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The ‘Digitally Empowered Inclusive Stories’ section of the Economic Survey of India states that the Namma Yatri app has increased driver earnings and reduced cancellation rates.

The Bengaluru-based ride booking app Namma Yatri, developed in partnership with the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union, was hailed as a success story of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in the Economic Survey of India 2023-24. The survey, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with a statistical appendix, was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on July 22.

The ‘Digitally Empowered Inclusive Stories’ section of the Economic Survey of India states that the Namma Yatri app has increased driver earnings and reduced cancellation rates.

“Namma Yatri, a ride-hailing platform integrated with ONDC, eliminates commissions and operates on a subscription fee. Launched in collaboration with the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union in Bengaluru, it increased driver earnings and reduced cancellation rates,” the document states.

Namma Yatri app is part of Open Network for Digital Commerce

The Namma Yatri app, developed by Bengaluru’s Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) and built by Juspay Technologies with support from the Beckn Foundation (founded by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani), was launched in November 2022 in collaboration with local auto drivers. The app is open source, does not charge any commission from drivers, and is available through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Instead, the app takes a small monthly subscription fee from its drivers.

ONDC is a Union government-backed technology platform designed to eliminate intermediaries to enable direct transactions between sellers and customers.

ARDU General secretary T.M. Rudramurthy told The Hindu, “We are happy that our success story has been highlighted in the Economic Survey of India. The Namma Yatri model, praised by both auto drivers and passengers for its zero commission structure, has greatly benefited 4,25,180 registered drivers. The app charges no commission from either drivers or customers, with payments made directly and promptly to the drivers. This approach has significantly boosted the app’s popularity, and we are thrilled that the government is now recognising this model.”

The app’s website states that Namma Yatri is a direct-to-driver platform with all customer payments going directly to the driver. The app is built on an open mobility platform, and claims to be India’s first open mobility app. The app has a dashboard to share all the data of live ongoing trips, completed trips, driver earnings, registered drivers, customers details, and area-wise statistics on completed trips.

Namma Yatri app is now available in 9 cities

The app has gained significant popularity in Bengaluru, gradually capturing market share from Uber and Ola with its no-commission model. In April 2024, the company expanded its services to include cabs in Bengaluru.

Namma Yatri is now operational in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Siliguri. The company claims to have completed 4,71,64,363 rides since its launch in 2022.

The Economic Survey serves as an official report card on the government’s financial performance and the state of the economy for the fiscal year ending March 31. It also offers insights into future policy changes. Typically released by the Ministry of Finance a day before the Union Budget is presented, the survey provides a comprehensive overview of economic conditions and policy directions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has partnered with the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Fund to nurture and fund innovations for antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

Up to £5.1 million (approximating around ₹500 million or ₹50 crore+) funding has been committed over three years by the UK’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF).

This partnership between GAMRIF and C-CAMP will support the development of innovative solutions addressing AMR in the environment for the benefit of low- and middle-income countries where the burden of drug resistance is the highest.

Fostering innovations

“C-CAMP is committed to fostering innovations addressing AMR across humans, agriculture and the environment. With our decade-long work in this area, we are confident of harnessing the most exciting AMR innovation science happening in India and across the globe into solutions to tackle the challenge, especially the often-neglected issue of environmental AMR that threatens low- and middle-income countries,” Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director-CEO, C-CAMP said.

The GRAM Report, published in the Lancet in 2019, estimates that 1.3 million people each year die due to AMR, with the highest mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries, primarily in Asia and Africa.

By 2050, deaths associated with AMR are projected to rise to a staggering 10 million each year, surpassing the global death toll of malaria and comparable to that of cancer.

Antimicrobial misuse

The impacts of climate change, antimicrobial misuse and overuse across the food and agriculture industries and antimicrobial pollution in the environment will all contribute to this rise in AMR-related deaths. Despite the fact that LMICs bear a disproportionately higher global burden of AMR, the funding to foster innovative solutions best suited for the region has been acutely low.

The GAMRIF C-CAMP partnership will kick off shortly with an AMR Challenge under the umbrella of IAIH that will invite applications from innovators and startups for funding and ecosystem support to enable scale-up of technology, production, adoption and impact. The call for applications is expected to open in August 2024.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Capt. Supreetha from city becomes second female Army Officer in the country to be posted at the highest battlefield

Captain C.T. Supreetha from Mysuru became the second female officer of the Indian Army and the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed at Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world.

Before joining the Indian Army, Capt. Supreetha did her schooling in Shastri Vidya Samsthe in Hunsur, St. Mary’s Convent (H.D. Kote) and St. Joseph’s School (K.R. Nagar). Later, she joined Marimallappa’s Institutions in Mysuru where she completed her High School and Pre-University education. Capt. Supreetha completed her Degree in Law from JSS Law College in Kuvempunagar, Mysuru.

Capt. Supreetha was a part of 4 Kar Air Sqn NCC, Mysuru Group. She also took part in the All India Vayu Sainik Camp held in 2015 and Republic Day Camp in 2016 where she was declared as the Best Cadet from Karnataka and Goa Directorate and received the DDG Commendation Letter. Capt. Supreetha was also a part of the Youth Exchange Programme camp held at Maldives in 2016. She even secured II Rank in the All India SSCW (NCC) Special Entry – 48th (Women) Course held in October 2020.

In 2021, Supreetha was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army. After undergoing rigorous training at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, she joined the Army Air Defence Unit. Before being posted in Siachen, Supreetha served in Anantnag, Jabalpur and Leh.

Capt. Supreetha is the daughter of Talakadu Police Sub-Inspector Thirumalesh and Nirmala couple. She is married to Major Jerry Blaize of Madras Regiment. The couple made headlines by becoming the first Indian Army Couple to participate in the 75th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26, early this year.

Before Captain Supreetha, Captain Shiva Chouhan, an officer from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, became the first female officer to be deployed in Siachen.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Capt. Supreetha’s father Thirumalesh, said that he was proud of her daughter’s achievement and added that apart from their encouragement, Supreetha had also drawn inspiration from her husband and in-laws to achieve the feat.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

 In a scholarly lecture, Ganesh Prasad G Nayak and researcher Shrutesh Acharya Moodubelle shed light on an ancient inscription found at the Sri Maharaja Varahaswami Temple. According to their findings, the inscription, engraved on a granite slab, features a Shivalinga and depictions of the sun, moon, royal insignia, lamp posts, and the bull Nandi. The script, characterized by worn-out letters, is indicative of the 14th century based on paleographic analysis.

The inscription commences with the auspicious term ‘Swastishree’, with no explicit mention of the era. Additionally, references to a ‘nectar pot’ and ‘four boundaries’ suggest its nature as a donation inscription, detailing the temple’s history. Researchers anticipate further study in the coming days, emphasizing its significance in understanding local history.

This archaeological endeavour was supported by students of MSRSAS College: Vishal Rai K, Manjunath Nandalike, and Kamalesh, along with lecturer Srikanth Poojary and temple administration committee chairman Satish M Nayak, among others.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Merlyn Monteiro, a class 9 student of Mount Carmel Central School, Maryhill in city, has secured the first rank in the 2023-24 state level grand finale conducted by India’s No 1 Spell Bee WIZ National Spell Bee competition.

Ciel Merlyn Monteiro is the daughter of Walter Monteiro of Bajpe Karambara and Kiran Shirley D’Souza.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)