Latest news with #AbhishekPoddar
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
India's workforce witnessing early onset of chronic illnesses: Report
Bengaluru: India's corporate sector is facing a growing but largely invisible health emergency. Chronic diseases, mental health issues, and burnout are affecting a significant portion of the workforce—posing serious risks to productivity, employee retention, and long-term economic growth, according to a health report. The Plum Employee Health Report 2025 , analysed data from over 100,000 telehealth consultations, 25,000 insurance claims, nearly 2,000 health camp participants, and 512 survey responses, covering six per cent of its six-lakh-plus user base. The result is a stark portrait of a young but increasingly unhealthy workforce. Despite having over 600 million Indians under the age of 35—who should ideally be a key demographic dividend—the country is witnessing a disturbing increase in chronic health risks. Lifestyle-related illnesses are now striking as early as age 32, with the median age for heart disease consults at 32, cancer at 33, diabetes at 34, chronic kidney disease at 35, and strokes at 36. These numbers highlight a trend of early disease onset, nearly a decade sooner than typically observed in developed nations. This health decline is translating into up to 30 lost working days per employee each year, driven by absenteeism, disengagement, and mental health-related downtime. Mental health remains a major concern, accounting for 20 per cent of all telehealth consultations. Reproductive and hormonal health needs among women also remain underserved. Twenty-three per cent of telehealth consultations from women relate to reproductive health, 32 per cent to hormonal issues, and 18 per cent to menstrual health. Yet, 42 per cent of women report working through period pain without workplace accommodations, and over 70 per cent say their current health benefits do not meet their actual needs. Despite the rising health burden, only 20 per cent of companies offer regular health screenings. Even where screenings are available, only 38 per cent of employees avail them. Data from Plum's health camps paints a worrying picture -- 63 per cent of participants had elevated or high blood pressure, 38 per cent had high cholesterol, 17 per cent were clinically obese, 11 per cent were pre-diabetic, 5 per cent required urgent medical attention. In total, 71 per cent were found to be at moderate risk of non-communicable diseases. According to co-founder Abhishek Poddar, true employee well-being stems from holistic, accessible care that supports mental, physical, and social health—not just transactional insurance coverage. Fellow co-founder Saurabh Arora added that improving health span, not just lifespan, must become a strategic priority. He emphasised that delayed care or lack of support leads to immediate and measurable costs for businesses. With the right personalized and AI-powered interventions, employers can proactively guide employees toward healthier behaviors and close critical care gaps.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HDFC Defence Fund increases stake in HAL, Solar Industries, and 4 other stocks in April
HDFC Defence Fund , the only active fund focused on the defence sector, increased its stake in six stocks in April, including Hindustan Aeronautics , Solar Industries, BEML , MTAR Technologies , Astra Microwave Products , and Centum Electronics . #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare The fund added around 1.29 lakh shares of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), taking the total holdings to 24.87 lakh shares in April, up from 23.58 lakh in March. It also added 90,393 shares of BEML, bringing the total to 16.14 lakh shares, compared to 15.24 lakh in March. Holdings in Astra Microwave Products increased from 35.96 lakh shares in March to 36.66 lakh in April. The fund further added 37,423 shares of Solar Industries, 17,012 shares of MTAR Technologies, and 1,877 shares of Centum Electronics. Best MF to invest Looking for the best mutual funds to invest? Here are our recommendations. View Details » by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Jacket Every Hiker Needs [Buy Now] Trek Kit India Shop Now Undo Also Read | India-Pakistan Tensions: How should mutual fund investors respond to navigate geopolitical risk? The fund's exposure to 16 stocks remained unchanged during the month. These included Adani Energy Solutions, Avalon Technologies, Diffusion Engineers, InterGlobe Aviation, Larsen & Toubro, Rishabh Instruments, Premier Explosives, and Power Mech Projects. Live Events No new stock was added, nor was there a complete exit from any existing holdings during this period. As of April 30, 2025, the fund held 22 stocks in its portfolio, with total assets under management (AUM) recorded at Rs 5,487 crore. Managed by Abhishek Poddar, the scheme is benchmarked against the Nifty India Defence - TRI index. Its investment objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation by predominantly investing in equity and equity-related securities of defence and allied sector companies. Also Read | Mutual fund SIP stoppage ratio shoots up to nearly 300% in April Launched on June 2, 2023, the scheme currently allocates 46.14% to large-cap, 14.52% to mid-cap, 34.6% to small-cap, and 4.74% to other categories. The fund is diversified across seven sectors, with 65.25% in capital goods, 17.29% in chemicals, 5.91% in infrastructure, 2.92% in electricals, 2.54% in aviation, 0.80% in power, and 0.55% in iron & steel.
