardens, water bodies, kids play areas, jogging & cycling tracks without any vehicular movement. The podium is designed to host 22 luxurious residential towers, and it will have a large parking structure - a three level-parking facility for 4000 cars under the Ground Level. This is specially, so designed, to prevent car movements or parking at ground level allowing the residents and more important, kids to enjoy a hassle-free walk R-2 Sector Camellia-Fiorello-Frangipani-Callalily
Vice Chairperson Mrs. Manju Yagnik , CMD Mr. Sukhraj Nahar,
Club Bloomingdale amongst elegantly designed waterfalls and dazzling fountains. The architecture is by world renowned architect Mr. Hafeez Contractor. The master planning is by Belt Collins & landscaping by Saidah Taib of TLS, Singapore. Booking is on in full-swing at eight towers in this award-winning township viz. Iris, Ivy, Mimosa, Mirabilis, Arum, Allamanda, Tilia, Tulipia. The man behind success of Nahar’s Amrit Shakti, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director Mr. Sukhraj Nahar’s vision & people oriented approach has helped the company take giant strides in the real estate industry. Here’s a man who won’t be satisfied with past laurels. Expect many more national & high quality projects in the coming future.
The Nahar Group also owes its success and progress to the dynamic business acumen and leadership of Ms. Manju Yagnik. A pioneer & an icon in her own right, she has set benchmarks in the real estate industry & was rightly awarded the “Woman Entrepreneur of the year” award in the year 2007. Truly, a woman with a grand vision to implement. Come home to Nahar’s Amrit Shakti. Mumbai Sales Office: Nahar’s Amrit Shakti, Chandivali Farm Road, Off Saki – Vihar Road, Powai, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400 072.Tel.: 022 2847 0203 / 1153 / 8303. Email: info@nahargroup.co.in; mkt_head@nahargroup.co.in *1 sq ft = 0.092903412 sq. mt. 50,000 sq. ft. = 4645.1706 sq. mt. Special Advertising Feature
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World class facilities include an exclusive clubhouse, landscaped gardens, a health club, swimming pools, restaurants and a shopping plaza. The township has a fully functional Departmental Store catering to the daily needs of families. The Diagnostic Medical Centre will boast of world class equipments and the best of specialist doctors to compliment the same. The township will also, soon have an ICSE School, a Mall and Multiplex built to international standards.
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial
PURAVANKARA OCEANA, MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI
Reading Your Favourites, Watching Yachts Sailing by Purva Oceana stands testimony to a unique families? But 2601 is just the beginning. The aspect that has hit the minds of Kerala next options climb steadily to 2601 sq ft, then homebuyers only recently - that homes from 3092 sq ft, and to an awesome 3417 sq ft. reputed national level developers are way ahead Remember this is Marine Drive, Kochi’s most of the offerings by state-level brands. luxurious location, and not a suburb like Puravankara Projects Ltd is India’s 7th largest Kakkanad. It is a far cry from local developers listed developer by sales, and has over 35 years who cram in 2-BHKs into 1100 sq ft and 3of experience in high-end housing across BHKs into 1300 sq ft and call it super-luxury various cities including apartments. Puravankara has At centre-stage and in Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, also realized that customers tune with its Coimbatore, Hyderabad, need more than just sq fts. In waterfront theme is Mysore, Kolkata and each sq ft option, there exists the exquisite terrace Colombo. Purva also has a at least two layouts to choose pool. With a stunning presence in UAE, at Dubai. from. The second thing that view of the sunset With a land bank of over 125 strikes a first visitor to Purva from there, it makes million sqft, the Group has Oceana is the expansive Oceana the most over 20 million sqft of balconies and French windows. prized among all your residential and commercial And when those balconies and luxury possessions space currently under windows open up to the and something that construction. The difference will win over more limitless Arabian Sea, the of Purva projects from local admirers about your yachts from world over, and a choices. brands is evident from one breathtaking view of the visit to the fully completed Bolghatty Palace, it is a Purva Oceana at Marine Drive, Kochi. The first soothing experience like no other. Next to strike thing that strikes anyone is the sheer a homebuyer is the range of luxury amenities at spaciousness of the homes. The smallest option Oceana. At centre-stage and in tune with its is a 3-BHK spanning a generous 2536 sq ft. And waterfront theme is the exquisite terrace pool. there are only 3-BHKs on offer at Oceana. Who With a stunning view of the sunset from there, wouldn’t appreciate the absolute need for a 3- it makes Oceana the most prized among all your BHK apartment even in this age of nuclear luxury possessions and something that will win
over more admirers about your choices. Despite land being at a premium in Marine Drive, a generous landscaped garden is being developed, complete with a jogging track. Other recreational and fitness amenities include gymnasium, billiards, steam & sauna, Jacuzzi, pool deck, and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play area. The common areas have been designed in a larger-than-life fashion, and the very first stepin for your guests is sure to inspire, as it is into an exquisite marble and granite lobby reminiscent of star hotels. The overall layout is pleasing - not too tall, not too wide - with eight inter-
connected towers, each of basement plus ground plus 12 floors. Parking will never be a hassle as there are 125 slots provided. State-of-the-art security and communication systems complete the full story of this project. Oceana has come up in one of the quieter areas of Marine Drive, opposite CMFRI and adjacent to Purva GrandBay. Access has never been a problem from Marine Drive, and with the new expressway connecting Vallarpadam and Edappally now on, access to any part of the district as well as to neighbouring districts is a breeze. And the biggest surprise of them all is that Purva Oceana will be ready to occupy within weeks if not days.
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial AJMERA AEON @ AJMERA i-LAND, MUMBAI
A World-Class Tower in a Futuristic Township
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The Ajmeras who presented Mumbai some of its largest projects like Asia’s largest township, India’s first I-MAX, and the city’s largest garden, is a developer with a track-record of nearly 50 years, and delivery of over 40,000 apartments. But their current passion, the one and only Ajmera i-Land holds the potential to eclipse all their achievements. Designed by the very best in international talent, and located at what could be Mumbai’s most inter-connected location in the coming years, this 100-acre township is clearly ahead of its times. Ajmera i-Land is different, starting from the vision. Though townships are not new to Mumbai, i-Land is a 100-acre affair, and that too in the seconddecade of this new millennium, when space is running scarce, unlike in the 80s or 90s. And the location is not afar, but well within the city limits, at Wadala, which has always been a thriving residential area, next to Dadar. Wadala is home to several reputed arts/science and professional colleges, as well as a few noted hospitals. Mumbai’s largest bus depot belongs to Wadala, and that speaks a lot about the interconnectivity of this suburb with all other areas of the city. But that all is history, or at best, concerned with ‘now‘. Ajmera i-Land’s tagline itself is ‘Away from Now’. And when you understand i-Land up-close you will come to know that it is not a tall claim. For one, Ajmera i-Land is master-planned by none other than Skidmore, Owings, &
Merrill. Yes, the same New York based SOM that designed world’s finest landmarks like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and the Ivy League Columbia University. Entrusting the master planning to SOM clearly shows that the Ajmeras have spared nothing to ensure that i-Land is a winner. The architecture is by Singapore based Space Matrix, which has to its credit the renowned Emirates Airline Lounge, as well as the corporate buildings of worldleading brands like MTV Asia, Astra Zeneca, Hyperion, DBS Bank, and many more. Now on offer at i-Land is the first residential tower, Ajmera Aeon, which is centrally located in the township. Being the flagship project in the township, Ajmera is leaving nothing to chance over here. The first and perhaps the best point about Aeon is that it has been designed as a green building. No, not the namesake green, but as one
shower, tel-shower, and spout. All bathrooms have drum geysers and glass partitions between wet and dry area. The flooring is also exquisite with Aeon taking care of its patrons’ different needs in different hours. When living and dining it is Italian marble on the feet, while retiring into the bedrooms it is premium wooden flooring, while cooking it is easy-to-clean meter-by-meter vitrified, and while taking your beauty bath it is, of course, designer tiles. Aeon also has a state-of-the-art housekeeping management system with rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and garbage chutes. True to its adherence to the ‘i’ era, hi-tech features include plug-nplay networking and high-speed Internet through Wi-Fi, elevators with destination control, intelligent building management system, renewable source lighting for common areas through solar panels and tower-mounted fans,
and advanced fire alarm systems. But what really sets apart Ajmera Aeon is the luxury facilities designed outside the home like a grand clubhouse, ritzy swimming pool, children’s pool, wellequipped gymnasium, steam, sauna & Jacuzzi, health spa, children’s indoor and outdoor play areas, crèche, concierge services, cigar cell, business centre, coffee shop / sports bar, sand-play area, banquet hall, yoga room, jogging track, old folks corner, Laundromat facilities, library, poolside party deck with BBQ, multi-level car parking, servant’s quarter, supermarket / convenience store, sky garden / deck, terrace level party lawn etc. So what does the ‘i’ in i-Land really stand for? Well, Ajmera says it stands for several ‘i’s - for example, for philosophies like innovation, integration, indulgence, impressiveness, and a few more, but what we found as the most striking ‘i’ was the project’s inter-connectedness with the rest of India’s economic capital. Ajmera i-Land’s location will get only hotter by the years, as it will be only 20-minute affairs to at least five core destinations of Mumbai. Lower Parel will take only 20 minutes through the Monorail. Fort is 20 minutes through the Elevated Freeway. Entering Mumbai-Pune Expre ssway is 20 minutes by the AnikPanjarpol Link Road. Navi Mumbai is 20 minutes through the Sewri-Nhavasheva Sea Link. And the most versatile access of it all, is the BKC-Chembur Link Road connecting Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway, which is also within 20 minutes. That is what the i-Land means by way of interconnectedness.
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destined to win the best in official and international green certification. Towards this end, the developers have gone some extraordinary distance in designing both energy conservation systems as well as renewable energy generation systems. The electrical system is futuristic with the Home Automation System having mood lightings for living, dining, and bedrooms. A Motion Sensor Electrical system is built-in with a touch screen panel for controlling home automation. The security and access system is also top-notch with features like video door phone with connectivity to reception, CCTV security system for common area, access control by Smart Card, automated car entry / exit system, public address system in parking area etc. Luxury is at its peak with the master bedroom having four fixtures - rain-shower, overhead-
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial
SFS GARDENIA
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Kochi Gets its First International Villa Project randed villas are nothing new to Kochi. But branded villas in Kerala have hitherto followed established norms like small formats, basic luxury, and accepted designs, like say, the ubiquitous Kerala-style tiled roofing. International villas like the ones found in California, Dubai, or closer to home, in Whitefield, Bangalore, have never been attempted in the southernmost state. But SFS Homes, the noted Kerala based developer is changing the status-quo with the launch of SFS Gardenia at Kochi. If a picture speaks a thousand words, one look at the elevation is enough. An SFS Gardenia villa seems at home in Los Angeles, Dubai, or Kochi. The first thing that strikes the casual observer is the postmodern design that incorporates elements like concrete-beam canopies that bring in natural light and fresh air to the large balconies and porches. Of course, if you are a water baby, the exposed first-floor swimming pool would catch your eye first. Indeed, Skyline Foundations & Structures (SFS) is titling the project as super premium pool villas. Beyond such obvious shockers, SFS Gardenia has some fundamental strengths built in, like its ample space that scales up to 5 bedrooms and 3800 sq ft. But the project wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint smaller families with options like 4-BHK & 3BHK, but for which too, space is generous at 2800 sq ft. And
if you thought that such space warrants a location in some faraway suburb from the city, you would be proved pleasantly wrong. Gardenia will be coming up at the hot, inside-the-city suburb of Vazhakkala, just 2 km from the busy Palarivattom Bypass Junction, from where going to any direction - near or far - is quite easy. The interiors of a Gardenia villa is as international as its exterior, with the ambience clearly favouring those homebuyers who have travelled to the best destinations in the world. SFS enjoys superior CRISIL ratings as a developer, and has to its credit some of the highest CRISIL rated projects in the state. During the soft launch of this limited edition project, SFS Homes Chairman, K Srikant informed that SFS Gardenia will be any homebuyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate possession, and is being designed as the ultimate status symbol to own. SFS Homes MD K Lava opined that SFS Gardenia is being built with passion and dedication to deliver that ultimate living experience in Kochi.
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial
SJR CELESTIA, SARJAPUR ROAD, BANGALORE
Break Free from the Ordinary For those fed up with high-rises, SJR Celestia offers a clean break with no tower higher than a pleasing 9 storeys. 2-BHKs come in two options - a generous 1290 sq ft and a luxurious 1370 sq ft. 3-BHK options come in a superluxurious 1660 sq ft format. Fluid space design is implemented in the project as not only three spacious balconies, but in unshackling certain areas, so that Celestia apartments feel much more spacious than projects of comparable sq fts, and also enables easy movement of its inhabitants. 360 degree privacy is implemented inside-out in Celestia with blocks spaced in a unique way such that no balcony of an apartment is facing any
balcony of another. Adjacent apartments have external separators, while inside a home, bedrooms are amply secluded from guest areas. The third SJR hallmark of natural ventilation brings in ample natural light and air into the apartment. While the sheer number of balconies, windows, and ventilators are higher than in a comparable offering, the majority of them open to free spaces also, thus facilitating full functionality. And like in all SJR projects, developing trust with customers ranks high in their vision, so much so that Celestia will be inviting its buyers to visit the site and get personally assured on the quality of each brick, rod, and pillar, as well as the workmanship. SJR and its subsidiaries are active in all realms of real estate development including office and retail space, as well as in infrastructural development.
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Bangalore based SJR Group is only around a decade old in residential space, but their projects and the expertise these projects project before the beholder is much higher. Though many reasons can be attributed to this maturity-beyond-their-years, at the heart of it lies an almost superegoistic ambition to do things differently. In fact, this is a philosophy that is evident from not only their projects, but in the way each element of Brand SJR is conceived and delivered. The message from SJR is subtle yet clear - we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be another run-of-the-mill developer. And SJR Celestia is no different. This latest offering from the group delivers three elements that has evolved as the hallmarks of SJR design - fluid spaces, 360 degree privacy, and natural ventilation. The location chosen for Celestia and the reasons for it are of the no-nonsense kind. SJR Celestia is coming up at the hotspot of Sarjapur Road, which is today what many suburbs aspire to be 20 years down the lane. From the ubiquitous Outer Ring Road, Celestia is just 1 km away. That also means that most major IT Parks in the city are rapidly accessible from Celestia - be it Electronic City, Koramangala, or Marathahalli. If that is about work, life is even closer, with several malls, schools, colleges, and hospitals at walk-able distances.
Indian Homes That Makes Cities Immaterial
PROVIDENT WELWORTH CITY, YELAHANKA, BANGALORE
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Affordable Yet Premium Housing Provident Housing is a Puravankara subsidiary that caters to the firsttime home buyers, middleclass customers, or the so-called affordable segment. Provident Welworth City is their flagship project in their home-turf of Bangalore. Prices are nothing but a shocker, starting at just Rs. 16.26 lakhs for a 2 bedroom apartment. There are two 3-BHK options also, at just Rs. 23.54 lakhs and Rs. 29.38 lakhs. But let not the low prices fool you into believing that the amenities and build quality would be low. Provident’s strategy is not to compromise on these two aspects, as well as the space offered, but to make these price points feasible by a dual strategy of working with lower profit margins and utilizing economies of scale. For example, Provident Welworth City, like its name implies, is a township-class project spanning 44 acres of well-developed land. The location is very future-proof, on the 80feet YelahankaDoddaballapur Main Road, just a 15-minutes drive from the buzzing Yelahanka Junction. Since Yelahanka is enroute to Devanahalli when coming from Bangalore, access to Bangalore International Airport is quick through the IVC Road. The amenities Provident is
building at Welworth City is more befitting of a luxury project. Features include well-equipped gym, swimming pool, toddler’s pool, pool table, billiards, table tennis, basketball post, multipurpose hall, landscaped garden, children’s play area, maintenance office, tennis court, jogging track, and ample parking areas. The 3-BHK options are of 1180 sqft and 1075 sqft, while the 2-BHK is of 845 sqft. The masterplanning has been done so that the ten blocks of residential space, each with stilt+8 floors, co-exist harmoniously with the landscaped greenery and common amenities like pool, clubhouse, and water bodies. Despite its affordable credentials, Provident has also provided for a master stroke in Welworth City that easily elevates it to a lifestyle project. A shopping
mall is being planned within the project at a strategic location, so that it will be convenient for both residents as well as outsiders to visit the mall without annoying each other. The features of this township is clearly defining the new paradigm of premium affordable housing that Provident stands for. The construction is racing to completion. Provident Housing’s parent, the Puravankara Projects Ltd is India’s 7th largest listed developer by sales, and has over 35 years of experience in high-end housing across various cities including Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mysore, Kolkata and Colombo. Purva also has a presence in Dubai in the UAE. With a land bank of over 125 million sqft, the Group has above 20 million sqft of residential and commercial space currently under construction.
HEALTHCARE
MIOT to Dominate Onco Much Like its Track Rec Ortho, Cardiac, & Pinhol
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Chennai based MIOT Hospitals is constructing a brand new hospital in its fold. The 15-floor, 500-bed affair, will not only double the existing hospital’s capacity, but will provide the healthcare major with a sharper focus on cancer treatment. Coming up adjacent to MIOT’s existing buildings at Manapakkam, the new venture follows MIOT’s time-tested success formula of developing centres of excellence in each department and then hiving them off as independent units. The very first unit of MIOT, the renowned ortho & hip/joint replacement division founded by celebrity surgeon Padmashri Dr. PVA Mohandas, had taken birth in this style elsewhere. Later, the vision of Dr. Mohandas and Chairperson Mrs. Mallika Mohandas, coupled with the
incomparable expertise of cardiac surgeon Dr. VV Bashi, helped create MIOT’s centre for excellence in cardiology and cardiac surgery. More recently, the same strategy was deployed to develop the keyhole surgery and pinhole surgery wings. This is why MIOT’s plans to develop its oncology division as a separate hospital makes immense sense. Already, the oncology division at MIOT is doing exemplary work. Segregated as three divisions medical oncology, radiation oncology, & surgical oncology the three also work together, complementing each other wherever necessary to deliver the cancer patient with the most comprehensive care. Recently, MIOT’s radiation oncology division got a shot in its arm when it became India’s first hospital to procure and deploy TrueBeam
STX, the most advanced radiation system in the world. Developed by the international leader in this field, Varian Medical Systems of USA, and designed for even the most challenging image guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery, the advantages TrueBeam STX provides the patient are manifold
New Tru cancers ineBeam STX prec time to m motion, reduce ision targets Radiothe inutes - revolutios treatment rapy trea n tment ising
logy, ord in e Surgery Dr. PVA Mohandas know very well that machines are not everything. They give equal weightage to attracting and retaining best talents like Dr. Ajit Pai who heads surgical oncology, Dr. Vivek S who heads the medical oncology, and Dr. Murali who leads the team of interventional radiologists. And going beyond even systems and doctors, MIOT focuses on surrounding the patient with compassion and dignity, says, Mrs. Mallika Mohandas. Apart from the most caring nursing
Dr. Ajit Pai
Dr. Vivek S Radhakrishnan
Mrs. Mallika Mohandas
Dr. V V Bashi staff, the facilities accorded to patients are very soothing - large sized rooms, excellent food, aesthetic designs, beautiful landscapes to watch, as well as comforts like Wi-Fi, AC, & TV. Says, Dr. Mohandas, “There was a time when such comforts were only appreciated by international patients, but nowadays due to the rapid globalization and frequent overseas travel, domestic patients too favour this kind of an environment.” But even while catering to medical tourists and affluent patients, MIOT doesn’t lose its focus on social commitment. The best example for this is Children’s Heart International MIOT (CHIME), where hundreds of underprivileged children needing heart surgeries are given free or subsidized treatments.
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- shorter procedures, sharper precision, and matchless safety. For example, treatment delivery is 50% faster, while the better accuracy ensures that even complex radiosurgery that used to take up to one hour is now possible between 5 to 20 minutes, with much better protection to non-cancerous cells. Radiotherapies like rapid arc treatment can now be completed within one minute, contributing to immense patient comfort. But the real magic of TrueBeam STX is that it can effectively treat moving cancers. For example, MIOT doctors report that due to the system’s monitoring of 1,00,000 data points every ten milliseconds, difficult targets like continually moving lung tumours can be treated as though it were stationary. But the vision of MIOT is such that its founders
EDUCATION -
B for Boys? Not Anymore B-Schools to see more female students he traditionally maledominated classrooms in business schools are set to see more women. Across the country, Bschools are trying to raise female enrolment. The Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB), for example, is offering the Novartis Scholarship for women educated from small towns and also providing special infrastructure. It has provisions for creche and child care to encourage married women to take up the one year full-time programme for executives. The current batch of 573 students has 29 per cent female candidates, up two per cent since last year.
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“There has been an overall increase in participation by female candidates for the programme. We are providing campus accommodation for both singles and married couples. The provision for creches and child care has been an encouragement for experienced and married women to join the programme,” says A M Kannan, director – admissions and financial aid, at ISB. Mumbai-based S P Jain Institute of Management and Research is making changes in its campus structure. “We have been reorganising infrastructure to accommodate more female participants. More women are taking up management education, a welcome sign,” says Parimal Merchant, chairperson admissions. The proportion of
female participants rose from 42 per cent last year to 45 per cent this year. Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K), is trying to ensure at least 33 per cent of its batch is female. The institute inducted 121 women in its batch of 344 students, which is about 35 per cent, ahigh for the IIM system. Debashis Chatterjee, director of IIM-K, said their admission process gives importance on consistency of performance, as opposed to a singular obsession with CAT (common admission test) scores. “We interviewed a larger pool of students, which meant we had
access to better talent diversity. Also, the weightage was allocated based on the overall performance a student has displayed. This means we took into consideration high school and graduation marks as well,” says Chatterjee. At the 50-year Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) the ratio of female candidates has increased from five per cent to 11 per cent in the past four years. About a fifth of admissions this year to XLRI, Jamshedpur, with a batch of about 240 students, are women. “Most of the students come from an engineering background. There are about 50 women in the two courses this year,”said Pranabesh Ray, dean.
FITNESS
No Equipment Strength Training Strength training exercises, even if performed twice a week can maximize your overall fitness, says the American Council on Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association. One can perform strength training exercises with the help of free weights, machines and other kinds of special equipment. But, today we are going to reveal the top 6 no-equipment strength training exercises, which you can perform using your own bodyweight.
Place yourself face down with the palms on the floor. Place the palms wider than the shoulder-width, arms extended, legs straight and feet together or slightly apart. Keep the neck, back & hips aligned
2. Squats
Bend the elbows outwards and bring the chest close to the floor. This is the initial position. Push back upwards till the arms extend completely and feel the contraction in the chest muscles.
Stand with the feet shoulder width apart, arms firmly on your waist.
Stop when the thighs are horizontal to the floor, extend the knees and return to the standing position.
Look straight ahead and keeping the abdominals contracted arch the back slightly outwards while bending the knees and lower the hips towards the floor.
Note: Do not let the knees cross the toes in the sitting position. Keep looking straight & maintain a slight concave arch in the back. Never round the back.
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1. Push Ups
and abdominals contracted. Do not arch the back downwards or upwards. Keep it flat like a table top.
3. Standing Calf Raises
5. The Basic Crunch
Stand on a platform with the feet slightly apart, holding on to a bar for support. Keep the torso upright and legs straight. Raise the heels by planting the toes into the platform. Pause for a moment and then slowly lower the heels down slightly below the edge of the platform.
Lie on the back on an exercise or yoga mat the hands behind the head, knees bent, feet flat and slightly apart on the floor.
4. Bent Over Lateral Raises Stand with the feet slightly wider than the shoulder-width and knees bent. Bend over from the hip so that the torso becomes parallel to the floor. Make sure to keep the abdominal and back muscles contracted to stabilize the position and maintain a flat back. Keeping elbows soft, raise arms to the sides till they are horizontal & parallel to the floor.
Using the abdominal muscles (by contracting them), raise the shoulders off the floor. While going up, round the back and roll the spine upwards. Slowly come down to the initial position. Note: Do not push the head with the hands and do not try to go up with jerky movements. Keep the chin tucked in but do not let it dig into the chest.
6. Reverse Crunch Lie on the back with the arms extended downwards towards the feet and palms on the floor.
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Place the hands under the lower back & hip. Legs bent at 90 degrees up in the air. Using the abdominal muscles .i.e. contracting them, roll the spine & the hips upwards so that the knees come towards the face. Slowly go down without changing the angle of the legs. Note: Do not extend the legs while lifting the hips off the floor. Keep the knees together & the legs strictly bent at 90 degrees.