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Pride month and initiatives: Global tech companies support ‘inclusion’

By
Jasmine Khan
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1
Pride Month and Initiatives - Point 2 Note
Pride Month and Initiatives


The celebration of the Pride Month and initiatives this year was different from the previous years as people shifted to digital platforms to connect while keeping in mind the significant protocol of maintaining social distancing. What exactly is Pride Month?

Pride Month or the LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated to honor and commemorate the Stonewall riots, which took place in 1969. Several protests and demonstrations by the members of LGBTQ+ communities took place in response to the violent attacks of the police in Manhattan New York City; as well as to spread awareness about all the people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community who struggle to gain acceptance in the society, and are often discriminated over their sexual preferences and gender identity. 

The Stonewall riot is a historical event of significant importance. It strengthened the foundations of the liberation, freedom, and rights of the LGBTQ+ communities against the anti-gay legal system of the United States. Since then, June month is traditionally celebrated worldwide, accompanied by a Pride March or Pride Parade, with rainbow colors as a symbolic and respectful representation of the community. 

Given the adversities and crises of the COVID-19, the LGBTQ+ communities, activists, and supporters took to social media and other digital platforms to celebrate Pride Month. Not only people showed their acknowledgement and support towards spreading awareness about the inclusivity and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ communities, but several prominent global tech brands took several initiatives to support Pride Month. 

To honor the Pride Month, Apple launched the Pride-themed Apple watch bands, that had rainbow colors situated at the holes of the wrist band of the watch. The company draws its inspiration from its CEO, Tim Cook, who has openly acknowledged being gay and has always used his platforms and demeanor to extend support and recognition of the LGBTQ+ communities.

In Tim Cook‘s words, “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

On the other hand, another tech-giant, Microsoft revealed its Pride Collection products that include a wide range of skin covers for the Microsoft Surface devices, and an LGBTQ+ inspired merchandise such as hoodies and t-shirts. Microsoft owned Xbox also released a collection of games chosen by the people of LGBTQ+ community such as Borderlands 3, Life is Strange, and The Outer World. Moreover, Xbox also donated $250,000 in support of the NGOs that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Microsoft also created an exclusive forum page, wherein the people of the community can openly discuss topics related to the community and share Pride sentiments.

India’s top technology companies also showed their support for LGBTQ+ communities. They created positions for the Diversity and Inclusion officer, whose primary job is to ensure inclusion, acceptance, equality, non-discrimination, and diversity at the workplace. Moreover, Infosys Gay Lesbians and You (IGLU) is the company led initiative that ensures open communication about the policies that directly impact the LGBTQ+ community. 

Some of the other best practices include paid leaves for adoption to same-sex couples for up to 12 weeks by Tech Mahindra. Wipro has facilities for the gender-neutral signages for the restrooms. Even the Human resource team assigned for the role of recruitment has specific instructions to use gender-neutral language while recruitment processes. There are many tech companies in India, such as Godrej that have anti-discrimination policies and has created the Godrej India Culture Lab. 

Parmesh Shahani, the founder of Godrej India Culture Lab states, “I am spending most of the Pride Month doing a lot of webinars with companies who want to talk about LGBTQ, and I think it’s vital because especially in a post-COVID scenario, it’s vital that companies keep their eye on the inclusion ball.”

Another unique initiative was taken by Facebook-owned social media platform, Instagram, that released an array of features such as hashtag, stickers, and filters to honor the Pride Month. The hashtag feature allowed people to use words such as #Pride2020 in rainbow color. The direct message feature of the application also allowed users to use a different set of Pride Month dedicated stickers every day. Similarly, other social media platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat also rolled out features such as rainbow themed filters and frames.

Jess Harvie, the D&I Manager of Snapchat, stated, “Pride is one opportunity for us to celebrate and uplift our internal and external LGBTQ+ community and support the breaking down some of these barriers as we work to create more inclusive spaces.”

Tara Bedi, the Public Policy and Community Outreach Manager of Instagram, stated in a press release, “We understand the challenges and diversity of emotions that the LGBTQIA+ community faces every day, and want our platforms to be safe spaces for them to express themselves. Especially during COVID-19, we want to help the community celebrate virtually, find support online, and stay connected with the people they love.”

These giant global tech companies have come together with initiatives to create a safe and harmonious environment for the LGBTQ+ community so that the inclusivity and acceptance can be promoted at a broader scale.

Consumer behavior and sentiments in an Internet driven world post COVID-19

By
Shahzer Rahman
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0
Consumer behavior and sentiments - Point2Note
Consumer behavior and sentiments

It’s 9 pm on a Wednesday. Time for the primetime show on your favorite news channel. The economy is trembling with job loss, layoffs, deaths, and whatnot. But they’re still playing the Myntra ad on TV. Let’s understand why. 
One of the essential technologies that govern modern life is the Internet. Research says that the average human spends almost 7 hours on the Internet daily. The advent of the Internet has also led to a boom in the number of start-ups operating online. They have played a very pivotal role in shaping consumer behavior and sentiments.

Exploring the new-normal in a post-COVID Internet driven consumer market.

 A McKinsey report states that a significant chunk of optimistic consumers has recessed. Reduced income and shortage of essentials have also led to a decrease in the number of shoppers offline. But this is highly dependent on the state of the pre-COVID economy in the country. Other trends observed are the boom in segmented shopping and spending. People are getting reluctant about spending on lavish one-time experiences and are getting more conscious about the need for essentials.

The shift from mall hopping to online platforms has also seen a rise. E-commerce websites like Amazon and Alibaba have noticed increased online engagement and activity. Although market experts are skeptical about the longevity of online platforms versus shopping malls, only time will tell who wins.

One of the major positives observed due to COVID-19 is increased health awareness and sanitation. In a country like India, with a highly dense population and a marginally low earning class, sanitation and health care have often been neglected. People have now started realizing the importance of hygiene and health.

The stay at home orders imposed all around the world has started showing environmental benefits too. Consumers have begun realizing about ecological sustainability, and companies providing such solutions are coming to the limelight. The factors that have helped companies survive business is their importance to customer service, relief, and support.

Many companies have initiated efforts towards customer moral upliftment. Initiatives like personalized communications by companies like Zomato work as customer relief programs, and have helped companies come closer to the consumer.

Also, companies dependable on supply and logistics have reworked their strategies considering the importance of their product in a consumer household. COVID-19 has forced these companies to innovate their supply chain and logistics operations. The best part is that they are doing it in real-time. 

“We assured everybody that their jobs are safe,” – Sandeep Barasia, MD-Delhivery

The number of hoax Whatsapp messages doing rounds in the country has also risen, leading to false information being spread rapidly. Companies have taken their stand on this as well. Many brands understood the need to raise their voice against it and focused on creating informative content to stop miscommunication about homegrown remedies for COVID-19.

As a relief measure, many companies interacting directly with consumers are innovating product offerings and their go-to consumer models. A lot of them have also partnered with banking firms to provide EMI support to customers. Indian corporate giant, the Tata Sons, has been selling consumer products under their TATA SAMPANN banner for a while. They recently started the Tata Salt IQL (Quizzing league), aiming at keeping kids mentally active and engaged during the lockdown.

“Post COVID-19, our focus will continue to be able to connect with our consumers across digital platforms but in newer and more experimental ways.” –Sagar Boke, Head-Marketing, Tata Consumer Products

European countries, on the other hand, have also started switching to online commerce much more proactively. The majority of people in Poland and Italy had begun shopping online, which was not prevalent before COVID-19 happened. A big reason behind the slow adoption of online commerce in Europe could be the brand obsession with premium European brands. With Covid-19 coming into picture, these brands have also started selling online, coming out as relief to fashionistas.

Luis Vuitton turned three of its perfume factories into hand sanitizer manufacturing units. Prada announced funding for two new ICU’s in Milan’s hospitals. More and more European brands are making efforts to combat COVID-19 together, and a lot of their work is helping them realize their relationship with the consumers.

As the number of cases rises, and as the world collectively struggles to fight it back, Brands have taken great leaps in realizing their potential as a multi-specialty company.

COVID-19 has made it difficult to survive, but it has also been an opportunity for a few brands. The measures they have taken to provide customer relief and consumer satisfaction will always be remembered, and would help them increase business in the future. Brand trust is a psychologically proven concept, and the ever-increasing emphasis on it will contribute to make the world a better place to live.

Say hello to creative industry: New hub for startups

By
Jasmine Khan
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15
new hub for startups - Point 2 Note
new hub for startups

Ever since the world has gone into the phase of lockdown, many things have changed, especially how people spend their time. Undoubtedly, this pandemic is one of the worst phenomena, humanity has ever suffered, with losses of lives and livelihoods. But some people continue to look for silver linings and hope at the other end of all this. Many people are inclined to pursue their hobbies with time in hand. Creative interests such as listening to music, writing, painting, illustrating, singing, cooking, dancing, blogging, gaming, and creating content are some of the activities most of us are taking part in some or the other ways. Some are exploring and putting their talents in front of the world on popular platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, inspiring others to engage. The niche of the creative industry has never been so diverse until now, and hence can be considered as a new hub for startups in the future. 

The CEO of the Nineteenth Amendment, Amanda Curtis, stated that “In 15-20 years when almost all other industries will be highly automated the creative industries will be even higher valued. I predict a creative renaissance as more people find gainful employment in this broader and in-demand creative space. Creative industries like fashion, music, and writing will become more democratized and diverse with niche options and a greater array of creative individuals.” 

Today, the importance of creativity has increased in society more than ever. This is because engaging in such activities as hobbies or career, and consuming or creating related content add to the improvement of our mental health and well-being. As a result, new business models are emerging that cater to the needs of the people who want to indulge in activities that serve a positive impact on them and add value to their lives.

The UK’s Department for Culture, Media, and Sport defines creative industries as “those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.” 

New Hub for Startups
The Creative Industry: New Hub for Startups




The creative industry is sustaining itself due to the participation, contribution, and collaboration of artists and creators in different sectors. However, it also supports the growth and sustainability of other industries. Therefore, the creative industry can be considered as a new hub for startups and new ventures post-crisis as per industry experts. 

There are several startups that are taking shape with its core value being driven by culture promotion, value-addition, originality, and of-course creativity. 


Adding to that, the COO of Property Moose, Ben Llyod, opines that, “As technology continues to advance, machines will fulfill many of the functions of analysts and actuaries. Skills that cannot be programmed into a computer, such as creativity and imagination, will become more coveted and, therefore, more influential constituent parts of all businesses.” 

A Norwegian startup, AmmaCreative provides the platform to the freelancers who are available for creative job opportunities and streamlines the hiring process of creative freelancers across the world. 
Atelier, another startup business, focuses on connecting and bridging the gap between the artists and the art buyers apart from the traditional galleries and auction houses.

In words of Co-Founder of Atelier, Christian von Hanno, “The art market is still controlled by an exclusive elite of art galleries and auction houses. The galleries favor established names and make it difficult for artists to get exposure. As a result, lots of high-quality art are stored in art studios everywhere and never exposed to an audience. Atelier lets you discover and buy art directly from professional artists online or at the artist’s studio.” 

With this, more and more people are looking forward to breaking the limitations of a 9-to-5 job and adapting to a career that fits their new lifestyle and fuels their creativity. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, people, especially millennials and Generation Z, are exploring career opportunities in freelancing, remote-working, content creation, work-from-home, and stay-at-home ventures. This new shift in perception towards looking at career and job opportunities has been resulting in the emergence of new professions and startups in the creative space that did not exist a decade back. All thanks to the abilities of creators and artists to transcend barriers of geographies, languages, cultures, and platforms.

The contribution of creative individuals and artists is creating a new and sustainable business model that is driven by creativity and originality. Thus, it is about time creative industries start being recognized as part of the mainstream economy in the near future.

Understanding cyber security and COVID-19 equation

By
Shahzer Rahman
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2
Cyber Security - Point 2 Note
Cyber Security

Bill Gates started Microsoft with a dream to provide software and computer on every desk. It’s been more than 40 years since they started, and there’s been no looking back since then. Computers drive the modern world, and not so surprisingly, it gets even more entrenched as you read this story. The synergy between Computer and Internet has worked magically in helping us realize our dreams. In tough times like these, when most of us are bound to stay indoors, technology helps us fill our pockets. The world is experiencing a significant shift from office to remote working culture. A company’s awareness about Cyber security and COVID-19 can help them develop a better working environment, which eventually will drive their business.

“We had dreams about the impact software could have. We talked about a computer on every desk and in every home. It’s been amazing to see so much of that dream become a reality and touch so many lives.” – Bill Gates 

Cyber security puts all measures to defend an organization against cyber-attack, unauthorized access, and data loss. It eliminates and addresses new risks before they affect an organization. It’s like the Night’s watch from GOT.

Cyber security protects an organization or an individual from malware attacks and phishing. It helps build trust between an online platform and a user. The pandemic has revealed how little we know about agility in our organizations. It is now during a crisis that we’ve realized about the inefficiencies in our critical services and assets. 

The pandemic has forced companies to adopt new and improved business models that target optimized asset management. The employee identity governance systems used by corporates all around the world are showing lag and crack. Efforts to mitigate data breach are a strong example of well-balanced Cybersecurity and COVID-19 equation. 

One of the biggest concerns for companies worldwide is the security waivers granted in rapid response to COVID-19. The urgency of the situation and the increasing number of cases led to a haphazard adoption of remote work for many companies. A KPMG report claims that “risk assessment in terms of Cyber security and COVID-19 turned out to be inefficient for many companies. Existing corporate papers and policies expires challenging market conditions in the present day, leading to risk and security flaws”. 

Leading IT and networking company Cisco is helping companies develop a secure remote working strategy. They have extended free licenses, and expanded usage counts at no extra charges for three of their proprietary security technologies. Their AnyConnect VPN is particularly sought after for enabling remote connectivity.

“We saw significant requests to build out infrastructure and get access to VPN capacity to enable access at scale globally,” –John Maynard, Vice-President, Global Security Sales, Cisco.

A report by Knowbe4 says that “cybercrimes have increased by 667% in the last 3 months. One of the major problems faced by individuals online is phishing and cyber scams. Cyber security and COVID-19 has led to an increase in the number of spam mails being sent online, mainly targeting individuals and asking them for COVID-19 funds”. 

IBM’s 90 days no charge policy brought to keep up with an individual’s financial stress is a great relief. Their Watson Works technology is tracing potential exposure to COVID-19 cases. Watson Works is helping companies return to the workplace with confidence. 

“Watson Works provides essential insights to support a critical decision on workplace re-entry, contact tracing, and customer and employee care.” –Kareem Yusuf, GM, AI applications, IBM 

Joshua Saxe, Sophos’ chief scientist, says that they have enabled a slack channel for open collaboration on taking pandemic themed cyber threats. A report by Sophos shows that 700 COVID-19 related domains are being registered per week in the US itself. Most of them also turn out to be pro-phishing and scamming websites. 

As we move towards a much more digitized world, the importance and traction deserved by cyber security also surge. Frontline companies like Fortinet, IBM, and Cisco are helping deliver solutions to balance the Cyber security and COVID-19 equation, and as conscious and aware citizens, the onus lies on us too. It’s high time we keep an eye out one these scams.

Food industry offers medical benefits for employees: Basic to advanced

By
Srishti Bajaj
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1
Medical Benefits For Employees - Point 2 Note
Medical Benefits For Employees

During COVID-19 initial days, everyone in the world was forced to shift indoors and the rat race came to a sudden standstill. Even in such difficult times, various food brands continue to work with their employees, risking their lives and going to work to make sure the consumer demands were met. From personal hygiene to food safety protocols, various food brands implemented protocols and best practices issued by Food And Drug Administration (FDA). They offered medical benefits for employees to keep them protected and workspace sanitized at the same time. 

All the employees working in the food and beverage industry (approved by FDA) undergo a regular temperature check. They are checked for any symptoms before they begin work every day. In case there’s someone associated with the symptoms of COVID-19, he/she is asked to report to their supervisor, get approved paid sick leaves, and are immediately sent back home. Their workstation is then thoroughly cleaned, and the workspace is disinfected to curb the spread of this virus.

“As a global branded food company, we play a critical role in providing safe, high-quality food during this unprecedented time,” said Jim Snee, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO at Hormel Foods.

The food and beverage companies are working continuously to ensure essential items and other products never go out of stock. Consumer’s demands are fully met during these difficult times. While some brands are offering cash bonuses and increments, others take care of the medical insurance of their hard-working employees. 

“We are prioritizing safety – whether for our system associates or for our customers and consumers,” said James Quincey, Chairman, and CEO at Coca-Cola Company.

At the same time, company-owned bottling partner, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, did not follow the general trend of pay or job cuts. Instead, they announced a 7-8% increment in the salaries of around 7,000 direct employees. They also claimed that the safety of their employees working all around the world ranks at the top on their list of priorities. 

Coca-Cola Company has implemented additional sanitization routines, focusing on the surfaces that have a high-touch possibility. As per the protocols, they have restricted entry of visitors and set the duration of their presence. Coca Cola also provided various types of medical benefits in the form of health insurance and dental and vision coverage. 

“We understand the uncertainty people are feeling right now, and are committed to do our part to ease some of that concern by supporting our employees and communities while ensuring people and pets have access to a steady supply of food,” said Mark Smucker, president, and CEO, The J. M. Smucker Company. 

Apart from taking care of the sanitization and employee temperature tests, J.M. Smucker Company has come forward to offer the employees additional paid sick leave for individuals who are required to take care of their family members tested positive for COVID-19. Other employee benefits include hundred percent payment for employees getting tested for the virus along with all the virtual health screenings that need to be conducted. 

As the world fights the global pandemic, it is incredible to see that employees are working round the clock to maintain the supply of food and beverages. The companies have taken all necessary steps and are offering medical benefits for employees and workers to ensure they are safe and protected. 

Mental health and well-being of children: An eye-opener

By
Srishti Bajaj
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0
Jammu School Kids - Point 2 Note
Jammu School Kids

Jammu and Kashmir have been witness to continuous violence for as long as one can remember. With the pandemic taking over the world and lockdown imposed worldwide and in the country, children in Jammu district face rising Mental health and well-being problems. Read on to know more about how Jammu schools tackle mental health issues.

To fight the mental health issues among the younger generation of their district, the education industry of Jammu instituted around 113 members of faculty, all with a background of Post Graduation in Psychology. These faculty members will be trained to develop various counseling and well-being skills under professional organizations and individuals’ guidance.

“the need of the hour is to undertake guidance and counselling interventions more aggressively to ensure mental health and well-being, career awareness and protection of the learners at school level during and post COVID-19 era,” said Head Counselling Cell DSEJ, Romesh Kumar Sharma.

Anuradha Gupta, Director School Education, Jammu, also stated that the concerns related to mental health are specifically focused on the little kids and teenagers, especially those with disabilities. This situation calls for an empathetic and patient approach, which is the need of the hour. She believes that educators, with their backgrounds in psychology, can prove to be the best facilitators.

The Head of institutions of respective schools have been advised to seek support from all faculty members during this time. They are encouraging various schools to allow the staff members, who have M.A in psychology, to be a part of the mental health and well-being initiative. They can collaborate in the several psycho-social interventions in consultation with the counseling cell. 


Also, Anadolu Agency executed interviews and researches with the families residing in Jammu. It has come to light that hundreds of mental health issues were reported among children and adolescents at child guidance and well-being center, run by UNICEF. 

“We have provided psychiatric help and counseling sessions to almost 300 cases since the COVID-19 outbreak – 90% of cases through telephone and 10% face-to-face sessions,” said Farhana Yaseen, a clinical psychologist

The study also suggested that in all cases, children had developed anxiety and depression symptoms that were all high-risk under the global crisis. Most of them are known to surface because of the COVID-19 news covering death and infected numbers globally. 
The kids who have underlying mental wellness issues are slowly developing the fear of catching the infection, leading to a deterioration in their mental peace. 
Consequently, the World Health Organization suggested “minimal consumption of such news in any form by kids and teenagers”.

“First of all, we need to limit the COVID-19 news for children, especially to those who have underlying mental health problems,” quoted Yasir Rather, a psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in the capital Srinagar

With the education industry and health organizations coming together to focus more on psychological wellness than ever before, the country seems to be heading towards a more acceptable post-COVID-19 era. The education sector in Jammu has already paced up to spread mental health awareness, guiding the little ones and the adolescents in every step as the world fight to loosen the pandemic’s tight grip. These small steps in forms of a humanitarian cause still give one hope and confidence in life. 

Domino’s Pizza leads by example via ‘Zero contact delivery’

By
Srishti Bajaj
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0
Domino's Pizza Zero Contact Delivery - Point2Note
Domino's Pizza Zero Contact Delivery

As we know it, the world changed overnight when it was hit with the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. Consequently, lifestyles were moved to staying inside the doors, and the connections with the outside world were withdrawn. 
However, this didn’t stop Domino’s Pizza to put in it’s best effort to tackle the global emergency and bring forth the concept of ‘zero contact service’ to the market. Around 1325 Domino’s franchises spread all across the country have now opted for the service, keeping in mind the safety of their customers and their delivery staff alike.

“We have today launched Zero Contact Delivery. Customers can place an online order through the Domino’s app, ask for Zero Contact Delivery, and pay digitally. We will then deliver the Domino’s pizzas to customers without any physical contact with our guests. Customer and Employee safety is our No.1 priority, and we are taking all measures towards that.” said Mr. Pratik Pota, the CEO & Whole Time Director of Jubilant FoodWorks, when asked to comment on this initiative by the brand. 

The concept of contactless delivery allows the restaurant to deliver the order to their customers without any physical communication taking place between the two parties. Leading by example, Domino’s Pizza made the correct use of digitalization at the right time. From placing the order to paying for it, everything is digitalized utilizing the mobile/desktop app of Domino’s. 

Consumers are requested to install the latest version of the Domino’s App to use this service of zero contact and safe distance pay. When placing the order, one should opt for the ‘Zero Contact Delivery Option’ and make the payments online to avoid any physical contact with the staff. 

Once the order reaches the doorstep, the delivery expert places a carry bag at the customer’s front door and steps back to maintain a safe distance. The expert waits until the parcel is collected.

The safety and hygiene levels are always at their hundred percent, as delivery bikes, bike boxes, and the hot bags are sanitized every day in four-hour intervals. 

Domino’s Pizza initiative inspired other restaurants and competitors to offer consumers what they deserved. Even though the world was fighting a pandemic together, these restaurants ensured that they were offering whatever help they could to make this transition from life outside to the house arrest a little easy.

At the same time, these efforts also aimed to make sure the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on revenue numbers can be minimized. While it may seem like a selfish undertaking, it is good to remember that many people depend on such brands for their employment during a time when mass layoffs are becoming increasingly common.

McDonald’s and other food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato also announced their undertaking of this measure. All the safety measures and procedures are being taken care of by the restaurants. 

Consumer brands are now taking various little steps to ease the adaptation of lockdown amid the rise of the global pandemic. As scary as it may be, this global emergency has led to bringing the people together. Brands are slowly becoming even more consumer-centric than before. They are fighting hard to find innovative ways to bring their products to the consumers while keeping their safety as the topmost priority.

What do you think Domino’s Pizza via Zero Contact Delivery?

Public and private banks implement return to work plans

By
Srishti Bajaj
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1
Public and Private Banks - Point2Note
Public and Private Banks

As the world was fighting the global emergency, a few unsung heroes from the
banking industry were doing their duties to make sure that the transition for the
public from the outside world to staying indoors was hassle-free. Money has always
been one of the essential aspects when it comes to sustenance. Both Public And Private Banks have remained open throughout the lockdown and followed all
the recommended return to work plans.

ICICI and HDFC Banks have reduced the number of available staff inside the bank walls. These banks are promoting the use of digital transactions among users to make sure that all the social distancing norms are being taken care of and also to ensure the safety of their customers that are visiting the banks. 

ICICI Bank communicated with its customers via SMS that said, “our branches shall remain open with required hygiene steps and reduced staff. For the same reason, our contact center will also function with reduced staff. We urge you to stay safe and bank from home using iMobile/Internet Banking for all essential banking services”.

HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and HSBC declared that the banks would remain open, but at the revised timings. These banks function from 10 AM to 2 PM. These banks have also urged their customers to opt for digitization to avoid physical contact as much as possible. HDFC Banks has also suspended passbook updates for the time being and the purchase services of foreign currency.

The public banks such as State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender of the country has also reduced the hours from 7 hours on an average day to 3-4 hours during the lockdown. PK Gupta, ex MD SBI has advised customers to visit the bank specifically for essential services only. 

As for safety measures, the employees of SBI are provided with masks and sanitizers in the offices. The customers are asked to stand at least 1 meter from the desk for maintaining social distance. 

“In many states, we have restricted timings of our branch opening. Like in some states, it is 7-10 AM, in some states, it is 8-11 AM, and in some 10 AM to 2 PM,” PK Gupta, EX MD SBI was quoted as saying.

Further, in his statement, he also said that around 21000 branches of SBI would remain open throughout the country. The ATMs were also functional throughout the lockdown to remove any hindrances for the general public. 

Moreover, SBI announced that with the help of CRS Funding, our bank would commit to approximately 0.25% of its annual profit (Financial Year 2020-2021) in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. 

Another public bank named the Union Bank of India has taken various return to work measures to fight against the pandemic. This bank provided support with a service called ‘COVID Emergency Line of Credit’, aka CELC, that offers customers with some additional credit facilities for handling liquidity issues in the middle of this global emergency. 

Additionally, cash withdrawal from another bank’s ATMs was announced free and minimum balance charges were waived off. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced reduction of total costs on various digital transactions till June 30. 

These return to work steps that are taken care of by the banking industry in this country not only help the public but also make sure that their employees who are risking their lives amidst the pandemic are treated well. These banks also undertook the safety of their customers under consideration, and hence came up with the vital uses of the digital revolution that is taking place globally.

Study from home: A new way of learning for all

By
Jasmine Khan
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0
study from home - Point2Note
study from home

The adversities of the global pandemic, COVID-19 did not stop educationalists and teachers from across the globe to motivate young minds to keep learning and staying positive during this crisis. With travel ban for study abroad program and  physical graduation ceremonies along with suspension of the traditional classroom teachings; several schools and universities across the world are now shifting to a new model of teaching called ‘Study from Home’ through virtual classrooms and online education mediums. 

Prominent global schools and universities such as NYU, MIT, and Harvard University are now taking their lectures online with the help of virtual platforms. The students have the option to study and attend their classes from their home. Let’s have a look at what the experts from the education industry have to say about this:

In its community notification, Harvard University mentioned that
“Our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community, on and off-campus,”. Therefore, the university is currently relying on remote teaching, learning, and research. One of the key benefits of studying from home is that it provides a safe environment by maintaining social distancing that reduces the risk of disease transmission to a great extent without hampering the learning in any manner.

Another top institute MIT and The Cambridge Institution, announced the virtual commencement of its graduation ceremony.

The MIT President, L. Rafael Reig, stated that conducting online events to celebrate the tradition would be “in the best MIT spirit, in ways that make sense in this most unusual time.”

The contribution of teachers towards maintaining a sustainable delivery of education has been commendable over the past few months. They continue to work round the clock to prepare modules for students at both elementary and secondary levels, especially in this new setting, when elements such as physical communication and face-to-face interaction are missing.

Dr. Mara Huber, the director of the Experiential Learning Network at the University of Buffalo, stated that “Universities have relationships with communities all around the world, and I think it’s time to use technology to give students access to these experiences.”

Teachers are also providing guidelines for students for creating a suitable study area by adhering to the home study checklist, such as setting temporary-arrangements for attending the class, with supportive furniture and equipment. Students who are missing out on campus life and socializing are encouraged to be active on their institutes’ discussion forums or set up informal study groups through Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. 

Education is the backbone of the society, and under any circumstances, there should not be any hindrance in imparting knowledge to the young minds, who will become our future leaders. Therefore, several educational institutes are trying to mitigate the challenges posed in the education sector due to COVID-19 by adopting a home study approach based on virtual teaching methods and pedagogies.

Automotive industry amidst COVID-19: Consumer friendly or not?

By
Shahzer Rahman
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0
Does the automotive industry care for you during COVID-19? - Point 2 Note
Does the automotive industry care for you during COVID-19?

The current global state of emergency has not only raised awareness but forced the government to take quick measures and put multiple plans in action. Mainly, looking at India, it’s been almost five months since the first COVID-19 case was reported back in late January. The country was under lockdown for over three months and since then, the number of COVID-19 cases has significantly risen, but the recoveries have also been tremendous. With a highly dense population, containing the virus has been a great challenge in India. Imposing strict lockdowns pan-India was undoubtedly a commendable effort to contain the virus. However, the economic and psychological brunt of it has also been showing up in recent trends all across the country. Does the automotive industry care for you during COVID-19? Read on to know more!

Despite the conditions of the market, automotive companies like Mahindra, Hyundai, and Volkswagen have taken commendable steps to uplift the country’s economy. One of the most critical concerns of a vehicle owner is the cost of service, the amount of time it takes, and the other hassles involved. Taking this into consideration, Mahindra has launched the “With you Hamesha” or the WYH app that looks into customer-centric service. They have also offered service and warranty extensions in case of missed deadlines.

The automotive industry in India is estimated to incur a loss of $1.5-2 billion per month due to the sudden market closure. One of the other reasons could be the transition to the much anticipated BS-VI models, leading to higher ownership costs. The value chain for a traditional automobile company or OEM consists of multiple verticals, and consecutive lockdown has affected operations in almost all of them. 

Following similar lines, Audi India has also extended the service and warranty of existing and new cars. In response to the crisis, they will be providing complimentary disinfection of cars for frontline health care workers. The move is similar to what BMW also proposed a few days back. 

Considering the massive amount of liquidity that would not reach this industry, due to the adverse market, these companies have taken responsible steps to support the country’s social structure.

Generous donations have also been flooding in from these automotive companies as a response to COVID-19. Tata Sons recently announced a package worth 1000 Cr rupees to fight back the pandemic. The Bajaj group, on the other hand, pledged to donate 100 Cr rupees to the cause.

While Indian companies are coming out as responsible organizations, things offshore have also been positive. Mitsubishi Motors North America is offering Customer relief programs through its financing arm, Ally Financial. On the other hand, Ford motors have been working on the design and manufacturing of Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). They have already started shipping and delivering PAPR, and they plan to make it accessible to all of America very soon.

“Ford could not stand by while health care workers in this country placed their lives on the line to help others without even having proper protection,”  –Jim Baumbick, Vice President, Ford Enterprise Product Line Management

Another interesting story comes from the world-famous Daimler group. Mercedes’s parent company, Daimler, has put all of their 3d printing resources and talent into making face shields. Their highly competitive and renowned formula one team, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas, is usually found racing at speeds above 340kmph. However, the pandemic has allowed them to make low-cost breathing kits.

“Individuals have to keep their distance from each other, but at the same time societies are coming together,” –Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG

Back in India, due to population and the sudden increase in the demand for face masks, many companies have also started manufacturing masks and shields for healthcare as well as consumers. These companies are trying to leverage their well-established supply chain, along with their manufacturing capabilities. Companies like Kia motors have pledged to provide 1 million face masks in China. On a much more local level, Hyundai India has ordered testing kits from their home country, Korea. Skoda and Volkswagen have also promised face masks. 

Mahindra and Mahindra has also stepped into providing health care centers at their flagship, Mahindra Resort guesthouse, and hotels. Their logistics business has also started an emergency cab service for doctors, nurses, single mothers, and disabled citizens. They currently operate in 7 cities. 

“As we continue to battle this unprecedented crisis, we are pleased to announce that all Audi India dealerships across the country will prioritize vehicle servicing for essential workers.”   –Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, AUDI INDIA

On a corporate level, most of these companies have been operating remotely. Employee health care and sanitation have been top priorities since the lockdown was lifted on 8th June.

Since they are the technical maestro, US-based Tesla has already developed an FDA approved ventilator which would be distributed at zero costs.The crisis has reminded them of the importance of setting up a flexible and agile working environment, and the much more important lesson of empathy.

The critical point to note here remains that despite the economic loss, the companies have to suffer, a sense of empathy and social responsibility is prevailing. It tells us a lot about a company’s stand on being inclusive. Even the most sought after and well-funded industry, automotive giants have done exceptionally well in understanding their role as a corporate robin hood. Finally, does the automotive industry care for you during COVID-19? What do you think?

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