Latest news with #Nurture
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki, DPIIT join hands to support tech startups in automobile manufacturing
Maruti Suzuki India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade ( DPIIT ) to support startups to develop technology-driven solutions in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. As a result of the pact, startups recognised by DPIIT under the ' Startup India ' initiative can participate in Maruti Suzuki's innovation programs. Upon selection, startups will benefit from expert mentorship, industry insights, and access to the carmaker's extensive network and infrastructure. Additionally, startups will get a platform to connect with incubators, accelerators, and investors to showcase their solutions, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday. The MoU was exchanged between DPIIT and Maruti Suzuki in the presence of Sanjiv, joint secretary, DPIIT, Anjali Bansal, independent director, Maruti Suzuki, Sunil Kakkar, director (corporate planning), Maruti Suzuki, Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer (corporate affairs), Maruti Suzuki and Tapan Sahoo, executive officer (digital enterprise), Maruti Suzuki. Partnership builds on Maruti Suzuki's existing startup programmes Maruti Suzuki has been actively supporting early-stage companies through various initiatives such as the Mobility Challenge, Incubation, Nurture, and Accelerator programmes. So far, the company has screened more than 5,220 startups, engaged with around 150, and onboarded 28 as business partners. 'India is home to a vibrant and growing startup ecosystem. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we will be able to further accelerate our efforts to support promising startups to create technology-led solutions in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space,' Bharti said. 'This MoU is a step towards creating a robust platform for startups to transform ideas into market-ready mobility and manufacturing solutions, reinforcing India's leadership in next-gen industrial innovation,' Sanjiv said. 'Our partnership with Maruti Suzuki reflects DPIIT's commitment to nurturing high-impact startup engagement in the mobility and manufacturing space. We look forward to enabling startups with the support they need to succeed at scale, both in India and globally,' said Alam Ansari, deputy director, Startup India, DPIIT.
Qatar Tribune
08-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
IBPC launches IWEN to empower women's professional growth
Tribune News Network Doha In a landmark initiative that underscores the growing presence and influence of Indian women in Qatar's professional and entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) Qatar launched the IBPC Women Excellence Network (IWEN) at a vibrant gathering held in Doha. The launch was officially inaugurated by Sandhya Bhatt, Second Secretary at the Embassy of India to Qatar. In her address, she commended IBPC for taking a forward-thinking step by establishing a dedicated network that fosters the development and visibility of Indian women in Qatar. She emphasised the importance of such platforms in amplifying women's voices and encouraging their active participation in economic and community development. In his welcome speech, IBPC Qatar President Thaha Muhammed shared the vision and inspiration behind IWEN. He emphasised IBPC's commitment to inclusivity and its resolve to empower women through mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity. He described IWEN as a platform that will bring together Indian women in Qatar to support one another and create meaningful impact. IBPC Vice President Shubhi Sharma then took the stage to introduce the 'IWEN Souls' — the initiative's passionate core team members who will drive the network's programmes. She outlined the key focus areas of IWEN, which have been designed to support women in various spheres of life, including career development, entrepreneurship, wellness, financial literacy, parenting, and more. As part of the launch, IBPC Qatar unveiled a series of targeted initiatives under IWEN, each designed to support women's excellence across key areas. These include Reignite (Back to Work), MoneyWise (Financial Literacy), Nurture (Parenting), SheEO (Entrepreneurship), Bliss (Happiness Clinic), Strive (Wellness & Fitness), Evolve (Career Development), Thrive (Soft Skills), e-mpowHer (Online Initiatives), Spark (Talent Pool), and Amplify (Publicity). These initiatives will be led by dedicated IWEN volunteers to drive impact through mentorship, collaboration, and community engagement. Each initiative lead presented a brief overview of their focus area, ranging from leadership development to mentorship, wellness, entrepreneurship, and community impact — all aligning with IWEN's vision of driving women's excellence through collaboration and opportunity. The event concluded with a ceremonial cake-cutting, celebrating this milestone and marking the beginning of a promising new chapter for IBPC Qatar.
Tom's Guide
03-07-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
I review TVs for a living — here's why I don't let my daughter watch any of them
I grew up in front of the television, which, for most of my life, was a 19-inch Magnavox CRT TV — a far cry from the Samsung S95D OLED I watch now. The way my mom tells it, she plopped me in front of Sesame Street starting at two weeks old and never gave it a second thought. In her eyes, having kids huddled around the TV was the norm in the '80s and '90s, and she felt good knowing that at least I was watching informative educational TV rather than something geared for older audiences. Around 12 months ago, I became a father to an adorable little girl — and she wants nothing more than to watch any one of the 10 TVs I have stationed around the house. But that's not going to happen. At least not until she's much older. Here's why. I wasn't always so staunchly opposed to my daughter watching TV. While she was recovering at Oishei Children's Hospital here in Buffalo, I would put the TV on in her room so she'd have some background noise in the hopes she'd feel less alone when I left for the night. But when she came home, my wife and I decided that TV shows — no matter how educational — shouldn't be part of her everyday routine. And science backs that up. 'Pediatric guidelines from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest avoiding screen media for children under 18 months, except for video chatting,' says Rachel Kowert, PhD, a research psychologist and digital parenting expert at Nurture. Around age 2, limited and high-quality screen time can be introduced — especially when it's used with a caregiver That's been difficult, especially considering that my job here at Tom's Guide requires a constant parade of TVs coming into and going out of the house. Thankfully, it won't have to be that way forever. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Around age 2, limited and high-quality screen time can be introduced — especially when it's used with a caregiver,' Dr. Kowert says. 'Still, less than an hour is best.' It wasn't long after I started watching TV that I picked up an NES controller. Before I learned how to read, I could beat the first few levels of Super Mario Bros. and give my brother's friends a run for their money in Tecmo Super Bowl. These days, however, most kids' first introduction to gaming is via a tablet or phone. As a newish parent that concerns me — playing a console had a specific time and place. But phones and tablets can be taken anywhere, which means kids can request to play games at inappropriate times at inappropriate places. That's a possible concern, says Dr. Kowert, but parents really set the tone for their kids. 'Screen time works best for kids and parents when it's intentional. Even if that intention is just entertaining so mom or dad can make dinner, or more complex like teaching critical thinking skills, the intent matters. 'When kids understand that screens have different purposes — some for learning, some for relaxing, some for connecting — they build healthy habits around media use.' I don't think I'll be able to keep my daughter from using screens indefinitely, obviously, and I'm looking forward to introducing her to a PC when the time's right. But the time just isn't right for her right now. Both can support learning, development, and just living, in different ways. According to Dr. Kowert, the 'games vs. shows' question comes up a lot: 'The truth is, both can support learning, development, and just living, in different ways. Games are typically more interactive. They ask kids to make choices, solve problems, and practice skills actively. That kind of engagement is great for building critical thinking and reinforcing early concepts through repetition and play.' Of course, my mom wasn't totally in the wrong by letting me watch TV — especially because she was choosing shows that were great for early brain development. Thoughtful shows, especially ones like Sesame Street, also have tremendous value, especially for modeling kindness, cooperation, and early academic skills. 'Thoughtful shows, especially ones like Sesame Street, also have tremendous value, especially for modeling kindness, cooperation, and early academic skills … They also offer a shared cultural experience that many families value and enjoy together.' It should be noted here that Nurture is itself a learning app that's aimed at kids aged 4-7 to teach them 'essential life skills through engaging, story-driven play.' She's spent the last 15 years conducting data-driven research focused on mental health and trust and safety in digital games, so you might hear a slightly different story from someone with less knowledge in the visual media space. Still, Dr. Kowert's claims are backed up by years of research conducted by universities like NYU and the University of Burlington, who all say that games are far more beneficial than they are harmful to a child's development. When I asked specifically about how to prevent my daughter from becoming a so-called 'iPad Kid,' Dr. Kowert had some reassuring advice that all parents need to hear. If it becomes a crutch, not a tool, there's probably a good reason to rein it in. But 'iPad kid' oversimplifies the relationship kids have with screens. 'Parents tend to have a really strong feeling when screen time feels like 'too much.' If it becomes a crutch, not a tool, there's probably a good reason to rein it in. But 'iPad kid' oversimplifies the relationship kids have with screens. Kids are drawn to them because they're fun, rewarding, and stimulating. So we just have to be very intentional about what's on that screen and why they're reaching for it.' Finally, when it comes time to put them down for the night, set clear expectations and give verbal warnings that it's time to power down. These won't always go over well, obviously, but when we as parents snatch tablets away too quickly, we're almost always going to get a negative response. According to Dr. Kowert, this is like someone snatching a donut away from you mid-bite. 'Just like we'd be annoyed if someone snatched a donut from our grip right as we had another bite, kids won't enjoy having the screen turned off without warning or too suddenly … Giving them 5, 2, and 1-minute warnings is one way we can help them stay aware of the passage of time and ease out of their high-focus state.' Admittedly, this is the part I'm least looking forward to — but sadly it's part of being a responsible parent in a time when we've got screens everywhere in the house. Ultimately, I'm excited to introduce my little one to the world of big-screen entertainment. I'm dreaming of the day when we can sit down together for some all-day gaming sessions, but for her health, I'm going to adhere to Dr. Kowert's advice and keep her away from screens for at least another six months before slowly introducing them in a responsible manner.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Severe malnutrition cases among children decline by 51,000 in last two years: Maharashtra govt
Mumbai: The number of severely malnourished (SAM) children in Maharashtra has significantly declined over the last two years from 80,248 in 2023 to 29,107 in 2025. Similarly, the number of moderately malnourished (MAM) children declined from 2.12 lakh or 5.09% to 1.49 lakh or 3.11% over the same period. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the achievement to coordinated efforts by various state departments and welfare agencies. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai According to official data, the percentage of severely malnourished (SAM) children in the state has fallen from 1.93% to 0.61% in the last two years. A total of over 48 lakh children were measured for height and weight under state surveys in March 2025, compared to 41.6 lakh in 2023. The number of SAM children dropped to 29,107 by March 2025 compared to 80,248 in March 2023, as per the data. "This achievement is the result of effective implementation, regular monitoring, and the dedication of thousands of grassroots workers and officials," Fadnavis said. The state govt has been implementing several initiatives to tackle malnutrition, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which provides take-home rations for children aged six months to three years and hot cooked meals for those between 3 and 6 years of age, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated. Special initiatives like the 'Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Aahar Yojana' are being implemented in tribal areas, offering square meals to pregnant and lactating mothers, it said. The CMO said SAM children are provided with additional nutrition and medical attention at village-level and urban child development centres. Among other measures, digital platforms such as the 'Nurture' app and the Nutrition Tracker are being used to monitor individual child health data, track nutritional status, and ensure timely delivery of food supplements. A dedicated state-level task force has been formed to guide policy and implementation, while weekly field reviews and regular training for Anganwadi workers have helped ensure accountability and grassroots impact, the release stated. "Maharashtra continues to lead not only in economic growth but also in social welfare initiatives, especially those targeting human development and inclusive progress," Fadnavis added. PTI
Entrepreneur
29-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Maruti Suzuki and JETRO Join Hands to Empower Startups Across India and Japan
The MoU aims to promote collaboration between Indian and Japanese startups by creating new business opportunities and expanding access to each other's innovation ecosystems. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a significant move to foster cross-border innovation and entrepreneurship, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The MoU aims to promote collaboration between Indian and Japanese startups by creating new business opportunities and expanding access to each other's innovation ecosystems. The agreement was formally exchanged between Dr Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer – Digital Enterprise at Maruti Suzuki, and Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India. The ceremony was held in the presence of Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India. Through this MoU, startups from India will gain access to Japan's robust startup and innovation network, while Japanese startups will be welcomed into India's vibrant and fast-growing entrepreneurial landscape. This two-way collaboration is expected to unlock new synergies in mobility, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Startups participating in Maruti Suzuki's four flagship innovation programs—Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge, and Nurture—will be eligible to join this initiative. JETRO will facilitate Japanese startup participation, offering them exposure to India's dynamic market and innovation-driven opportunities. Hisashi Takeuchi remarked, "Startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth. With this MoU, we aim to open new doors for Indian startups to explore the Japanese market and strengthen bilateral technological ties." Takashi Suzuki added, "Maruti Suzuki is a shining example of India-Japan collaboration. This partnership will deepen our ties and foster innovation-led economic growth in both nations." Maruti Suzuki's innovation ecosystem continues to evolve as a critical bridge between industry needs and startup capabilities. With the support of JETRO, the company is now poised to take its startup engagement global, creating a win-win for businesses in both countries. This MoU is not just a partnership—it is a forward-looking step toward building a global startup network that thrives on innovation, mutual support, and shared vision between India and Japan.
