Latest news with #Anshu
Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'I was rejected 5 times on Dragons' Den but now my profits have doubled'
A Dragons' Den entrepreneur has revealed she's grateful to have not secured investment on the BBC One competition. A Dragons' Den contestant has admitted she's grateful to have not secured investment on the BBC One competition. Anshu Ahuja entered the Den in an episode that aired tonight, hoping to seek £100,000 for 3 percent of her business, DabbaDrop. The founder and her business partner had built up their sustainable takeaway business, inspired by the dabbawala system of Mumbai, in 2018, and had valued the business at more than £3,000,000 just a few years later. The entrepreneur was looking for investment from the likes of Peter Jones, Sara Davies, Touker Suleyman, Deborah Meaden, and Steven Bartlett to help upscale DabbaDrop and encourage its growth outside of London. However, despite her inspirational ethics behind the sustainable product, and the fact that DabbaDrop had turned over more than £800,000 in its latest year, Anshu failed to convince the Dragons to invest. In fact, Peter encouraged her to 'pivot' on one key part of her business model, while Touker called the valuation 'crazy' and Sara feared DabbaDrop was in 'distress.' Yet despite their comments and not securing an investment from Dragons' Den, Anshu has had no regrets. In an exclusive interview, she reflected on Touker's harsh remark on their valuation, saying: 'We had done quite a lot of work going into Dragons' Den and our own fundraising round, so the £4million valuation was independently valued, based on our £850,000 revenue and a lifetime value of the 1,500 subscribers at that point of nearly £400 per subscriber. At that point, we also had a 1,000-person waiting list, which is currently, even before airing, standing at 4,000 people.' Anshu knew it was a 'risk' to go on national TV and pitch her business, but was willing to take the leap as the team was fundraising for DabbaDrop at the time of being approached for the show. They'd already received interest from more than 2,000 investors, had reached millions of views on an Instagram reel, and pledged more than £1,000,000. 'It is risky going on national TV, but why not? Let's take the ris,k and it might be worth it," she said. 'Also, the opportunity to talk to five smart, brilliant people was what I was most excited about, being up there talking about our story and our vision, all about the Dabba dream, and having them dissect it and come up with interesting ideas of how to take it further. 'I know it sounds mad, but I was thrilled about being chosen to have that conversation, regardless of what happened at the end.' With the help of the investors and support they've received, Anshu already has plans for DabbaDrop to expand with more products and to build new hubs in other cities, after demand for the service across the world in Mumbai, New York, and Sydney. 'It's not just us that believe in it, there are investors across the world who think this is a great idea and have the same sort of vision for it as we do,' she said. Since going on Dragons' Den, before the episode had aired, Anshu revealed that the company had already doubled its number of subscribers and profits. She reflected:' We've really taken the advice that the Dragons gave us to work at bettering our model. Actually, in a lot of ways, I'm glad we didn't get the investment, and look at how great we're doing, we've used that moment to go away and think about how we can be better. 'I'm really proud of how far we've come in just a year with no help.' 'I have absolutely no regrets,' she declared. 'It was worth every minute of that grilling, even Touker saying, 'You just take other people's money and go and spend it.' It was worth all that stress, chaos, and embarrassment. It was worth it, I'm still smiling.'
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Brother-sister duo killed in accident on way to school, cousin injured
A brother-sister duo was killed and their cousin was critically injured when a speeding unidentified vehicle ran over them on the Badaun-Meerut highway on Monday. The incident took place near Silahari village under Sahaswan police station limits of Badaun district when they were going to school, said police, adding that the driver fled the scene immediately after the collision. DM ordered an inquiry and warned of strict action against defaulters. (FOR REPRESENTATION) According to police, the victims have been identified as Anshu (12) and Ankit (11), children of Prempal Singh from Kaknasi village in the Zarifnagar police station area. Their injured has been identified as their cousin Khushboo (12), daughter of Prempal's elder brother Mahipal. They were on their way to school in Nagla Choi village, around three kilometres from their home when the accident occurred. All three children studied in the same school, with Anshu and Khushboo in Class 2 and Ankit in Class 1. The children were taken to the community health centre (CHC), where doctors declared Anshu and Ankit dead on arrival. Khushboo, who suffered serious injuries, received emergency treatment and was later referred to a higher medical center for specialised treatment, informed KK Saroj, additional superintendent of police. He also instructed officials to identify and arrest the absconding driver at the earliest. Police conducted post-mortem examinations and handed over the bodies to the family and a case has been registered against the unidentified driver based on a complaint filed by Prempal, police added. During investigation, Prempal informed that he was uncertain whether the school was open after the weekend, so he called a teacher, Pramod, who confirmed that classes were being held. Based on this information, the children left home around 7:30 am on a bicycle. The district magistrate had ordered the schools in Budaun to remain closed from Saturday to Monday due to traffic diversions related to the Kanwar Yatra but some schools defied the order and remained open. DM Avneesh Rai said that the matter has come to his notice and he has ordered an inquiry, stating, 'Strict action will be taken against schools violating the official orders.' District Basic Education Officer (BSA) Virendra Singh said an investigation has been initiated and a clarification will be sought from the school management, adding that the recognition status of the school will also be examined. WITH AGENCY INPUTS
Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Domestic workers rally for fair wages
1 2 Ranchi: Carrying placards and chanting slogans for their dignity and rights, household helps marched from the district school to the Zakir Hussain Park on Monday to mark International Domestic Workers' Day. The Supreme Court had on January 29 directed the Union govt to create a legal framework for the rights of domestic workers. The workers, mostly women, demanded a comprehensive law, ensuring fair wages, paid leave, social security and weekly rest. "What we are asking for is not charity, but justice. We clean homes and care for children and the elderly, but our work is still invisible. Even today, there is no official data about us. No recognition, no protection," said Reena Kispotta, a protester. The International Domestic Workers' Day is observed on June 16 to mark the ILO Domestic Workers' Convention 189 adopted in 2011. The convention advocates for dignity and fair working conditions for domestic workers. Though India supported the convention, it is yet to ratify it. "Despite India's commitment at the global level, there has been no real action on the ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The govt must now act, especially after the SC order," said Anshu, a labour rights advocate. Speakers at the rally called for the urgent formation of an expert committee to draft the law. They demanded that the panel must include labour and human rights experts, especially women and child welfare representatives. Jyoti Tirkey, a domestic worker from Namkum, said, "We don't get weekly offs. We are called anytime and there is no fixed pay. We just want basic rights." The workers vowed to continue their fight until a national law guarantees them what every other worker is entitled to — dignity, rest and fair compensation.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Roshan Mathew interview: On ‘Kankhajura' and feeling at home in Hindi cinema
Roshan Mathew is set to play an intense and manipulative man in the upcoming Hindi web series Kankhajura. The Hindi adaptation of the Israeli web series Magpie (2019) drops on SonyLiv on May 30. The series also stars Mohit Raina, Sarah Jane Dias and Trinetra Haldar. In the series, Roshan plays Anshu, a youngster who returns to his brother Max after 14 years of imprisonment. Anshu's past disrupts his relationship with Max, and their lives get caught in a web of secrets, and betrayals. Beneath Roshan's charming personality lies a gift to play wicked and flawed characters that often leave a mark. For instance, in his recent Malayalam film Paradise, which is set in Sri Lanka, Roshan plays a man who displays his assertiveness to cover his flaws in his relationship with his wife (played by Darshana Rajendran). Over the years, the actor has found a way to crack roles that come with multiple layers. Roshan talks to The Hindu about the different phases of his career so far, and evolving as an actor across industries. Excerpts: In 'Kankhajura', you play somebody with a dark past. It seems like you have a troubled relationship with your brother. The series is mostly about what happens in the present, but your behaviour has to show the influence of your past. What goes into playing such roles? The script has some amount of detailing, as to what exactly happened in their (the brother's) past, and what their childhood probably was like. There's enough hint in it for us to build our own story around it. I think that's where the interpretation of an actor and the director comes in. I ask myself, 'What could have made him say that'? 'Or what could have made him think or act this way'? So, you build a backstory in your head. A character calls you innocent yet very dangerous. It's the perfect description of a twisted person. How different is this kind of portrayal compared to the other villainous roles you've done? I don't look at Ashu as a villain. Because everything he does is easy to justify. There are reasons behind what he's doing. At some points, he takes extreme measures. It's not something that I would resort to as a person. On a very unbiased scale of right and wrong, he might be in the wrong a few times for sure. But once you understand the context of his actions, you empathise with him. He is a bit reckless, somebody who will do anything to achieve what he wants. You got your first big break with 'Aanandam' (2016), a feel-good coming-of-age movie in which you played the youngster Rockstar Gautham, who loves Western music. It's been a while since we saw you in such a role. Has the genre lost its sheen? Very honestly, I miss it. The genre is delightful. Even when I sit down to watch a film, there's a certain kind of relaxation that comes from watching something very light and breezy. As actors, we want to try all genres. That's what keeps us light and happy on our feet. In the last couple of years, there have been few missed opportunities due to various factors, and I regret them. They were feel-good stories. However, we find ways to be a part of them. For instance, my friends and I are doing a play. It's called Bye Bye Bypass. It's an absolute fun comedy ride. Even before we arrived at the exact script of the play, we were very sure that the mood of the play had to be light. Even Kankhajura isn't so intensely dark that it's going to be a difficult watch. It's a very engaging show. ALSO READ:Roshan Mathew on raising the bar as an actor In one interview, you were described as 'a calm face stuck between unruly curls and a beard'. It feels like a great idea to put someone with pleasant features like you in a deceptive character. It can surprise people. For instance, I watched 'Kappela', having no idea what the film was about, and I was shocked at how your character transformed in the end... There's so much about what meets the eye in a visual medium like cinema. How a person looks and what a person, who does not know an actor at all, gauges from the appearance alone, is debatable. And it happens at such a primary level that actors aren't even aware that the way they look is the reason why they get cast in a particular character. For me, it strikes in retrospect, once the project is over. I don't see the rushes on the monitor. When I see the final output I feel like, 'Okay, so this is what they probably saw initially when they approached me'. I have always wanted to sort of experiment with my looks. For Poacher, I took the beard off completely, and I felt like a different person when I looked in the mirror. My next release in Malayalam is Ronth, directed by Shahi Kabir (Ela Veezha Poonchira). I play a cop, and there is a change in my appearance. A change in look aids me while I'm shooting for a film because I feel like I'm somebody else. 'Kankhajura' is your only second full-fledged series after 'Poacher' (2024). You played a cameo in the Malayalam series 'Master Peace'. Did you have to dodge many scripts to pick what felt right for you? When compared to shooting for a Malayalam film, a web series requires a longer time commitment. So, whenever I choose to do a series, I have to make peace with the fact that I'm going to miss a few film projects. Some films look exciting, but I let go of them with a heavy heart. So, this long commitment that I'm going to make for a particular series better be worth it. With Poacher and Kankhajura, the crew mattered to me. Having Richie Mehta direct a show, with actors such as Nimisha and Divyendu, was a strong reason to say yes to Poacher. For Kankhajura, Rajeev Rai was the cinematographer, and Chandan Arora co-wrote the story. These people do something very original and exciting. The Hindi industry has taken vast strides in the web series space, whereas Malayalam cinema is best known for its new-age content. Do you find it tough to balance the two industries? Some amount of a trade-off does happen, and it's out of your control. Within the Malayalam industry, I have a certain kind of familiarity with people. So, when two projects are clashing, I can discuss and figure things around. When you're doing work in another industry, and something else comes by, the best thing is to decline it. It avoids complications. You said you struggled for the first two or three days on the sets of 'Choked' (2020). It was your first major Hindi project, and you were working with an experienced maker like Anurag Kashyap. How have you grown as a performer in Hindi? I've gotten more comfortable with the idea of working in a different industry. I don't feel orphaned. I don't feel uprooted from my home. I felt this while working in Kankhajura and Ulajh (2024), the last two projects I did in Hindi. For Poacher, we shot a lot in Kerala, so it didn't count for me as a project in a different industry. I am somebody who can quickly find my comfort in new spaces. How have your days at the Drama School Mumbai helped you evolve as a Hindi actor? It's about what we access from within ourselves. The moment I am in Bombay, I feel like one whole side of my personality comes alive. I have spent a couple of milestone years of my life in the city. So much transformation and self-discovery happened at the Drama School. My closest friends are from that school. I feel like I rely on the confidence that my friends and faculty from the drama school have given me. Even if Hindi isn't my mother tongue, it's become a language I can access. I can tap into a certain level of honesty in Hindi. How keen are Malayalam filmmakers about exploring the web series space? People are slowly starting to tap into the potential of the format. There are very few projects that have come out. But some exciting ones are coming soon. On SonyLiv, I feel Krishand RK's series is going to be exciting. It's called The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang. Mithun Manuel Thomas (Anjaam Pathiraa, Abraham Ozler) has made one. For filmmakers in Kerala, time is a huge factor because of how quickly Malayalam films get made. However, for a web series, plans keep shifting here and there. It's a challenge to constantly coordinate with OTT platforms housed in Bombay (Mumbai). Setting up all the plans early enough and shooting for such a long period are the pains in this particular format for Malayalam filmmakers.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Bridging the learning gap: Why parental and community involvement is key to India's FLN mission
In Lalakhedi village, located in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, Ramprasad, a daily wage labourer, is a father of three school-going children, Anshu, Vidhya, and Gauri, who study in Classes 1, 3, and 4, at a government school, Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Lalakhedi. When asked about his involvement in their education, whether he motivates his children to attend school regularly or complete their homework, or knows what syllabus is being taught in school, he said, 'Yes, but they do it themselves.' Ramprasad says his children return home after school and complete their schoolwork on their own. 'They don't get any homework these days,' he added. Both he and his wife, who is also a daily wage worker, are often away from home during the day, leaving little room for academic support to their children. When asked if his wife gets involved in the children's studies, Ramprasad said, 'She has not studied much, so she is often unable to help.' He added that he has studied till Class 8. Expressing a common belief among many parents, he said, 'There's nothing much to study in Class 1 and Class 2 in any case,' suggesting that early-grade learning is easy and can be the school's responsibility. As schools work toward basic reading and arithmetic, families and communities outside school also play a major part, say educationists, adding without their participation, classroom efforts alone may fall short. However, a significant proportion of India's schoolchildren are not very different from Ramprasad's children. Their parents and the extended community around them are not in a position to play that role. The importance of active parental involvement becomes even more pronounced in the context of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat Mission, which aims to ensure that all children acquire Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills by the end of Class 3 by the year 2026-27. FLN levels at this age are important for future studies and skills, and then employability. The school's FLN efforts include ensuring the child's ability to read age-appropriate texts with comprehension and carry out basic mathematical tasks like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. To support and assess the progress of children under the NIPUN Bharat mission, the government has introduced PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), a national assessment centre under NCERT which aims to establish a framework for assessing learning outcomes across States and ensure that FLN goals are being met effectively. PARAKH helps schools and policymakers identify gaps early and make informed interventions. The success of these goals and programmes hinges not only on what happens within the classroom. There is a need for more community-level campaigns and support mechanisms that can bridge the gap between school, home and studies. The problem is not just access or infrastructure, but a lack of interconnectedness—between parents and teachers, between policy and practice, and between the child's world inside and outside school. Filling this void requires a coordinated, community-powered movement, not just classroom-based reform. Root causes Jayant Joshi, a retired government school principal who is now involved in developing FLN workbooks (Abhyas Pustika), is engaged in creating training modules for teachers under the FLN programme in Bhopal. He shares the challenges he has observed at the ground level while working closely with families and communities. He noted that children often miss school during harvest or the 'katai' seasons, as they are expected to help their families. Many children are tasked with looking after younger siblings when their parents are away at work, which further affects their attendance and learning consistency. He observed that teacher training does not translate into actual ground work due to differences in teaching methods, lack of understanding and, sometimes, just inertia. Mr. Joshi says that while the special FLN workbooks are designed for students to carry home and revise what they've learned in school, parental involvement remains minimal. Many families, particularly in rural and tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh, come from farming backgrounds or belong to Adivasi communities, where the parents themselves often haven't received formal education. 'They believe that whatever little their children manage to learn in school is enough. Most parents only check whether their child has passed or failed,' he added. Abdul Qayom Khan, principal of a government school in Kupwama, Kashmir said that students in his school are from different language backgrounds. Not all understand Hindi, Urdu or English, thus teaching class 3 the basic concepts of addition-subtraction in their native language poses obstacles for teachers and for students both. They are also first generation learners so 'the school does not expect parental support….students showing up to the class is the most ambitious expectation we hold,' Mr. Khan added. While in Kashmir, the political disturbances can take a toll on students' learning, elsewhere in India, other external factors such as transport connectivity, lack of infrastructure, harsh weather, irregular availability or unwillingness of teachers to work in remote locations, and seasonal agricultural work often takes priority over education. A non-profit intervention Avinash Verma, who works as a Programme Officer in Patra, Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) with the SRF Foundation, shared that a CSR programme of the company in partnership with the government has adopted several government schools with the aim of transforming them into model schools. The SRF Foundation is the social responsibility arm of SRF Ltd., working to improve the quality of education in government schools across India. 'Our first priority is to develop or repair the school's infrastructure then we move toward strengthening the academic structure,' Mr. Verma said. Their efforts include teacher training, setting up computer labs, digital classrooms, Science labs, and creating subject-specific reading corners. They also ensure the availability of equipment and stationery needed for academic activities. 'It is equally important to build teachers' capabilities to make full use of these facilities, and that's why we focus on teacher training and hold regular competitions. The recognition and involvement motivate teachers,' he added. He further explained that SRF volunteers hold regular meetings with the village sarpanch, Anganwadi workers, teachers, and parents to assess the school's needs and align efforts accordingly. These community meetings have helped in regular interactions between parents and teachers, as well as the attendance count of every student. 'Some parents argue that teachers aren't teaching, and so they stop sending their children to school. These kinds of doubts often come up and are openly addressed in the meetings,' he said. Mr. Verma talks about a common issue observed on the ground: 'Sometimes students lie to teachers, saying their parents asked them to come home early, and then tell their parents that the teachers weren't present. These situations lead to misunderstandings, but regular communication helps us tackle them.' He noted that hygiene, clean bathrooms, water availability, internet availability, and quality of mid-day meal keep the parents enthusiastic about sending their children to school. 'We take time to explain to parents that the teachers in government schools are well-qualified and have cleared competitive exams, unlike many in private schools,' he said. 'To build trust, we even invite them to join the children for a mid-day meal at school so they can see the quality of food being served.' The role of School Management Committees Sometimes, a pro-active School Management Committee (SMC) can turn things around such as in the Corporation Elementary School in Mogappair, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Ms Krishnaveni, Headmaster of the school, shared that the SMC associated with her school comprises 25 members, including educationists, volunteer parents, and community volunteers. The school runs classes from kindergarten to Grade 5 and currently includes 25 children with special needs, including students with autism. 'Interested parents join the committee as volunteers and that way they help their child and other children too through the daily tasks of reading and writing,' Ms. Krishnaveni said. What sets this school apart is the everyday involvement of at least six to seven parents who come in to assist students with reading and writing. The school also conducts special coaching classes for both children with special needs and others in core subjects like Maths, English, and Tamil, for two and a half hours daily. Supported by the Tamil Nadu government, the school has been provided with workbooks and learning materials - the SMC enhances this further by creating laminated grammar and Math activity sheets, promoting newspaper reading, and sharing library books to improve students' reading habits. They also engage students in practicing tongue twisters in Tamil and English to help develop vocabulary and improve speech, especially for students with special needs. Ms Krishnaveni said that the government conducted the FLN assessment in November 2024 for Classes 3 and 5. From Class 3, 20 students were selected through a government lottery system to take the test. The results of the assessment are yet to be announced. However, Ms. Krishnaveni went a step further. Once the selected 20 students completed the assessment, she conducted the same test for the rest of the class as well, comprising 40 students. 'This was to understand where each student stands and to identify who needs additional attention.' She noted that among the 40 students in Class 3, three have autism and five are on the dyslexia spectrum. Despite these challenges, she said the majority of students performed well. 'About 90% of them did well, though 10% struggled with English. For those students, we're currently holding special English support classes after school,' she added. She also pointed out that 20 students have shown advanced writing skills. Ms. Krishnaveni mentioned the importance of community involvement in a child's learning journey. 'It's not just the teachers. We have coaching volunteers, parents, and even school staff like sweepers stepping in to help. One of our sweepers conducts drawing classes to keep the students engaged and reduce boredom,' she shared. 'I strongly believe that one teacher alone can't make a difference. We need a group, a community, that supports students daily, helping them achieve the basics,' Ms. Krishnaveni said. Statewide FLN missions The Central Square Foundation (CSF), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing students' learning outcomes through its system-level interventions and State partnerships, works with 11 State governments as a technical support partner to design and implement statewide FLN missions. Ms Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO & MD, says these collaborations support States in creating roadmaps, developing content, strengthening teacher capacity, and building monitoring systems to ensure the effectiveness of FLN efforts on the ground. CSF also advocates for a community-led approach to improving learning outcomes, aligning closely with the goals of the NIPUN Bharat Mission. Ms. Shaveta noted that CFS is developing easy-to-understand communication materials, supporting States in conducting FLN-focused SMC orientation sessions, conducting training for headmasters and mentors, as well as supporting the State in organising parent-teachers meetings. 'The success of the NIPUN Bharat Mission is not just a government priority, but to achieve its objectives, it needs to follow a whole-of-society approach and be energised by members of the community,' she said. Ms. Shaveta further notes, 'By equipping SMCs with the right knowledge and tools, and empowering parents, we aim to make them true partners in ensuring that every child in Grades 1-3 can read with understanding and solve basic Math problems.'
