Author: The Metrognome

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Kharcha paani

Just ‘Be!’ in Mumbai

Be!Fund, an initiative that funds enterprises run by people from low income groups with risk-free capital, launched in Mumbai yesterday.

This is great news for those looking for capital to fund a business idea that will benefit the community they live in. Going to School, the Delhi based not-for-profit organisation, announced the launch of the Be! Fund at a press conference in Mumbai yesterday. The Be! Fund provides new access to risk-capital (up to $10,000/INR 500,000) to young people from low income groups so that they can start sustainable enterprises that solve local social and economic problems where they live.

Be! Fund is built on the premise that the world needs new heroes for the time we live in and the heroes we should look for are the poorest young people in India – they have solutions that can change India for everyone.

Be!Fund operates by using movies and radio to reach out to young people to ask them to call with local, sustainable, business ideas for change. “The business idea must prove that they can solve a local problem, generate income for the entrepreneur and create jobs. Young people return the investment once they generate a profit, if they fail, they are not put into debt. It’s a risk capital fund based on trust and belief that the poorest young people are the best people to run their businesses. All returns are ‘paid forward’ to invest in more young entrepreneurs to change the way ahead,” says the Be!Fund website.

Raghav Dhar, Bollywood Director, Sanjay Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Star India, Elizabeth Warfield, Deputy Mission Director, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Anusha Bhagat, Chief Operating Officer, UBS Bank India, Shrinath Bolloju, Group Chief Operating Officer, Deutsche Bank India, and Lisa Heydlauff, Director, Going to School formed the panel that discussed the need for such an initiative. They discussed the need for creating new hero stories to inspire young people to choose to become entrepreneurs, the role of national television in taking these stories to millions of young people free-of-cost, the impact of development organizations supporting innovative approaches to sustainable development and the role of banks taking a risk with their philanthropic capital to invest in young entrepreneurs from base of pyramid communities.

Commenting on the role of Be! Fund, Heydlauff said, “By 2020, there will be over 200 million unemployed young people below the age of 30. The youth unemployment crisis cuts across all industries and development sectors. In short, we need new heroes to solve India’s greatest problems – the heroes we need to find are the poorest, youngest people in India, who by pioneering new sustainable business models that create jobs and solve problems become role models to inspire millions of young people to change the world around them by choosing to become entrepreneurs.”

The Be! Fund started in Bengaluru, with a seed capital from entrepreneurs Phaneesh Murthy and Dev Roy, who believe that the poorest young people in India are worth investing in to change the world – they have the answers to the problems their communities face, all they need is a group of people to listen to them and be open enough to take a risk to invest in their ideas to make them a reality. After the success in Karnataka, new investors in Be! Fund decided to take this ‘made-in-India’ model to Mumbai and the rest of India.

 (Picture courtesy businessenquirer.net)

Categories
Trends

Summer cheer for yoghurt industry

Frozen yoghurt industry growing rapidly in metros and Tier II cities; is an alternative to ice cream and soft drinks.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

This is sweet news for the Indian frozen and flavoured yoghurt industry – as per a study conducted by premier commerce body Associated Chamber of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) and released yesterday, the frozen and flavoured yoghurt industry is tipped to grow by 40 to 45 per cent annually, and may touch Rs 1,200 crore by the end of year 2015, up from the current Rs 750 crore.

The study reveals that Indians are waking up to frozen yoghurt, especially its low-fat and no-fat variants, due to rising health consciousness, rising disposable incomes, quality dependence and more awareness about the product and its supposed benefits. Titled Yoghurt Market in India, the study says that the factors that have fuelled this industry’s growth are the wide availability of raw material (milk), a growing willingness among consumers to experiment and increasing disposable incomes.

While releasing the paper DS Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM said, “In India, yoghurt has positioned itself as a healthy dessert option, so the increasing health and wellness awareness will help it gain popularity with some momentum. The branded yoghurt market in India has huge potential with consumers increasingly demanding greater hygiene and quality. The flavoured yoghurt is rapidly becoming a part of regular grocery purchases for many affluent urban households in tier-II and tier-III cities.”

Consuming yoghurt may compete with flavoured milk drinks and fruit/vegetable juice, whilst fruited spoonable yoghurt may emerge as a competition for ice cream as a dessert, the paper finds. Low/no fat and low/no sugar yoghurts are new trends in the market, added Rawat.

Mango, strawberry and pineapple variants, which are common to all brands, are finding takers. Frozen yogurt (plain and flavoured) has already started to replace ice cream to a certain extent. “Companies are also tying up with corporates to target office employees to increase consumption by making it a quick, convenient and healthy substitute for meals. The demand of frozen yoghurt market will see a growth of 70 to 80 per cent each year over the next three years,” adds Rawat.

(Picture courtesy groupon.co.in)

Categories
Read

Maharana of Mewar inaugurates ‘7 Stories For Mewar’

Artist, writer Priya Pereira has created an artists’ book that actually comprises seven stories from the royal House of Mewar.

It was an event fit for royalty.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) and the 76th custodian of the House of Mewar, was in Mumbai recently to launch artist Priya Pereira’s book.

Priya creates artists’ books that are works of art in the form of a book, often published in small editions and employing a range of forms, including scrolls, fold-outs, concertinas or loose items contained in a box. Pereira has created an artist’s book for Eternal Mewar as well, titled 7 Stories for Mewar.

Commissioned by the Maharana of Mewar, these little books hold seven stories from the illustrious history of the House of Mewar over 1,500 years. “Their beauty lies not only in their stories, but in the fact that they are pendants that can be worn as necklaces. The cover depicts the sun, as the Maharana of Mewar is a Suryavanshi, or descendent of the sun. Placed in each room of the Historic Resort Hotels, Udaipur, it has delighted the guests as more than just bedside reading,” Shriji said.

He said, “Priya’s books are exceptional in their creativity and their readers have always derived so much joy from perusing them. We are especially proud of the books that she has created for us. It is one more beautiful addition to the legacy of Udaipur; we cherish it deeply.”

Pereira first began making books in 1993 under the banner of ‘Pixie Bks’, which has created 40-odd books till date.

Categories
Big story

Missing children to get ‘kidnapped’ case status

Maharashtra State Government orders police stations to register a case of kidnap whenever a child below 14 years of age goes missing.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

At a time when crimes against children are on the rise, where incidents of little children are being lured away from their play areas by preying paedophiles, or minors are being picked up and made away with to settle personal scores with the child’s parents are being heard of almost daily, it is time for prompt and strict police action. Hearteningly, the Maharashtra State Government is taking steps to ensure better police handling of missing children’s cases.

As per a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the State’s Home Department last week, all reported cases of children under the age of 14 missing from their homes are not to be entered under a Missing Persons complaint, but are to be treated and registered as a case of kidnap.

“As per the writ petition number 75/2012 Bachpan Bachao Andolan v/s The Government of India and others, and as per the directions issued by the Supreme Court of India on January 17, 2013, it is being conveyed that in the event of an official complaint filed by the parents/guardian of a child below 14 years of age that is missing, the said complaint is not to be entered in the Missing Persons complaint book but is to be treated and recorded as a case of kidnap and a First Information Report (FIR) is to be filed in the matter immediately,” the GR says.

After the kidnap case is registered, the police will be required to investigate the case at once and not accord the usual, unofficial ’24-hour window’ that most police personnel allow for the child to return, or to hear of the child’s whereabouts before starting the investigation.

(Picture courtesy openthemagazine.com)

Categories
Film

‘Our Dhak Dhak was a tribute to Madhuri’

Model, anchor Gaelyn Mendonca talks about her very first Hindi film, and why she wishes she was a part of ‘Barfi!’.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

She’s been a TV anchor and has even hosted ‘Pepsi Change The Game 2011’ as part of the Cricket World Cup coverage, apart from walking the ramp for every major designer at Lakme Fashion Week. And like most models and TV personalities, Gaelyn Mendonca recently made the switch to Hindi films – Gaelyn’s first film was the just-released Nautanki Saala, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Kunal Roy Kapur.

In an interview with The Metrognome, Gaelyn talks about shooting for her first Hindi film, dancing to Madhuri Dixit’s legendary ‘Dhak Dhak’ song and shooting with ‘her buddy’ Ayushmann. Excerpts from the interview:

How did you get the opportunity to work on Nautanki Saala?
Gaelyn: The casting director of the film gave me a call and I gave a screen test for the film. Within two hours I was finalised for the role and I started with the workshops the very next day.

Please tell us about your role in the film.
Gaelyn: I play this girl named Chitra who is Ayushmann’s girfriend in the film. She is headstrong and practical. She loves him a lot but has a few issues with the way he deals with certain situations.

How did you prepare for this character?

Gaelyn: Loads of preparation went into this movie. Ayushmann, Kunal, Pooja and I went through an intensive 20-odd day workshop where we rehearsed our stuff and got fully familiarised with the script.

What was it like shooting for ‘Dhak dhak’? How long did this shoot take?
Gaelyn: Shooting ‘Dhak Dhak’ was one of the high points of my career. We shot the whole song in just one day! We tried to recreate the classic with a modern and funky twist to it.

Did you or the other girls feel any pressure about shooting for ‘Dhak Dhak’, considering that the original starred a legendary dancer like Madhuri Dixit?
Gaelyn: We never looked at it as a comparison to the classic, hence there was no pressure. It’s a tribute to Madhuri Dixit and I completely enjoyed myself, as dancing is my passion and I think we did justice to the brief that was given to us.

Do you feel that your stint on TV helped you in any way for this film?
Gaelyn: I certainly didn’t have any inhibitions or cold feet while shooting as I am used to being in front of the camera. So yes, in a way, my stint on TV helped.

A few TV actors/anchors have recently made a successful switch to films. Why do you think it is that most TV actors/anchors/VJs don’t do so well in films?
Gaelyn: I feel that at the end of it all, your performance in the film matters. If you are a good actor, you will go a long way in films, and Ayushmann is certainly a good example of that. He has proved that even though he has been an anchor for TV shows, he can act equally well, too.

Several new faces are being launched in practically every new film. How can one ensure that one remains in public memory long after the film is out of the theatres?
Gaelyn: The audience will remember only and only a great performance. And that is the only way to remain in people’s minds.

What was most memorable about shooting for Nautanki Saala?
Gaelyn: I loved that I was shooting with my buddy Ayushmann. All the scenes that I shot with him were fun and memorable. Also, the whole film making process was very overwhelming for me.

Of your co-stars, who did you enjoy shooting with?
Gaelyn: All of us as a team were brilliant together, but I had a great time hanging out with Kunal Roy Kapur.

Tell us a bit about your life off the cameras. What do you do to relax?
Gaelyn: I love to talk, so my friends become the unfortunate victims of my talking hobby in my free time, haha! I’m a homebody, and I like to unwind by watching TV or movies and eating. I love food!

Is there a film you wish you had been a part of?
Gaelyn: Barfi!, for sure. I loved every scene in that film.

Do you foresee a long career in films? Which aspect of Indian cinema are you most attracted to?
Gaelyn: Hopefully! I have my fingers crossed. What I love the most about our cinema is the song and dance.

What is one thing nobody knows about you?
Gaelyn: That I’m a trained ballroom dancer.

Is there something about the entertainment industry that you dislike?
Gaelyn: As of now, nothing really. I’m pretty happy with the industry.

(Pictures by Nimish Jain)

Categories
Tech

10 must-have apps for the iPhone 5

Your iPhone 5 can be even more awesome if you get these 10 work and social apps, plus some fun games ones.
by Manik Kakra

So you got your shiny, new iPhone? It’s awesome, isn’t it? Well, you know what could make it even better – apps and games. Over the years, iOS has become a dominant player when it comes to mobile. Developers across the world want to develop their apps for iOS – because the platform is popular, used widely, and app quality is top notch. So, here is a list of 10 apps and a few games apps to get you started with your new Apple gadget:

1. Chrome

Most of us use Chrome on our PCs. By using Chrome on your iPhone, you can sync bookmarks between the devices without any hassle. Just sign in and you are good to go. While it doesn’t enjoy as much freedom as Safari does on iOS, the browser works smoothly and feels like home for PC Chrome users. 

An alternative? Opera Mini

2. Tweetbot

Are you on active on Twitter? If yes, then there’s no way you can’t have Tweetbot installed on your iPhone. This Twitter client is one of the best out there. No compromises – neat UI, feature-rich, and support from developers.

The alternative? Twitterrific

3. Camera+

The iPhone 5 (and 4S) has a great camera, and it can be put to even better use by using something like Camera+. This app allows you to snap photos as well as edit them – with borders, filters, exposure, and more.

The alternative? Paper Camera

4. Dropbox

Dropbox is a must-have app, regardless of what device you are carrying. It is a cross-platform cloud storage service, which allows you to sync your precious data across your devices. You can buy more storage as and when required, according to their plans.

The alternative? Box

5. Evernote

Evernote has, over the years, become a solid app for not only taking notes, but also to compile to-do lists. It synchronises them across devices, as it has a web version, too.

The alternative? Springpad

6. 1Password

As you use your phone or any other connected device, you keep signing up for a number of services, and, as a result, have to remember their respective passwords. 1Password is your one-stop app to stop worrying about having to remember so many passwords. The user doesn’t have to look up in the app as he/she will be signed in automatically.

The alternative? LastPass

7. Airport Utility

This free manager allows you to fully control your Airport stations. It lists all the devices connected, and gives you options to change settings you want.

8. Flipboard

This app is sort of a news-aggregator. You can choose which news sites you want it to combine, and then the app presents them in a beautiful manner, thus allowing you to have your very own virtual magazine.

The alternative? Zite

9. WhatsApp

Chances are that you might be using this app already on your phone. Right? No doubt it’s the most popular cross-platform messaging service today, well worth the money for chatting with your friends.

The alternative? Viber

10. 8Tracks

This is an Internet radio service that gives access to thousands of radio stations made specifically for people having a particular genre preference, created by like-minded people.

The alternative? Pandora

For games, check these out:

Subway Surfers

Angry Birds HD

Real Racing 2

Ruzzle

Did Manik miss any apps which are essential to start with your iPhone? Do let him know your favourite or worst app experiences in the comments section below this article.

(Picture courtesy engadget.com)

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