Category: Leaders, Karnataka State

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES / CONVENTION: 3-day National Convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) inaugurated at JSS, Mysuru- September 01-03

Focus of the convention is to empower academia and advance pharmacy education

The three-day annual national convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) began here on Friday and will focus on empowering academia for advancing pharmacy education.

Hosted by the JSS College of Pharmacy, the objectives of the convention is to create a blue print for promoting research culture, develop strategies on adopting technology in education apart from describing the importance of accreditation and ranking for pharmaceutical institutions.

The convention is also expected to offer a collaborative platform for academicians, researchers, scientists, and students of pharmacy to adopt a vision to guide the future activities of the profession.

About two thousand pharmacy professionals, students, industrialists, pharmaceutical scientists, and pharmaceutical leaders from different states of the country are participating in the three-day event which was inaugurated by Mr. Sudarshan Jain Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). He said such conventions will not only strengthen the academia and pharmaceutical industry but will motivate and help pharmacy teachers and students to update their knowledge and skills in sync with the latest trend in the industry.

Milind Janrao Umekar, president, APTI, in his presidential address said that the healthcare profession was undergoing a rapid change and  the Indian pharma industry had registered a spectacular progress.

‘’The ever-expanding practice sectors need clinically and technologically trained pharmacy professionals who can face global challenges and compete with multinational companies. It is in that respect, that pharmacists play leadership roles to ensure optimum drug therapy, by contributing to the discovery, development, manufacturing, ensuring quality, supply, and regulatory control of medicines’’, said Mr. Umekar.

V. Muralidhar, organising secretary of the event, said pharmacy education played a pivotal role in preparing competent pharmaceutical care professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the public, and pharmacists had an essential role in ensuring the effective and responsible use of medicines. Pharmacists monitor medicine use and support patients to adhere to medication regimens and to use medicines responsibly, and pharmaceutical scientists can develop novel medicines and therapeutic strategies, he added.

C.G Betsurmath, executive secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, addressed the gathering and stressed on the importance of convention for the progress and advancement of the sector.

T.M. Pramod Kumar, Principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, S.P. Manjunath, secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Surinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Montu M. Patel, President, Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi, B. Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, JSSAHER, Mysuru, were among those present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Gandhian, Veteran Freedom Fighter and Rajyothsava Awardee Meerabhai Koppikar of Mudhol, Bagalkot District passes away.

Bommai condoles the death Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar

Leading Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar, a close follower and associate of Bhoodan movement leader Vinoba Bhave has expired at her home in Mudhol of Bagalkot district.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has expressed his deep sense of grief and extended condolences on the death of a leading freedom fighter, who had followed Gandhian ideals and philosophy.

The Chief Minister, has in a condolence message, said Meerabhai aged 97 years had practiced simple living, shramdan, dairying and organic farming.

When she was conferred the Rajyothsava award, the Gandhian lady had utilized the amount of the award for the welfare of the poor.

Karnataka has lost a veteran freedom fighter and Gandhian, the chief minister said.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES : Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI) Launched to Boost Mental Healthcare

More investment should come into the crucial clinical psychology segment, said Capt. P Manivannan, secretary to the government, Social Welfare Department.

At the launch of the Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI), he said 75 per cent of employees face mental health issues because of an unstable work environment and initiatives like CPSI will help in educating professionals to provide the right care.

NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murty said the number of clinical psychologists at 2,900 is meagre in the country. Efforts are required to bring a drastic change in resolving mental health issues. CSPI will help in providing quality healthcare to people and training and education to medical graduates, she said.

CPSI president Dr Jamuna Rajeshwaran said the organisation will establish evidence-based care for psychological disorders. CPSI was formed as a regulating and monitoring body was lacking, she added.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INDIA OVERSEAS: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Opens Office in Kuala Lumpur to Explore Business Operations both in Malaysian and all of Southeast Asia

HAL’s new office in Kuala Lumpur would take up the market promotion of the company’s range of products and services not only in Malaysia but also all of Southeast Asia.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will set up an office in Kuala Lumpur to tap business opportunities in Malaysia and the entire Southeast Asian region, the PSU said in a statement on Thursday.

The new office is expected to help the public sector firm to explore business around Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) LCA and other requirements of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) like Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrades, as per HAL.

“It will reinforce the commitment of India in supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia,’‘ said a company communique.

According to HAL, the company had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Malaysia in October 2021 for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs against a global tender issued by RMAF.

The final winner of the tender is expected to be declared soon by Malaysian authorities and LCA Tejas stands a fair chance of selection in the bid as it meets all the parameters sought by RMAF, as per the release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / ACQUISITION: William Penn, India’s leading Brand for Premium Writing Instruments Acquires ‘Sheaffer’, the 110-year-old Iconic American Manufacturing Company of Writing Instruments,

William Penn, India’s leading brand for premium writing instruments and lifestyle accessories recently acquired Sheaffer, the 110-year-old iconic American manufacturing company of writing instruments, mainly known for their luxury fountain pens.

In 1907, Walter A. Sheaffer invented an ink-loading system for fountain pens and W.A. Sheaffer Pen Company was incorporated in the US on May 16, 1913 and grew to spread its footprint in over 75 countries. With the Sheaffer ac quisition, William Penn has become a global brand.

Founder and Managing Director of William Penn Nikhil Ranjan, who is a Mysurean, always believed in the power of the written word. After getting a mechanical engineering degree in Mysuru, Nikhil thought out-of-the-box and founded William Penn in Bengaluru in 2002, to introduce the beauty of fine stationery. He launched a line of luxury stationery and soon, his business flourished. Today,  William Penn is also credited with bringingthe fountain pen and ink back from the brink and reclaiming its rightful place in fine writing. B.C. Thimmaiah of Star of Mysore spoke to him about the acquisition and what it means to William Penn. —Excerpts:

Star of Mysore (SOM): What do you have to say about this acquisition?

Nikhil Ranjan: Well, we have been in the business for the last 20 years and until now, we have been the retailer and distributor of global brands. This is an opportunity for us to own a global brand and that’s a big step for us. This allows us to design and market products across the world because Sheaffer is an iconic brand, it is a 110-year-old brand present in 75 countries. We will have a footprint in those countries and it is a huge leap.

We also believe that as a company which is home-grown, out of India and being a global brand, having the opportunity to design and market products to have an impact around the world is what excites us.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: FREEDOM FIGHTERS: Bidar’s Shaheen Group of Institutions Launches Online Database of Freedom Fighters

Bidar-based Shaheen Group of Institutions has launched a multi media programme to spread awareness about freedom fighters and their contribution to India’s Independence movement. QR codes used to share text,audio and videos.

The school and colleges in the group will share a database on the lives of 100 freedom fighters that includes photos, videos, audios and documents. The sharing will be done online using social media and websites, and offline by attaching Quick Response codes (QR codes) to the images of freedom fighters that are pasted in prominent places across Karnataka.

“We hope to reach at least one crore people with this programme,” Abdul Quadeer, school society chairman, told journalists on August 8 during an exhibition of photographs and images in the park adjoining Shaheen PUC College in Shahapur in Bidar.

Bidar Deputy Commissioner Govind Reddy and Superintendent of Police Dekka Kishor Babu inaugurated the exhibition.

The exhibition will be open till August 10. Each of the 100 photographs has a QR code at the bottom. Scanning the QR code will lead to the data base of text, audio and video clips related to the image in Kannada, English and Urdu languages.

The exhibition has images of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev, Chandrashekar Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Nana Saheb, Lala Lajpat Rai, Rani Lakshmibai, Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, Mirza Khasim Ali Khan, Siraj Ud Daula, Haji Shariatullah, Begum Hazrat Mahal and others.

After the exhibition, the images will be kept in public places around Karnataka.

“Our freedom fighters are already well known. We hope that the exhibition and the online data base will kindle the spirit of the independence movement among the youth and students,” said Dr. Quadeer said.

This exhibition is part of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, which is a celebration 75 years of independence.

The group will promote hoisting of the national flag as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga programme. The group will motivate at least 1,000 students to fly the tricolour in their homes. It aims to distribute 50,000 pocket-size flags and 10,000 hand-held flags among the people.

The activities include essay writing and elocution competitions with a focus on the independence movement.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INNOVATION: Karnataka Tops NITI Aayog’s ‘India Innovation Index 2022’

Report suggests steps to secure a place in Global Innovation Index’s top 25 nations.

Karnataka has bagged the top rank in NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index, 2022, which determines innovation capacities and ecosystems at the sub-national level. The State has held this position, under the Major States category, in all three editions of the Index so far.

In the Index released on Thursday, Manipur secured the lead in the Northeast and Hill States category, while Chandigarh was the top performer in the Union Territories and City States category.

Karnataka was followed by Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat were at the bottom of the index.

Pointing out that India’s average innovation score is arguably insufficient, given the country’s ambitious targets to be named among the top 25 nations in the Global Innovation Index, the report by the government think tank has recommended measures, such as increasing Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GDERD), promoting private sector participation in R&D and closing the gap between industry demand and what the country produces through its education systems.

The report went on to state that countries that spend less on GDERD fail to retain their human capital in the long run and the ability to innovate is dependent on the quality of human capital; India’s GDERD as a percentage of GDP stood at about 0.7%.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INVESTMENT, BUSINESS & ECONOMY, ENGINEERING: Global Multi-National Pratt and Whitney (PW) to Set up Engineering Centre in Bengaluru Making it their First such Facility in the Asia-Pacific region.

To be operational in 2023, facility will be the fifth globally.

Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney (PW) on Monday said it will set up an engineering centre in Bengaluru, that is slated to commence operations in January 2023.

The centre, which will be its first facility in Asia Pacific and fifth globally, will enable the firm to offer engineering services on contract to its domestic and international customers, a spokesperson said.

PW’s integrated global engineering operations currently has centres in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Poland.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SOUTH INDIA – ZONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY, CSR : Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) Wins the PRCI Zonal Award for ‘Best PSU implementing CSR for Social Cause’

The Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), South Zone conferred the award for ‘Best PSU implementing CSR for Social Cause’ on MRPL on World PR Day organised by PRCI, South Zone at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on July 16.

Rudolph Noronha, GM-CC received the award on behalf of team MRPL from Dr M Vijaya Kumar, vice chancellor, Yenepoya University and M B Jayaram, chief mentor and chairman, Emeritus – PRCI in the presence of other dignitaries and eminent personalities in different fields. Jagadish Holla and Canute Pinto, office bearers of PRCI – Mangalore Chapter were present and coordinated the entire event.

Delegates from different parts of South India including corporates, PR heads, HR heads, journalists and students of reputed institutes were part of this enthralling programme.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)