Enterprise Digital Summit 2016

India Must Bridge Digital & Capability Gap

India, which has led other developing nations as being the largest exporter of information technology services and skilled manpower among developing countries, is trailing China in digitally transforming its economy? Is there a resurgence now?  The World Development Report (WDR) , recently  released by the World Bank sheds light on  reaping the benefits of digital transformation.

As far as the Internet is concerned China has stolen the march---of the top 20 internet companies, 5 are Chinese. It’s largest e-commerce company Taobao, a website for online shopping similar to eBay and Amazon, operated by Alibaba Group. has a market capitalisation that is 25 times higher than that of Flipkart, the largest e-commerce company in India.

Another major factor—as of  2014 India had 227 million Internet users, compared to 665 million in China; barely two out of every five Indian businesses had an online presence compared to almost two-thirds of firms in China. India needs to bridge the digital access and capability gap.

There is also an urgent need to improve quality of basic infrastructure — expressways, logistics, storage, postal delivery system and reliable supply of electricity — and adopt a more open  mind  towards innovations like mobile money or even ride-sharing services—in  order to facilitate easy entry of start-ups. Indian  IT professionals excel in  Silicon Valley yet the average Indian worker falls short of  his Chinese counterpart. The key is improving overall business climate and  the quality of human capital--around 25 per cent of India’s adult population cannot read and write compared to less than 5 per cent in China.

Understanding that digital transformation is at the fore of every industry and segment, was the theme of the  Enterprise Digital Transformation (EDT) Summit 2016, which concluded in Mumbai recently? The summit was aimed at looking at business through the lens of technical capabilities and how they could impact operations and revenues.  The summit was hosted by HP and the Economic Times.

Panel discussions focused on systematic planning for consistent revenue generation from digital businesses, .Only 27 per cent of the enterprises today have a logical and consistent digital strategy that sets out how the firm will create further digital business. Experts emphasised the need for concerted efforts to take the various digital initiatives across businesses to account and create a clear digital vision that maps the delivery of the revenue-generating digital experience.

It is expected that by 2018, 67 per cent of the 2000 global enterprises will have digital transformation at the centre of their corporate strategy. In other words digital transformation  is the final of 3 steps; the first being digital competence,and the second digital literacy. To put it in layman terms it simply means ‘going paperless’. This will affect not just businesses but other areas too such science, art, government, education and mass communication.

The summit offered a diverse mix of engaging keynotes, panel discussions, where leaders of the industry and noted public figures PP Choudhary (minister for Information & Technology and filmmaker Karan Johar among others, came together to discuss the journey of digital transformation.

The government also strongly believes in the need of digitization of commercial services.  “For the policy maker, digital readiness means the ability to use digital technologies to reach out to citizens and involve citizens in the process of growth, separating the gap between the haves and have- nots. We should think not only of Digital India today, but think of the opportunities presented by the Digital India of tomorrow. Not being digitally ready is not an option; Digital India is an imperative for our nation to be ready to face tomorrow,"he commented.

Karan Johar provided insights on the role of technology in digitizing the world of cinema. He added, "I'm one of the rare few people from the current lot of filmmakers who made the shift to digital editing, along with Aditya Chopra. There's been a sea change within the film fraternity when it comes to using technology. I actually edited all my films using literally a scissor in hand, snipping and slicing film together. Technology means you can try fade-ins and blurs and after the initial excitement died down, we understood how to make the most of the technology that was here to stay. The whole change has been completely, diametrically phenomenal."

The event not only consisted of the policy makers, but also the policy executors. Various sectors converged at the event, namely banking, power, trading, consumer technology, etc.

Ashish Kumar Chauhan (MD & CEO, Bombay Stock Exchange), sharing his expertise in trading and dependence of technology and IT in their daily business awed  the audience with insights into the functioning of the  the BSE. He divulged that BSE requires only 60 micro seconds for a trade transaction to be completed.

In the coming years, Bombay Stock Exchange intends to reduce this time to nanoseconds, all with the help of enterprise technology. He explained, "Technology comes in waves, and over time those waves have become shorter. Now, those waves are hitting us virtually every day. Over the last 30 years, digital technologies have changed the world fundamentally. “IT to me, is binding glue for the organization. Only the IT head knows everything about the entire organization since they work closely with each division, he added.

India has been one of the early successes in digital revolution leading in software development and information services. A case in point is the Aadhaar digital ID  which has now become a model  for other countries too. Whether the new initiatives will generate even greater and more widely shared digital dividends — faster growth, more jobs, and better services — depends not only on expanding affordable access to all, but also on making long overdue progress on the analogue complements of digital investments .

The WDR argues that digital dividends are not spreading rapidly enough? This is because of 2 major reasons--nearly 60 per cent of the world's people are still offline and,, some of the perceived benefits of the internet are being neutralized by new risks. So how can we alleviate the risks? While the World Bank has stressed the need for increased connectivity it has also emphasized the need for better regulations so that companies can innovate and compete, improve skills, make institutions more accountable so that the needs and demands of the citizens are addressed by the government.

The Key Elements of Digital Transformation

There is a total of three core or key elements that contribute towards successful starting and development of the process of digital transformation, and they are given below.

·         By 2015, about 90% of jobs will need information and communication technology-related skills

·         A whopping 93% of marketers are now making use of social media for enhancing their image, selling products and getting in touch with customers.

2016 charmed Mumbai with its exuberant list of the industry’s best speakers from various sectors talking about the role of technology in developing and identifying new business strategies to make the most of future growth. The summit offered a diverse mix of engaging keynotes, panel discussions, where leaders of the industry and noted public figures like Karan Johar (film-maker), PP Choudhary (H'ble Minister for Information & Technology, Government of India) among others, came together to discuss the journey of digital transformation.

The Government also strongly believes in the need of digitization of commercial services. PP Choudhary (Honourable Minister for Information & Technology, Government of India) being realistic about the current scenario commented “For the policy maker, digital readiness means the ability to use digital technologies to reach out to citizens and involve citizens in the process of growth, separating the gap between the haves and have nots. We should think not only of Digital India today, but think of the opportunities presented by the Digital India of tomorrow. Not being digitally ready is not an option; Digital India is an imperative for our nation to be ready to face tomorrow."

Also present at the event was eminent film-maker, Karan Johar who provided insights on the role of technology in digitizing the world of cinema. He added, "I'm one of the rare few people from the current lot of filmmakers who made the shift to digital editing, along with Aditya Chopra. There's been a sea change within the film fraternity when it comes to using technology. I actually edited all my films using literally a scissor in hand, snipping and slicing film together. Technology means you can try fade-ins and blurs and after the initial excitement died down, we understood how to make the most of the technology that was here to stay. The whole change has been completely, diametrically phenomenal."

The event not only consisted of the policy makers, but also the policy executors. Various sectors converged at the event, namely banking, power, trading, consumer technology, etc.

Ashish Kumar Chauhan (Managing Director & CEO, Bombay Stock Exchange), sharing his expertise in trading & dependence of technology & IT on their daily business kept the audience in awe of the art the BSE uses for its functioning. He divulged that BSE requires only 60 micro seconds for a trade transaction to be completed. In the coming years, Bombay Stock Exchange intends to reduce this time to nanoseconds, all with the help of enterprise technology. He explained, "Technology comes in waves, and over time those waves have become shorter. Now, those waves are hitting us virtually every day. Over the last 30 years, digital technologies have changed the world fundamentally. IT to me, is binding glue for the organization. Only the IT head knows everything about the entire organization since they work closely with each division.”

The Economic Times Enterprise Digital Transformation 2016 closed with felicitations to the key players of the industry, followed by a networking session among the speakers and delegates present at the event.

The event will be attended by top bureaucrats and industry leaders, which includes Uday Ghare (Vice President, Digital Services, Communications, Media and Entertainment at Tech Mahindra), Golok Kumar Simli (Principal Consultant & Head Technology, Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India), Deepak Sharma (CDO, Kotak Mahindra Bank) and others will engage in panels and chats on the pertinent topics in the segment.

C

HamarastationHamarishaan

Colorful Commute

Colourful  Commute

Termed as one of the biggest beautification drives, over 5,000 volunteers symbolically launched Hamara Station Hamari Shaan , a citizen-driven initiative to beautify 36 railway stations of Mumbai. Mumbai First and Making A Difference Foundation (M.A.D) have partnered with the Central and Western Railway for this project. From Churchgate to Dahisar and from Masjid Bunder to Thane, all stations would be beautified during this initiative. On western line there are 21 stations which would be beautified. On the Central line there would be 15 stations taking the total to 36..

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Suresh Prabhu ( minister of railways) and actor Anil Kapoor along with MP Poonam Mahajan picked up the paint brush  and symbolically launched the campaign.

The visual theme of each station between Thane and CST on the Central Line and Dahisar and Churchgate on the Western Line, has been designed to suit the character of the place. While heritage station buildings like Bandra and CST will not be painted, stations like Marine Lines and Charni Road station, owing to their proximity to the sea, will be painted in aqua blue. The murals, vinyl sheet decorations, and the paintings will cover the walls on the platforms, the panels alongside the staircases, ticket windows and the walls on the foot over bridge. Each station has been allocated a budget of between Rs 2-5 lakh, entirely funded by corporate sponsors and volunteers.

Interestingly several other measures were announced ahead of the civic polls to be held in Februray 2017.Fadnavis  announced PM Narendra Modi will launch the elevated corridor between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Panvel and Bandra-Virar fast corridor during his visit to the city next month.

He also announced a single electronic mobile ticket for all public transport, offering respite to Mumbaiites, who spend at least an hour commuting to work.

 “We will launch the construction of CST-Panvel and Bandra-Virar elevated corridor at the hands of PM Modi. Currently, the suburban railway carries 70 lakh passengers. With the elevated corridor and metro network spanning over 117km, we would be able to mobilise another 80 lakh passengers daily,” said Fadnavis.

“The electronic ticketing app will help commuters access all kinds of public transport.

 With more than 1 crore daily passengers (75 lakh on CR and WR, and 30 lakh on BEST buses), the city’s public transport is the biggest platform to reach out to people ahead of civic polls. Moreover, the Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro and Chembur to Bhakti-Park monorail cater to three lakh passengers daily.

Shishir Joshi, the CEO of Mumbai First, announced the ‘Hamara Station, Hamari Shaan,’ project and said the program was planned in such a manner that even the daily passengers would feel these stations belong to them, as they would also take part in these beautification project. He said, “Some stations have already been beautified, but this will be a massive programme to be completed in just six days.”

Anil Kapoor said he loved local train travel and recalled memories of train journeys from Chembur to Bandra. “Recently I travelled by a local train I found stations so clean and trains so efficient and on time.”

Entertainment network Viacom18 in collaboration with NGO Mumbai First has adopted three suburban railway stations for cleanliness and beautification as part of the Central Government’s ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. Under the Viacom18’s flagship CSR programme ‘Chakachak Mumbai’ (clean and shining Mumbai), the company will support beautification of Andheri, Vile Parle and Ghatkopar stations with the help of volunteers throughout the week.

The Middle Eastern Spread that Unites & Divides

The Middle Eastern Spread that Unites & Divides

The word hummus,is an Arabic word meaning “chickpea.” --a Arab dip or spread that is made from chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that have been cooked and mashed, then blended with tahini (a paste made from sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. It is pronounced in different ways: the Americans say hum-mus,whereas those with roots in Israel pronounce it as "choo-moose", where "ch" is the gutteral  sound we do not  have in English.

Hummus is more than just a dish. When famous American chef, author and TV personality visited  Israel and Palestine it became very clear to him that the  ownership of hummus was vociferously disputed. But we know that chickpeas are known to man almost 10,000 years back, much before there were Israelis or Arabs. The Greeks loved it and the Romans made various dishes with it. .Greece, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon  claim historical ownership to this delicious and nutritious spread. Of all the conficts that plague this region, the fight over hummus  is by far the most  harmless and  absolutely delicious.

Where it truly originated, , no one can say for sure, though the earliest mention of the spread dates back to Egypt during the 13th century. The beige spread stuffed into pitas, used as a  dip and served at every Middle Eastern eatery is also an appetizer.

 No matter where it originated or who makes the best hummus,the truth is it is now recognized as the super supplement for the 21 st Century woman. This ‘ancient meal’ with profuse health benefits, has become so popular that actresses such as Sonam Kapoor and  Natalie Portman today swear by it !

Here’s why:

The main ingredient of hummus, chickpea is admired and consumed all over the world attributing to its high nutritional quality which provides a range of health benefits.
While most women today are facing a number of health issues at an early age, Hummus for them is no less than a super food.

Ideal for Skin and Blood
Made up of large amount of protein, Hummus is essential as a building block of the skin, blood, muscles and bones. It’s an added benefit for vegetarians as they can make up for the proteins that people gain from meat. Being a rich source of protein it helps balance sugar levels in the blood stream and also fights against sugar cravings.
Hummus is also reported to contain iron which boosts the energy levels enabling one to be able to train in the gym therefore losing excess weight.

High in fibre content
Enriched with high content of fibre which helps keep the digestive tract regular having hummus regularly is one of the most effective ways to ensure that fibre is being included in the diet.  A recent study states, “Consumption of fibre-rich hummus has been proven beneficial in the regulation of bowel movements and brings relief from constipation.”

Fights cancer

Hummus has been found to work against the growth of various cancer cells owing to the presence of various healthful components such as phytic acid and saponins in chickpeas. Hummus being a resource of fibre keeps the harmful toxins from binding with the colon lining and flushes them from the body.
Also, beans contain folate (Folic acid, one of the B vitamins that is a key factor in the synthesis (the making) of nucleic acid-DNA and RNA) and this can help in reducing the risk of getting colorectal cancer. This is because folate helps with division and multiplication of healthy cells in the body.

Natural anti-oxidant resulting in leaner muscle and stronger bones

The ingredients of hummus-- tahini and chick peas-- contain calcium and amino acids which help in maintaining the health of bones and muscles. This is important especially for aged women as their bones are fragile and break easily. It also helps with prevention of osteoporosis in aged people by strengthening their bones.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins which are found in chickpeas and the body uses it for physiological processes such as muscular strength, repairing of tissues, functioning of brain and energy production.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

How Bitter Can Sugar Get ?

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have  revealed some shocking truths. Almost 50 years ago, the sugar industry is reported to have paid Harvard University nutrition scientists to  make a  case against fat and fatty acids/lipids  as primary causes of  heart disease while downplaying the negative health effects of sugary foods and beverages. The Harvard scientists received the equivalent of $50,000 in today's dollars, the investigators said.

As a result, for decades consumers may have been under the wrong notion that only saturated fat harmed the heart, and not sweets.  Not surprisingly, during that time, obesity and associated ills like diabetes reached alarming levels in the United States. The research review by the Harvard scientists was commissioned by a trade group for the sugar industry when the media began highlighting the health risks of sugar. This report appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1967 !

Sugar is an  ingredient adding to a culinary delight, but have you seen the poisonous side of it? Too much of those tablespoons can slowly and gradually result in a heart attack, and that’s a ‘not-so-sweet’ truth

Sakshi Anand  had an innate love for everything sweet since her school days. She was drawn to the taste of sweetness just like a bee to honey. Her mother, an ever-indulgent parent, often gave in to her need for an ice-cream in the market, a cherry muffin on a shopping trip, or candy floss after school. It became the family joke that Sakshi always needed sweets as fuel. Unfortunately, her parents did not realize that it was far from a joke.

After she graduated, Sakshi started working in a BPO. Due to the sedentary nature of  her work, she would eat out of  boredom, to fill the time, or even as fuel during the night hours. Bars of chocolate and packets of cookies were her companions. She did not  gain much weight at all, but when she had palpitations one day, her parents took her to the doctor. She was told that her lifestyle needed a change. While many people worked at night, her poor diet, and lack of exercise were causing this. The truth is that sugar causes inflammation, and Sakshi’s arterial walls were beginning to show this.

Dr. Amar Singhal  Senior Interventional Cardiologist and Head, sheds light on the ‘not-so-sweet’ truths:

The  sugar  overload

Sugar can be found naturally in carbohydrate-rich food such as fresh fruits and milk. These provide essential nutrients to our body, and do not have any adverse effects on the body, if they are consumed in the quantities they are meant to be eaten in. However, additional sugar found in processed foods is ‘additionally’ harmful. This type of sugar can be found in candies, cookies, cakes, pies, soft drinks, fruit drinks, waffles, dairy products including ice cream, yogurt, sweetened milk, and practically anything else you pick off the shelf.

Be it soup or ketchup, sugar makes food more palatable. Even when it comes to fruit drinks, some of these have even more additives and sugar (more than 90 per cent) than soda. Finally, many of us have this habit of adding an extra teaspoon of sugar to our tea or coffee. Also, you may find hidden sugar in certain foods that you buy from the supermarket; it is masked by other names such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose and so on.

Now, the crucial question here is, do we know how much sugar our body needs? Actually, the body does not need added sugar at all. It can do very well with just natural sugars. The occasional honey or jaggery does have some nutrient value, but even these are the same as table sugar (white sugar we use commonly) in terms of the number of calories and the way the body reacts to it with insulin production.

How is it a menace?

Sugar that is not  bound to fiber, commonly known as free sugar, can lead to instability of  blood sugar. This is because it directly enters the blood, causing insulin to get secreted.

Insulin helps blood sugar levels stay even in the body. So this quick entry of sugar in the blood stream is what lay people call the ‘sugar rush’. Constant sugar rushes can cause an imbalance in the metabolism, because the body may find it hard to keep secreting insulin. Eventually, this may lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These are risk factors for heart disease. When we consume too much sugar, and our body releases more and more insulin, it may also force our kidneys to hold on to sodium—bad for the heart.

A regular overdose of sugar can alter internal pH levels. This means that you will have a more acidic body which can be breeding ground for many diseases. Certain forms of sugar can also cause further damage to the liver and to structural proteins of our body. Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup can result in production of artery-clogging fats—another heart disease risk factor.

Over a period of time, excess sugar can contribute to hypertension and high blood pressure, especially in those who have a genetic predisposition. These two, combined with your daily stress and anxiety, as well as obesity, can increase the risk of blood pressure variability, heart rate, and contribute to inflammation of arteries and broader metabolic dysfunction.

The Way Out

A guideline report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adults should limit daily intake of free sugars to 10 per cent of total energy intake, and further says that reduction to below 5 per cent per day can reap additional health benefits, besides preventing tooth decay.  Love it or hate it, you cannot  ignore sugar, because it is something that creates a ’high’ for your salivary glands. But one thing is for sure, your ‘sweet tooth’ can create a menace for your vital body organs.

But will power and voluntary resistance may not always work. You will find yourself craving it and finally give  in to your urges. To ensure you do not  eat too much sugar, identify what your weak points are and target those. For instance, if you know you do not consume sweets, but put 2 teaspoons of sugar in your tea, and you have 4 cups of tea through the day, the maths is simple—8 teaspoons is obviously way too much sugar. Rather than going off sugar completely, try the gentle method of easing it out of your life.

If you have children, avoid treating with sweets, thereby associating happy memories with sweets alone. Give them other treats—a family outing to an amusement park, or a game of  badminton together, for instance.

Do read labels. When buying any food, look at the grammage and sugar content. Remember—it shouldn’t be over 10 per cent !. Also know your measures—1 teaspoon is 5 grams of sugar, and each gram has 4 calories. So ideally, in a 1,500 calorie diet (for a woman of 55 kg weight), a person should not be eating more than 7 teaspoons of sugar at the most.

“ In my opinion  though, a person should ideally not be eating over 3 teaspoons, because sugar is addictive and has worse repercussions for the body than even tobacco,”warns Dr.  Singhal.

Asha mesmerizes UK fans

Asha  mesmerizes fans in UK

Early this year at the launch of a popular magazine cover, Asha Bhosle announced her 2016 UK Farewell Tour. The Empress of music who has reigned supreme in Bollywood for over 7 decades is as rebellious,mellifluous  and bubbly even  today, having just turned 83 !

As she prepared for  her “Farewell Tour” of  Britain, Asha Bhosle  revealed for the first time how she immersed herself in the character of a Lucknow courtesan to prepare for the recording sessions of the iconic 1981 film Umrao Jaan.

Bhosle, who recently turned 83 said  it was unlikely she would visit the country  again. Needless to say both her concerts at Birmingham and Wembley ( London) were complete sell-outs!

 She  sang   “all kinds” of songs to entertain fans during her performances in Birmingham on Saturday and London on Sunday. These included hit songs like O mere Sona, Chura liya hai tumne,and the superb compositions of music director Khayyam from the film Umrao Jaan.

Audiences who flocked to both the venues were enthralled with her vast repertoire and clamoured for more!

A 12-piece orchestra and young and versatile singer Javed Ali mesmerized the audience. Asha has often praised Javed Ali  and thinks highly of the young talent.

Asha’s  talented  grand-daughter ,Zanai Bhosle ( daughter of Anand Bhosle also 

was    on-stage belting out popular songs sung  by her grandma.

Earlier at a press conference she reminisced about the first song she had ever recorded in Kolhapur– for a Marathi film Mazza Bach “Chala Chala Dambawala” along with Lata Mangeshkar and Meena. Travelling daily from Borivali to Charni Road she took lessons in classical singing from Navrang Nagpurkar and says she would have been a classical singer but for the fact that she needed the money to take care of her family and children.

 

Referring to her love of cooking since childhood, she said she had restaurants called Asha’s at Birmingham and Manchester in the UK and in Gulf countries.

During her illustrious career, Ashaji has collaborated with artists across the world from Boy George to Michael Stipe, to Australian cricketer, Brett Lee. The track, ‘You’re the One For Me’, is an original love song penned by the fast bowler himself. Bhosle recalls the experience as one of her career highlights.

Asha’s next performance will be in Durban ( S. Africa) on Oct 1 and Johannesburg (Oct 2) This will be Asha Bhosle’s first and final visit to South Africa and her fans can expect nothing less than a remarkable evening filled with the myriad flavours of music through her long and illustrious career. 

Can We Pass the Acid Test?

A Victim, a Survivor & a   Landmark Verdict

Can we pass the acid test?

Alighting at the Bandra train terminus in 2013, a spring in her step and eyes full of dreams of a fulfilling career  Preeti Rathi’ may never have dreamt that in a few seconds the stardust would blow away and herald a horrendous, horrifying and fatal nightmare for her. Her attacker Ankur Panwar stepped off the same train and hurled 2 litres of sulphuric acid  maiming and disfiguring her beautiful visage. She struggled agonizingly for a month before succumbing.

Ankur Panwar was sentenced to death by hanging last week. While delivering the sentence Special Judge A S Shende said, “ "Considering all mitigating and aggravating circumstances, facts of this case, Supreme Court judgements and recent (Madras) High Court judgement on acid attack cases, the court has awarded death sentence.” And how did Panwar react?  Smirking defiantly,attacking members of Rathi’s family and flashing a victory sign he walks out escorted by the police.

Thousands of miles away, at one of the most gala fashion events ,another acid-attack survivor, 19-year-old Reshma Quereshi walked the ramp at the New York Fashion Week,to promote a ban on the sale of corrosive substances. In the summer of 2014,on her way to an exam along with her sister, Reshma was attacked by her brother-in-law while trying to save her sister.They were left to suffer in agony on roadside for several hours after nobody called an ambulance.  

Daughter of a cab-driver in Mumbai, Reshma said,'this walk was important to me because there are so many girls like me who are survivors of acid attacks, and this will give them courage,and it will also go to show people who judge people based on their appearance that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover — you should look at everyone though the same eyes.'  Never did she imagine she would  travel to a far-off land and walk such a famous  ramp to promote her message.

More so since she had lost an eye and  her face was badly disfigured. Aged just 17 at that time she slipped into depression ,even contemplated suicide till she came in contact with Ria Sharma founder of the Delhi-based NGO’ Make Love Not Scars’.

Sharma counseled and helped  Reshma  regain her confidence and courage. Enough confidence and courage to stride down the ramp in designer Archana Kochhar’s collection--A Tale of Two Cities,  inspired by the breathtaking Taj Mahal and the rich, buoyant colors of magnificent India. Dressed in a floor-length white gown with embroidered applique panels, she was greeted with loud claps and cheers.

Fashion week producer FTL Moda reached out to Reshma to take part in NYFW as part of its #TakeBackBeauty campaign. Llaria Niccolini, the president of FTL Moda, the fashion production firm known for whom Quereshi appeared said, “ “My vision was: let’s push boundaries to include diversity in the fashion industry.”

Reshma made her modelling debut in the online campaign #EndAcidSale, which went viral  where she spoke about how finding the right shade of lipstick is harder than buying concentrated acid in the market. The posters and videos of the campaign won a Glass Lion and two Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2016, France.

These two cases have just highlighted the plight of the survivors ---almost every day newspapers report such incidents from  all over India. According to the  Acid Survivors Foundation India (ASFI), 349 people, mostly women, had acid thrown on them --the number is three times higher than what was reported in 2013 and more than four times higher than in 2010. According to the NGO, less than half of these attacks come to light.

Though many have spoken out against the death penalty emphasizing the need instead on reformation, the verdict in the Preeta Rathi case is important and encouraging which was rightly stated as being “worse than rape”. However,is it time to celebrate yet? Acid attacks continue due to lax implementation of the ban  on acid sale by the Centre and the states. India has the highest number of acid attacks in the world, but the poorest conviction rates.

In 2013, the Supreme Court of India ordered the government to limit over-the-counter acid sales to people over 18. Acid can only be sold by licenced shops and owners are  required to maintain a record of the quantity sold and to whom. These details have to be sent to police within three days of the sale. All stocks have to be declared with the sub-divisional magistrate and undeclared stocks can be confiscated and a maximum of Rs 50,000 levied as fine.

All these measures look good on paper  but  fail because most of the establishments that use acid are in the unorganised sector and the States do not implement the laws stringently.. At least 106 such attacks were reported in 2012 and the figure rose to 122 in 2013 and 349 in 2014. In 2015, there were more than 500. The number of these attacks surged from 2014 because better mechanisms to report the crime have been put in place.

 However, once attacked and disfigured, several challenges await victims. Most parts of the country do not have proper facilities to treat an acid burn victim and states drag their feet when it comes to paying compensation. So, how can we effectively fight the scourge? 

 Bangladesh has shown the way.The  country, which had an extremely high number of cases and has been able to combat the problem to a great extent. First, an acid attack cases are tried speedily, investigations must be completed within 30 days-if the investigating officer needs more time, the court has to be notifie and can grant  only two extensions of 15 days. If the officer fails to complete the investigations, or is found to be corrupt, she or he is liable for punishment. The fasttrack court has to decide on the case   within 90 days. Second, Bangladesh has severe punishments for the crime – upto capital punishment. Third, unlicensed production, import, transportation, storage, sale and use of acid can attract a jail term from three to ten years. The stringent laws and their implementation have seen the number of attacks fall from 500 during 2002 to 71 in 2012.

Above all  the mental, physical and financial trauma and ostracization by society that a survivor faces makes these cases “rarest of rare” and  deserving of  nothing less than the noose.

Hummus: The Middle Eastern spread  that  Unites & Divides

The word hummus,is an Arabic word meaning “chickpea.” --a Arab dip or spread that is made from chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that have been cooked and mashed, then blended with tahini (a paste made from sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. It is pronounced in different ways: the Americans say hum-mus,whereas those with roots in Israel pronounce it as "choo-moose", where "ch" is the gutteral  sound we do not  have in English.

 

Hummus is more than just a dish. When famous American chef, author and TV personality visited  Israel and Palestine it became very clear to him that the  ownership of hummus was vociferously disputed. But we know that chickpeas are known to man almost 10,000 years back, much before there were Israelis or Arabs. The Greeks loved it and the Romans made various dishes with it. .Greece, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon  claim historical ownership to this delicious and nutritious spread. Of all the conficts that plague this region, the fight over hummus  is by far the most  harmless and  absolutely delicious.

Where it truly originated, , no one can say for sure, though the earliest mention of the spread dates back to Egypt during the 13th century. The beige spread stuffed into pitas, used as a  dip and served at every Middle Eastern eatery is also an appetizer.

 No matter where it originated or who makes the best hummus,the truth is it is now recognized as the super supplement for the 21 st Century woman. This ‘ancient meal’ with profuse health benefits, has become so popular that actresses such as Sonam Kapoor and  Natalie Portman today swear by it !

Here’s why:

The main ingredient of hummus, chickpea is admired and consumed all over the world attributing to its high nutritional quality which provides a range of health benefits.
While most women today are facing a number of health issues at an early age, Hummus for them is no less than a super food.

Ideal for Skin and Blood
Made up of large amount of protein, Hummus is essential as a building block of the skin, blood, muscles and bones. It’s an added benefit for vegetarians as they can make up for the proteins that people gain from meat. Being a rich source of protein it helps balance sugar levels in the blood stream and also fights against sugar cravings.
Hummus is also reported to contain iron which boosts the energy levels enabling one to be able to train in the gym therefore losing excess weight. 

High in fibre content
Enriched with high content of fibre which helps keep the digestive tract regular having hummus regularly is one of the most effective ways to ensure that fibre is being included in the diet.  A recent study states, “Consumption of fibre-rich hummus has been proven beneficial in the regulation of bowel movements and brings relief from constipation.”

Fights cancer

Hummus has been found to work against the growth of various cancer cells owing to the presence of various healthful components such as phytic acid and saponins in chickpeas. Hummus being a resource of fibre keeps the harmful toxins from binding with the colon lining and flushes them from the body.
Also, beans contain folate (Folic acid, one of the B vitamins that is a key factor in the synthesis (the making) of nucleic acid-DNA and RNA) and this can help in reducing the risk of getting colorectal cancer. This is because folate helps with division and multiplication of healthy cells in the body.

Natural anti-oxidant resulting in leaner muscle and stronger bones

The ingredients of hummus-- tahini and chick peas-- contain calcium and amino acids which help in maintaining the health of bones and muscles. This is important especially for aged women as their bones are fragile and break easily. It also helps with prevention of osteoporosis in aged people by strengthening their bones.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins which are found in chickpeas and the body uses it for physiological processes such as muscular strength, repairing of tissues, functioning of brain and energy production.

Get Grilling

Ingredients:-
Assorted Bell Peppers
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Corn
Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus

Prepare:-
1) Slice the vegetables long and thin.soak them in water for 5-10 minutes.
2)Heat the grill on medium flame for a few minutes and place the vegetables on it.
3) Sauté the vegetables and take them off from the grill once they are tender.
4) Season with herbs, lime juice or black pepper.
5) Dip into  Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus for scrumptious Mediterranean goodness.

Hummus Devilled Eggs

Ingredients:-
Boiled eggs
Garlic hummus
Black pepper for seasoning

Prepare:-
1) Peel and slice the boiled eggs into two halves.
2) Scoop the yolks out and mash and mix them with Garlic Hummus in a bowl.
3) Spoon the mixture into the egg white.
4) Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy eggs like never before!

Cucumber Hummus Stacks:

Ingredients:-
Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatoes
Olive oill

 Garlic Hummus

Prepare:-
1)Slice fresh cucumbers and layer them with Garlic Hummus.
2)Add a cherry tomato on each slice and place a toothpick to hold  a stack of two cucumbers and cherry tomatoes together.
3) Season with black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Enjoy freshness like never before!

Hummus Salad:

Ingredients:-
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Onions
Cherry Tomatoes
Olives
Beetroot Hummus

Prepare:-
1) Chop the vegetables and add them in a bowl.
2) Add Beetroot Hummus to coat the vegetables completely.
3) Drizzle Olive oil and black pepper for seasoning

Relish your crunchy salad!

Recipes by Chef Nandan,Chef’s Basket