Double celebration at Acharya Tulsi Academy Orchids The International School as students celebrate Diwali with the city’s traffic guards and kids from Prayajan NGO

 

●        While few students visited the Newtown police station area to celebrate the occasion, the kids from Prayajan NGO participated in the celebration at school.

 

●        Brightening their day, OIS Students gifted handmade diyas, candles and sweets to the traffic guards in the city, and the kids from Prayajan NGO 

After two years of small scale celebrations, Orchids The International School (OIS), Newtown, Kolkata celebrated Diwali with full vigor with the city’s traffic guards and the kids from Prayajan NGO, an organization for underprivileged kids. The students visited the Newtown Police Station area and spent some quality time with the traffic guards, and thanked them for their service.  The underprivileged children from Prayajan NGO, Rajarhat also visited the school where they participated in the celebrations with all excitement and enthusiasm. Beautiful handmade diyas, candles and sweets were gifted by the OIS students to the traffic guards and the kids.

“Festivals are about celebrating and coming together. During this Festival of Lights, we are extremely proud to celebrate the day with our traffic guards who have been helping in the constant management of the traffic and putting consistent efforts in keeping the city on the move. We are thankful to them for making our days and lives easier and our students were thrilled to spend some quality time with them. It was indeed a blessed moment to have the kids from Prayajan NGO at our school during the celebration. We are happy that they could participate in the activities and go back with lots of beautiful Diwali memories. After two years of low low key celebrations, it was indeed heartening to see our students participate with full enthusiasm for all the cultural activities conducted during the Diwali celebrations at the school too”, said Ms. Sharmili Shah, Principal, Orchids The International School, Newtown.

The cultural programme organized at the school including rangoli making, diya decoration, music and dance programs, non-gas activities and others witnessed participation from students and teachers alike with all zeal and fervor. The students also exchanged gifts among themselves celebrating the joy of giving and sharing.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) organised its Convocation Ceremony

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) organised its Convocation Ceremony on Thursday, the 6^th October 2022 at 14 Centres, viz, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Mumbai, New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Pune & Kolkata.

The Inaugural Session commenced with CA. Sushil Kr. Goyal, Convenor, Members & Students’ Services, grievance & E-sahayata, ICAI & Council Member, ICAI welcoming Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Govt. of India and the young and vibrant newly qualified Chartered Accountants.

 

CA. (Dr.) Debashis Mitra, Hon’ble President, in his presidential address mentioned the significance of the contribution of the CAs towards nation building. He reckoned that currently our Institute is having 166 branches countrywide with 44 chapters dotted around the world representing itself in 45 countries. He conveyed the message to the young Chartered Accountants that this CA Profession commands respect and dignity. Referring to Garuda, the symbol of our Institute, he pointed out the four salient features of the great bird are that it was fearless, innovative, adapted to changes and withstands challenges and the CAs do possess those qualities.

 

Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister, also himself a Member of ICAI, took the stage and his speech covered a wide range of topics. He greeted the leadership of ICAI, flowed his congratulations to the newly qualified lot of CAs. He called them the “Ambassadors to this noble profession” and asked them to keep the head of this nation high. Visibly he was nostalgic while he had been recalling his earlier days of studying Chartered Accountancy. To establish the importance of the Chartered Accountants, he said that every document is a powerful endorsement based on the signature of a Chartered Accountant. Talking about the forthcoming World Congress of Accounting being organised at Mumbai on the theme Building Trust Enabling Sustainability, he gleefully conveyed the message that CAs have a significant role both in sustainability and in social activities in order to make this world a better place to live in. Quoting the 5 commitments as suggested by Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, he addressed the CAs as the “Talent Factory of the World” and wish they become “Global Champions” and act as “Job Creators’’ apart from doing their professional activities in the fields of Accounting, Auditing etc.

 

CA. Aniket Sunil Talati, Hon’ble Vice President, ICAI, offered Vote of Thanks. He acknowledged being truly motivated by the speech of the Hon’ble Minister in setting up 100 chapters of the Institute worldwide. CA. Talati also highlighted on the contribution of the parents towards adding some more partners in the nation building process.

 

The Ceremony was hosted at Kolkata Centre at Kalamandir Auditorium in Kolkata.  Pursuers of Chartered Accountancy Course who just qualified to become Chartered Accountants received their certificates on becoming a part of the fraternity in this ceremony.  Almost 1000 number of newly qualified CAs were awarded their degree of being a Chartered Accountant.

CA. Subodh Kr. Agrawal, the Past President of ICAI and the Guest-of-Honour to this ceremonious  occasion, graciously attended this function and CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Council Member,  ICAI gave the welcome address.

CA. Subodh Kr. Agrawal, Hon’ble Guest-of-Honour to this programme and the Hon’ble Past President, ICAI, in his own original style, quipped that he belongs to this vibrant lot. Success depends on imbibing new things – Agrawaji reflected. Alluding to the example of Edmund Hillary, he envisaged that anybody could conquer anything by putting in the best efforts.

CA. Ravi Kr. Patwa, Chairman, EIRC of claimed that ethics and principles are the most important facets of life and hence short-cut growth will halt anyone’s success.

Release of Coffee Table Book of Birla High School Alumni

Birla High School Alumni is proud to release their Coffee Table Book titled “Darkness to Light” to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of India’s Independence and the 80^th year of the founding of Birla High School.

Guest of Honour, Rear Admiral Rajeev Paralikar (Retd) Indian Navi, Col Bera (Retd), Asst Gen Sec Vidya Mandir Society, Mohan Goenka, Amit Chirawala, Koeli Dey, Principal SGBS, Loveleen Saigal, Principal BHS, Sharmila Bose, Director SGBS, Mukta Nain, Director BHS, Atul Churiwal, President BHSA, Maj Gen V N Chaturvedi (Retd),Gen Sec Vidya Mandir Society, Ashish Jhunjhunwala, Gaurav Vasa, Anant Saraf, Arun Kumar Dalmia, Programme Convenor, Farida Singh, Headmistress BHS, Rupa Shah, PRO BHS, Rajat Baid, Programme Anchor, Neeraj Choudhary were present.

It is a matter of great pride and a momentous occasion that we are launching this coffee table book “From Darkness to Light”. It is the next generation that is going to build the nation and this coffee table book will be invaluable for them in the days to come. It will serve as a kind of benchmark or a reference point to ponder over, evaluate and assess where they have reached when we celebrate our centenary in 2047.  They can make any course corrections of our visions or implementation,” said Rear Admiral

The Alumni thought it prudent to highlight the success stories of our country since Independence in diversified fields like Agriculture, Business, Space Mission, Education, Judiciary, Health, Cinema, I.T and Telecom and Sports. Prominent personalities of their fields have written these essays with in depth analysis and insights. The Entire Canvas of our countries journey since Independence has been clearly depicted by the essayists with great personal experiences and knowledge.

Our Theme of “Darkness to Light” is also our school’s motto” तमसोमाज्योति्र्ग्मय”.

Essays from current school boys have also been selected regarding the next 25years and how the students see the so called “AmritKaal” that the Government has been calling the years till the years 2047.

The journey of Birla High School has also been shown through various inputs and photographs.

The Entire Alumni feels that it is important for the current generation of youngsters to understand about our nation’s journey, the outstanding contribution of people in above mentioned fields, and the trials and tribulations of our country during the 75 years of Independence.

The Alumni takes great pride in celebrating “AzadikaAmritMahotsav” with the nation.

“It is a memorable occasion for all of us to celebrate “AzadikaAmritMahotsav” and I feel proud to be associated with such a school.”Atul Churiwala”, President, Birla High School Alumni.

The Birla High School Alumni was founded 26 years back by a handful of ex students. Over the years, the membership has grown to more than 1600.

Though the objective of an Alumni is of reuniting old friends and giving them the opportunity to reminisce and recall. Birla High School Alumni is so much more than that. Our association is also about giving something back to the school via student oriented initiatives and the society through various projects undertaken for example adopting a school in the Sundarbans, distribution of 25000 cooked meals during Covid, helping the under privileged during “Amphan” and celebrating the 75^th years of India’s Independence through quiz programs, debates and talk by Dr. Kumar Vishwas.

“The School Alumni always takes initiative to organize meaningful events and encourage everyone to be a part of them.”.Anand Saraf, Secretary, Birla High School Alumni.

19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 exhibition takes off

The 19^th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 exhibition was formally inaugurated by Shri Subrata Saha, Hon’ble minister of Department of Food Processing Industries, Government of West Bengal, here today at the Biswa Bangla Milan Mela Prangan.  Over 130 major foreign and Indian food and hospitality sector companies and leading brands are participating in the three-day (August 26 – 28 / 10am to 6pm) mega event which is eastern region’s largest food and hospitality exhibition.

The premier mega business to business (B2B) exhibition draws participants from packaging, confectionery, bakery, dairy and hotel and allied services sectors. The Expo, supported by seven major trade associations from the food industry and hospitality sectors. “As an impact of the pandemic, there has been a sea change globally in the line of food production. Automation, hygiene and safety have got a new impetus in the food and hospitality industry. The 19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 Exhibition will carry forward this message to the food manufacturers and their huge consumer base. Hygienic packaging will be the focal theme of International Foodtech 2022 this year,” said Mr Zakir Hossain, Convenor, 19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 while addressing a press conference

“Eastern India’s food entrepreneurs generally go to other metropolitan cities to procure machinery and plants. The 19th International Foodtech 2022 Kolkata will provide a wide range of in-hand experience in this regard at the Exhibition,” Mr Hossain said.

“Foodtech 2022 will present a unique platform to bring the farmers, food processors and the latest technologies under one roof. Besides presenting technological advancements, the business to business (B2) Expo provides a conducive ambiance for marketing outreach and consultancy services,” said Mr Rajat Budhraja, Chairman, All India Food Processors’ Association, Eastern Chapter.

“There is major technological upgradation taking place in the food packaging and hygiene like Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). Representatives of smaller and local businesses will get an opportunity to come face to face with some of the latest technological advancements to be showcased at the Exhibition,” said Mr Dhiman Das, President, Sweet & Savourite Entrepreneurs Association of Bengal.

“Use of technology and new packaging processes to extend shelf life of products and maintaining a high level of hygiene is one of the themes of the Exhibition which will benefit local food producers immensely and help them move from a labour intensive industry towards automation,” said Mr Pratik Chandra of Paschim Bangla Chanachur Byabsai Samiti.

From the “farm to fork” technology is revolutionising food production, manufacturing and processing while raising hygiene standards, shelf-life of foodstuffs, minimising wastage and recycling of waste materials. From culturing meats to contactless dining experiences and food delivery platforms, technology has streamlined the way fresh food reaches the end users. Equipment driven by smart technologies are cutting down energy costs in kitchens and restaurants across the country. The 19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 would highlight these themes.

The West Bengal Food Processing Department will highlight various schemes and subsidies for setting up MSME food processing units in the state. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is participating for the first time to sensitise the entrepreneurs in the hospitality and food industry on food safety and standards. The Indian Institute of Packaging will highlight various technical courses of the packaging industry among young aspirants and also apprise them of the modern concepts in food packaging.

The mega Exhibition will showcase under one roof the latest products and services cutting across hotel, confectionery, equipment, catering equipment, tableware, food packaging technology, food flavours and additives, industrial refrigeration, hotel and food chain consumables and Bengali sweets and snacks.

AN ICONIC STORE FOR AN ICONIC CITY – LEVI'S OPENS NEXT-GEN STORE AT SOUTH CITY MALL

The 5800sq.ft store is in its world-class next-gen format and includes the first Levi’s Tailorshop in the city

Levi’s^® inaugurated it’s new store at South City Mall in Kolkata, adding another icon to the city. With a significally larger footprint, the new store brings the best expression of the Levi’s^® brand to life, which features an elevated experience, premium collections and the Levi’s^® Tailorshop.

Spread across 5800sq ft, the brand cements its intention in the region with its store in its Next-Gen store concept. Designed to offer consumers an authentic, compelling and immersive expression of the Levi’s brand, NextGen stores bring the best of the brand to consumers with a lighter, modern and more open take allowing consumers to explore the store and its range of products.

Levi’s^® have historically been the blank canvas of self expression, this comes alive at the Levi’s^® Tailorshop. The first Tailorshop in the city will feature everything to make their Levi’s^®
 truly their own thru pins, patches, embroidery, paneling, and distressing.

“Kolkata is known for its artistic flair and for being one of the more fashionable cities in India, and we are excited to introduce our latest iconic store in this vibrant city. Strategically located in South City Mall, the new store will feature our premium collections as well as personalization services via the Levi’s® Tailorshop. It perfectly illustrates how we continue to elevate brand experiences across our stores in the region,” said Amisha Jain, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of South Asia-Middle East and Africa, Levi Strauss & Co.

Located inside one of the city’s premium malls, the store will feature the products the brand is loved for, from its iconic 501®, Trucker jacket & logo tee to a range of jeans that promises a pair of everyone. Featuring the newest range of fits for women with looser, baggier and more relaxed trends and premium collections & collaborations, the store is a set to be a new shopping landmark.

Benelli | Keeway Inaugurates Exclusive Showroom at Durgapur

§  Fourth showroom in West Bengal, the outlet will display an entire range of Benelli | Keeway products

§  State of the art 3S facility, designed to support sales, service and spares 

Benelli | Keeway India inaugurated a new dealership in Durgapur. Located at NH-2, Srinagar Pally, Bhiringi, EAST, Durgapur, West Bengal 713213, the brand new state-of-the-art facility is designed to support sales, service, and spares in Durgapur. The sales touchpoint is operated under the leadership of Kaushik Bhattacharya, Kaushik Enterprise.

With this new outlet, Benelli | Keeway India has a strong network of 53 touch points across the country. The facility would highlight Benelli’s range of superbikes as well as products from the recently launched Hungarian marque Keeway. The 3S showroom will also display merchandise and accessories.

Speaking at the Inauguration, Mr. Vikas Jhabakh, Managing Director, Benelli | Keeway India said, “We are rapidly expanding our dealership network, to move closer to our customers and to be able to provide them with best customer services at nation level. We are delighted to partner with Kaushik Enterprise, to provide complete support in Durgapur”

Commenting on the inauguration of the new dealership Mr. Kaushik Bhattacharya, Dealer Principal, Benelli | Keeway said, “We are delighted to associate with Benelli | Keeway India. With our customer orientate approach we aim to provide a hassle-free sale and service and overall a premium experience.”

The professionals at Benelli | Keeway are trained as per global standards and guidelines to offer the best, in terms of sales, service, and customer experience, allowing customers to enjoy best-in-class, stress-free ownership

UCO Bank announces Financial Results for the Quarter Ended 30th June 2022

Financial Performance:

v  Bank has made Net Profit of ₹ 123.61 Crore during the quarter ended June 2022 as against Net Profit of ₹ 101.81 Crore in the quarter ended June 2021 registering a growth of 21.41%.

v  Operating Profit of the Bank for the quarter June 2022  stood at ₹ 439.94 Crore (Operating profit excluding MTM loss ₹ 1093.43 Crore) as against ₹ 1173.41 Crore (Operating profit excluding MTM loss ₹ 1286.29 Crore) for the quarter ended June 2021.

 v  Net Interest Income of the Bank for the quarter ended June 2022 has increased to ₹ 1649.54 Crore from ₹ 1460.24 Crore for the quarter ended June 2021 registering a growth of 12.96%.

v  Other Income of the Bank for the quarter ended June 2022 stood at ₹ -54.47 Crore (Other Income excluding MTM loss ₹ 599.02 Crore) as against ₹ 856.64 Crore (Other Income excluding MTM loss ₹ 969.52 Crore) for the quarter ended June 2021..

v  Total Business of the Bank has increased to ₹ 356677.47 Crore as on 30.06.2022 from ₹ 332946.17 Crore as on 30.06.2021 registering a growth of 7.13%.

v  Total Deposits of the Bank has increased to ₹ 225327.74 Crore as on 30.06.2022 from ₹ 212096.82 Crore as on 30.06.2021 registering a growth of 6.24%.

v  CASA  of the Bank  (Domestic) stood at 39.25% as on 30.06.2022.

v  Savings Deposits of the Bank has increased to ₹ 77498.06 Crore as on 30.06.2022 from ₹ 71377.97 Crore as on 30.06.2021 registering a growth of 8.57%.

v  Total Advances of the Bank stands at ₹ 131349.73 Crore as on 30.06.2022 as against ₹ 120849.35 Crore as on 30.06.2021 registering a growth of 8.69%.

v  Gross NPA of the Bank  has reduced to ₹ 9739.65 Crore (7.42%) as on 30.06.2022 from  ₹ 11321.76 Crore (9.37%) as on 30.06.2021 and from ₹ 10237.43 Crore (7.89%) as on 31.03.2022.

v  Net NPA of the Bank has reduced to ₹ 3103.82 Crore (2.49%) as on 30.06.2022 from ₹ 4387.25 Crore (3.85%) as on 30.06.2021 and from ₹ 3315.78 Crore (2.70%) as on 31.03.2022.

v  Provision Coverage Ratio of the Bank has increased to 91.96% as on 30.06.2022 from 88.53% as on 30.06.2021 and from 91.44% as on 31.03.2022.

v  Capital Adequacy Ratio of the Bank stood at 14.13% and CET-I Ratio at 11.29% as on 30.06.2022.