Home Blog Page 33

Have A Hacker Brain! Bug Bounty Hunting™ Is Choice No. 1!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

What started as a casual successful attempt at hacking the Wi-Fi network of his coaching institute while pursing non-medical stream in Class XI, has today blossomed into a full blown passionate pursuit of the highly rewarding field of ethical hacking (or bug bounty hunting) for Chandigarh boy Harinder Singh, placing him among the top ten geeks of this field in the country.

Having ethically hacked 200+ companies, institutions, organisations and governments, including Google, Flipkart, Blackberry, BMW, Bosch, Redhat, United Nations, EA, TeamViewer, Mcafee, and many more, exposing simple or critical vulnerabilities in their IT systems, the 23-year-old has won millions in ‘bug hunting bounty’, besides being awarded swags, badges, letters of appreciation and listed by various beneficiaries in their ‘Hall of Fame’.

Photos courtesy: Harinder Singh

Earlier this month Harinder Singh, who schooled at St Joseph’s Chandigarh and graduated in Bachelor’s in Computer Application (BCA) from Chitkara University Rajpura, was honoured with reputation points and a special non-monetary token called ‘C01N’ by the Govt of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) in recognition for his valuable services in identifying a security vulnerability in one of their websites though Hackone, world’s largest community of trusted ethical hackers.

Singapore’s own version of Arduino, C01N is a powerful device equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities which can be customised to suit different needs and used for a variety of computer applications.

In an exclusive interaction with your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com, the cybersecurity analyst, working full-time with FIS Global, world’s No. 1 fintech company, as End Point Security Engineer since 2021, revealed that there is a lot more money to be made through ethical hacking (as ‘white hats’) than in cybercrime, wherein cybercriminals exploit the vulnerabilities in the IT systems to gain access and play havoc.

Harinder Singh informed that despite best efforts by governments, companies, institutions, organisations, and others worldwide to shore up their cybersecurity, weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the IT systems still get left out. It is here that ethical hackers or ‘white hats’ step in to identify and report cybersecurity risks in these IT systems and pre-empt the evil designs of cybercriminals, he added.

Not so much prevalent in India, ‘bug bounty hunting’ is big business in the advanced countries where governments, companies, institutions and organisations, which take their cybersecurity really seriously, have laid out policies and programmes, and specified terms and conditions for their engagement with the ethical hackers. Handsome ‘bounties’ or payouts are made to the ‘white hats’ depending on criticality of the bugs/vulnerabilities detected and reported by them.

Recounting his own bug bounty journey, Harinder Singh said, having joined the Hackerone community in October 2020, his first real break came in 2021 when he was able to identify vulnerability in the website of a Netherlands company and with it was able to access its employee details. Acknowledging his find, the company rewarded him with a handsome ‘bounty’ in foreign currency.

The cybersecurity consultant has in two years been able to identify and report vulnerabilities/bugs in the IT systems of 200+ organisations, 137 of these through Hackerone, for which he has been ranked among top 10 ethical hackers in India on the worldwide platform.

However, Harinder Singh sees his achievements thus far as only a tip of the iceberg. The opportunities are immense and his aim is to become the No. 1 hacker in the country and be part of the international hall of fame in the field.

Nevertheless, he is very humble about his achievements and credits his mentors and friends for their constant guidance, feedback and motivation.

For those who are also pursuing, or are wanting to pursue ‘bug bounty hunting’ or cybersecurity, his message is to “keep pushing yourself, never stop learning, and not hesitate to seek guidance from experts in the field. Remember, success is a journey, not a destination, and it requires hard work, perseverance, and the right support system.”

Harinder Singh’s recommendations for free training:

To learnt basics: https://tryhackme.com/ (hands-on cybersecurity training through real-world scenarios)

To practice ethical hacking: https://portswigger.net/web-security

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Preparing You For A Happy New Age

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

How many senior citizens we know have felt their lives stalling as it were after retirement, or after crossing the threshold of stereotypical ‘active life’? How many among them have felt a sense of loneliness and boredom setting in, with children in most cases no longer living with them and the normal routines of their working lives shattered?

Not-for-profit start-up Grey Shades, registered as a charitable trust, is offering such senior citizens a paid 100-day ‘Seniors Fellowship Programme’ aimed at ridding them of retirement sickness and renewing, revitalising and repurposing their lives.

The non-governmental organisation has so far successfully run three batches, helping 45 individuals, including couples, to become the best version of their selves and enabling them to continue to make useful contributions to their families and the society.

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh & Grey Shades

Four beneficiaries from the third batch of the age-leadership and well-being programme, in the accompaniment of Grey Shades founder Inderpreet Singh and other young facilitators, recently shared their little joys and large accomplishments of the six-month, four-days-a-week programme with media persons in Chandigarh. The programme is run at the Sector 18 Community Centre.

Grey Shades fellowship helps senior citizens with various methodologies and activities of the programme like group sessions, dance movement therapy, expression through art and craft, writing therapy, food and nutrition, digital literacy, mindfulness, yoga and meditation.

The fourth batch of the 100-days fellowship programme, which will enrol a maximum of 20 participants, began at the Sector 18 Community Centre today (May 15). Seniors desirous of joining can still enrol against a few vacancies left on the spot between 4 p.m.-6 p.m. or they can message or call on the Grey Shades WhatsApp number 888-111-8522.

About the participants’ contribution for enrolment into the fellowship programme, Inderpreet informed, “it dependents on which category a particular participant falls. The fee is 8% to 15% of a participant’s monthly earnings per month with a ceiling of Rs 8500 per month during the course of the six months programme, the highest percentage being for those who are pensioners without any dependents. However, other considerations do come into play looking at an individual’s affordability factor, he added.

Currently Indepreet is heading a team of 7 like-minded young professionals and facilitators who are sincerely doing their bit to ameliorate senior citizens’ problems. Apart from this team, a host of professionals from various fields work with the participants on honorariums, which currently are below par because of financial constraints which the not-for-profit organization continues to face.

Grey Shades is continuing to make concerted efforts to increase public donations for the programme, which Inderpreet said are entitled to 50% tax exemption for all Indian donors.

Rita Sodhi, an office superintendent who had to take premature retirement during the peak of the Covid pandemic due to co-morbidities, and felt depressed due to complete dependence and boredom, says the programme has helped transform her life. “Being part of a group where no one was judgemental and all were equals while participating in various innovative and interactive routines immensely changed my outlook towards life.

“Now I am not only paying greater attention and loving myself but also teaching children. Visiting villages and indulging in activities like song and dance with children have become an integral part of a new happy me,” she added.

For retired government forensic sciences expert Dr Devinderpal Singh Sehgal, among other life changing learnings, the 100-day experience was akin to reliving the joyous days of childhood, playing games like kho-kho, chidi-udh, etc.

Sehgal, who is also an internationally recognised kite maker with a Limca Book of Records entry for making the smallest kite which can pass through the eye of a needle, shared: “The mandatory 400 hours of community service was a wonderful and self-fulfilling way of giving back to society. Seeing the smiles on the faces of underprivileged children with whom I indulged in learning, dancing and singing, and also distributed my self-made kites added joy to my life.” 

Artistically-oriented, but hugely shy and introverted Veena Khanna, whose entire life revolved around the kitchen and looking after the family, is now all smiles and brimming with enthusiastic energy. Having run the 100-day programme with her husband, she has not only rekindled her love for music by beginning to record her songs but has also successfully tried her hands at doll-making.

Associating herself with a tricity NGO Chhoti Si Asha, she has undertaken cookery session with underprivileged women, following which these women have ventured into catering business. She also plans to hold music and doll-making classes for them – another example of living your dreams and helping spread smiles around.

Naresh Mehta, a retired Under Secretary with the Haryana government, said, after superannuation, life appeared to come to a standstill for him. “The office-going daily routine was broken. To pass time I was constantly searching for sources of entertainment but the void would not fill. After experiencing every nuance of the fulfilling structured programme I feel that the gate to post retirement happiness has been opened for me.”

The programme goals for the participants are active healthy life, emotional management and happiness, productive and meaningful engagement and regaining confidence and self esteem.

The scientifically developed programme is split into four terms of 25 days each – awareness to exploration, understanding to experimentation, expression to self transformation and self transformation to community transformation.

Seniors desirous of joining the fellowship can message or call on the Grey Shades WhatsApp number 888-111-8522

For further details: https://greyshades.org.in/  

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Prof Rajeev Ahuja Bats For Academia’s Accountability In Research

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

Prestigious long established universities and other institutions of higher learning, like the Panjab University Chandigarh for example, have been struggling these past few years to forge industry-academia partnerships to sustain their research work in the face of fast dwindling government funding. But why are they largely being unsuccessful?

Earlier the industry was being blunt in its response, but now more and more members from the academia too are being frank in admitting the obvious.

The latest admission came from Prof Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, at the Panjab University on Thursday while delivering a lecture on ‘Vision For IIT Ropar’ to mark National Technology Day and the 10th Foundation Day of CRIKC (Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster).

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh

Prof Ahuja, one of the highest cited researchers in Sweden and India in the field of computational materials science, with focus on energy, such as batteries, hydrogen storage and production, sensors and high pressure physics, while sharing that one of his top most priorities on joining IIT Ropar as its director has been to forge strong result oriented industry-academia collaboration, was candid enough to say “we must admit that we (academia) have been badly lagging in this area.”

Without mincing words, he said there is scepticism in the industry about the ability and capacity of the researchers in the academia to deliver on promised research and innovation, and to deliver within required timelines. “They cannot keep waiting for us to deliver. Accountability has to be ensured,” he asserted.

This issue had also cropped up in a recent conference on opportunities for MSMEs of North India in defence production organised by Northern Region headquarters of CII in Chandigarh.

In her address, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Renu Vig had expressed disappointment that she did not see any mention of higher education institutions and academia in the conference though she had gone on to list the recent research achievements and patents won by the university.

During the course of the conference spread over two sessions, some of the industry leaders had later retorted that the time had come to rise above patents won for pure academic interest and migrate to product development research. The need to shift focus from built to design specifications to build to requirement was also highlighted at the conference.

Coming back to Prof Rajeev Ahuja’s lecture, his observation on attitudes of faculty members also raised eyebrows as there were many faculty members in the audience who, prior to the lecture, were formally presented certificates of their recently won patents by Prof Ahuja and PU Vice Chancellor Renu Vig jointly.

He opined that faculty in institutions of higher learning, who are responsible for driving research, showed keenness to secure projects but were not motivated enough to venture out of their comfort zone at the execution stage. This is another hurdle in industry-academia collaboration, he added.

Emphasising that research is a collaborative effort, he strongly advocated collaboration within faculty and between different institutions on specific projects as the way forward, marking a clean shift from the current trend of working in silos. While admitting that collaboration takes time to mature, he however stressed that patience and perseverance is the key to success in this area.

Prof Ahuja expressed his strong belief that more than infrastructure, it is the intellectual capital of any institution of higher learning which makes it competitive, and cited the example of the top ranking global educational centres in this regard.

Claiming that IIT Ropar is one of the fastest growing IITs in the country based on various performance parameters, despite being among the younger IITs in the country (Estd. 2008), he mentioned that a young passionate faculty eager to deliver is a big advantage. Clearly taking a dig at mature faculty in older institutions, he said it becomes very difficult to deal with them because of resistance to change.

Listing out various initiatives taken by IIT Ropar during the last two years with him at the helm, Prof Ahuja mentioned the deepening direct association of the institution with the Indian Army. “We have engaged with the Army North Eastern Command, visited their forward areas bordering China to know their requirements in which we can help find solutions.

“We have also entered into a MoU with the Shimla-based ARTRAC (Army Training Command) for training Army personnel in areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). A first batch is scheduled to join a training module at our campus on May 15,” he added.

To oversee research and development in this sector, a Centre of Excellence for Studies and Applied Research in Defence and Security has been set up at IIT Ropar.

Prof Ahuja pointed out that bio imaging, bio instrumentation, unconventional diagnostics and therapy is another of the trust areas at IIT Ropar, under which the biggest centre for manufacturing in the healthcare sector is being created on its premises. Currently there is no manufacturing worth its name in this sector happening in the country, he observed.

IIT Ropar also houses the country’s only Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub (iHub-AwaDH) which is providing incubation resources and support to technology-based start-ups towards sustainable agriculture.

Prof Ahuja said IIT Ropar, with its focus on science, competitiveness and innovation, wants to remain in the forefront of contributing to the country’s priority areas in its Atmanirbhar push, including in Quantum Technologies and in Semi Conductors Mission, emerging technologies which are going to remain in demand for the next 30-40 years.

For this, a Centre for Micro and Nano Fabrication is coming up on the campus as a in-house central facility that would cater to all the fabrication needs of the faculty members across various disciplines. This one-of-a-kind facility would house state-of-the-art equipment required for cutting-edge research in science and technology.

He offered to seriously collaborate with other educational institutions of higher learning and research establishments in the region to create an ecosystem for cutting edge research and innovation so that funding comes in equal measure to this part of the country as well.

The lecture was organised by Society for Promotion of Science & Technology in India (SPSTI) and CRIKC.  

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

No Looking Back For This Special Effects Artist After Ben Affleck Directed ‘AIR’

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

He is one of those successful people who believe that you are not the one to choose a profession, the profession chooses you. A natural progression from childhood obsession with cartoons, to sketching for fun, to animation, and eventually presenting himself as a talented VFX expert, has catapulted Hansjeet Singh Duggal to anchor the special effects team for the latest Hollywood release – actor, director, producer Ben Affleck’s ‘AIR’.

An American biographical sports drama film, ‘AIR’, which has wowed international audiences since its April release in the US with its impressive storytelling and phenomenal starcast, is making its India entry on May 12, being streamed exclusively on Prime Video.

Photos/Images Courtesy: Hansjeet Duggal

Written by Alex Convery, the Matt Damon and Affleck starrer film affords us a unique peep into the true story of basketball legend Michael Jordan inspiring the iconic Air Jordan sneakers and the subsequent sneaker culture it triggered.

In the film, Matt Demon plays Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who tries to broker a business deal with then rookie basketball player Chris Jordan. Affleck acts as Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The film also stars Jason Bateman, Chris Massina, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis in key roles.

Interacting with your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com, during his short visit to Chandigarh on Tuesday, the unassuming Hansjeet shared how his dream journey in Hollywood has taken off with ‘AIR’. Two more films are lined up for him, shooting for one of which has already begun and the other is set to start rolling within this month.

Initially schooled in St Xavier’s Chandigarh under the guardianship of his maternal grandparents, later graduating in B.Com from Lovely Professional University, he says he realised rather late in his life (he was 18-19 then) that he had to pursue a creative field and that he needed technical training for that purpose.

“Till then, having grown up watching classic animation cartoons like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, Dexter’s Lab, The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack, I had come to enjoy sketching all the cartoon characters when I was a 8-year-old. I didn’t know then what animation is, or how it’s done. It took me another 10 years to do that. Thus began the journey, my first job in animation being as an ‘inbetweener’. Drawing cartoons and bringing an object to life lead me to pursue animation and editing,” said the 33-year-old.

But Hansjeet Duggal soon realised that drawing/sketching for oneself is one thing, but doing the same under a deadline, meeting the industry standard, and adding your own style takes considerable technical training and hard work. A fulltime graduation in Animation Design from Jaipur Campus of Birla Institute of Technology set him up for the pursuit of a professional career in the field of animation.

Along with getting to work on some e-books and other freelance work from clients abroad, the talented VFX expert made a few brief 4-minute movies of his own, which got noticed in the USA. An offer to make such short movies there saw him fly away to the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles, which is now his home. With it came exposure to some the established names in the field of special effects in Hollywood.

Further honing of his animation skills, especially in visualisation and story-telling while pursuing his Masters at the prestigious Dodge College of Film & Media Arts, propelled Hansjeet to an all new level. At Dodge, he was inspired and mentored by established names in the field like Susie Finch and Eric Young, on whom he falls back even today for professional discussion and guidance.

In 2018, he stamped an emphatic mark in Brussels, Belgium, where his virtual reality project Freiheit, directed by him, produced by Shamola Kharkar and written by John Hirsch, was selected as one of 10 participants out of over 100 shortlisted contenders across the world at Stereopsia, an international forum dedicated to all artistic, technological, content, and business facets of 3D immersion.

Freiheit, literally meaning freedom in German, presented an emotional thematic journey of sacrifice and hope told through a young Jewish child entering a concentration camp in World War II. With his mother by his side, the child follows the traumatic events that threaten their survival and hope to be together. Freiheit begins on a train, as it carries several people to Auschwitz concentration camp including Helga (mother) and her child and ends with the struggle for their survival.

Hansjeet had been working of several major special effects projects under the direction of other experts, before the big break came. He had already worked on a few 4-5 minute music videos with Ben Affleck, “but his reposing confidence in me to anchor the entire visual effects project in a full scale film was like a dream come true.”

The project was announced in April 2022 and shooting for it started in June. The responsibility was extremely challenging since it was the very first time that Hansjeet was required to plan and execute a project of this scale which would require involving a team of 80-100 at any given point in time, and deliver on quality within a strict timeline.

“The movie was conceived to be a visual masterpiece, with 400-500 VFX shots that varied in complexity. Another challenge was that we were required to work on a brand new camera technology and colour science, which meant that we needed to create a new workflow from scratch.

“Eventually the team was put together with members drawn from US, Canada, Spain and India and the workflow streamlined within two months. Some shots were approved in the first go, while others required multiple versions and tweaks to get to the finishing line. It was a job well done,” he shared.

In Hansjeet’s opinion, the advantage of working on special effects in the US is that experts get adequate time to complete a project to allow them to maintain quality standards. On the other hand, in India quality invariably gets compromised because of unrealistic demands of instant delivery, he added.

Asked if given a chance, would he like to work on film projects in India, he said he could consider if he is given a free hand in executing the projects, “because compromising on quality is not an option.”

In fact, Hansjeet is in the process of setting up a full time office in Mumbai to scout for talent which is expected to be functional in a month’s time.

Here’s wishing the talented special effects artist all the very best from LifeInChandigarh.com!

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Most Couples With Infertility Issues Need Minor Treatments: Dr Talwar

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

Responding to the growing demand for treatment of infertility issues among couples, yet another fertility and IVF facility has come up in Chandigarh. Birla Fertility & IVF, part of the 50 years young CK Birla Healthcare Group, opened the doors to its 17th centre in the country in Sector 8 Madhya Marg, exclusively offering a comprehensive range of fertility treatments, diagnostic services, fertility preservation techniques and a donor programme under one roof.

Promising most competitive pricing, transparency and ethical practice at the formal launch of the centre on Monday, Director, Medical Services, Birla Fertility & IVF, Dr (Col.) Prof Pankaj Talwar quoted the latest April 2023 report published by the WHO to share that around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need.

Photo By: Life In Chandigarh

Exploding the myth that the female partner is largely to blame for not being able to bear a child, Dr Talwar, a pioneer in ovarian tissue freezing in India and a master trainer in clinical embryology and IVF, asserted that in his more than three decades of clinical practice his estimate is that in 60% of the cases the contributor is the male partner.

Debunking another myth that the infertility treatments are very expensive and hence unaffordable to most people, he claimed that a maximum of 10-15% of the affected couples have to go for IVF treatment, which is the last option. The other cases are of relatively minor nature, in which either the male, or female partner, or both, have to undergo simple treatments which are not a great pinch on the pocket.

While acknowledging the immense contribution of the internet in helping spread awareness about the need for taking medical help, he lamented that despite this barely 1% of this huge population of affected couples are approaching the medical specialists for consultation, diagnosis and treatment.

(WHO defines infertility as a disease of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It can cause significant distress, stigma, and financial hardship, affecting people’s mental and psychosocial well-being.)

Dr Talwar and Birla Fertility & IVF Chandigarh centre head Dr Rakhi Goyal said organising outreach programmes in and around Chandigarh and in adjoining states would be a vital part of the Chandigarh centre’s strategy to spread awareness about infertility and its treatment.

For the information of readers of our news website LifeInChandigarh.com, the prices of some of the infertility treatment packages at Birla Fertility & IVF are as follows:

    rn

  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) package, which involves doctor consultations, sperm preparation and insemination: starts from Rs 9500.

    • rn

  • Single-cycle IVF package (all inclusive): Rs 1.30 lakh

    • rn

rn

However, studies show that for some couples, multiple cycles of IVF are more effective

    rn

  • Two-cycle IVF package: Rs 2.20 lakh

    • rn

  • Three-cycle IVF package: Rs 2.75 lakh

    • rn

rn

For more information: https://birlafertility.com/  

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com

 

 

North India States Laggards; Urgent Policy Initiatives Needed

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

The urgent need for policy initiatives by state governments to encourage defence manufacturing and make India self reliant in the field was underscored in a conference on “Opportunities for MSMEs in the Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem in North India”, organised at the CII Northern Region headquarters here on Tuesday.

Sadly, none of the state governments in the region was even represented in the conference. Does this ring a bell!

Various speakers in the inaugural session highlighted that while other states, including Uttar Pradesh in our neighbourhood, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, are striding ahead in a competitive effort to corner a lion’s share of the rapidly growing defence manufacturing industry in the country, Punjab, which was once the hub of innovation and manufacturing in machinery and tools industry, is lagging far behind.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh & CII Northern Region

The conference was organized by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) Northern Region and Headquarters, Western Command, in association with DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation), TBRL (Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory), 3 BRD (Base Repair Depot) of Indian Air Force, and Headquarters, Northern Command. MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) vendors from across the region participated in the conference.

Addressing the gathering, Western Army commander Lt. Gen. Nav K. Khanduri said among the key learnings from the hostilities on our Northern borders in the last couple of years has been the urgency for self reliance in weaponry and defence systems, preparedness for sustaining through a long drawn out conflict, and capacity building to achieve these two goals.

Highlighting the crucial role of the MSME sector in helping maintain and sustain the country’s 70% legacy defence equipments during their life period, and upgrading the not so technologically advanced defence systems, especially in the light of the disruptions in the international supply chains, he said the recent positive changes made in the government’s policy for defence manufacturing and procurement to encourage indigenous industry is a step in the right direction.

Expressing confidence that these initiatives will go a long way in the country achieving self reliance in defence manufacturing in the coming years, he however stated that for this to happen funding for R&D efforts will have to increase, manufacturing base needs to be expanded, quality assurance has to receive top priority, and industry needs to be supported and hand-holding done wherever required.

Considering the rapid technological advancements in modern warfare, the indigenous defence industry also needs to go hi-tech as the armed forces would need to induct more and more niche technologies to stay ahead in the race, he asserted.

Vikram Sahgal, Chairman MSME Committee SIDM (Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers), who is also MD, Micron Instruments Pvt Ltd., a long time defence supplier, categorically stated that the northern states have lagged behind in defence production and need to urgently take policy initiatives to boost the private sector in defence.

In his address, Lt. Gen. KJ Singh (Retd), former Western Army Commander, and Convenor of the defence think tank ‘Gyan Setu’, gave examples from his personal military experience of the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in Punjab and reinforced the demand for urgent policy initiatives by the state government to revive that spirit to make the state a hub for defence equipment manufacturing.

Maj. Gen. PK Saini, Principal Advisor, SIDM, expressed the view that the ‘screwdriver’ (just assembly) approach to technology by MSMEs is set to become a thing of the past. Measures are being put in place for validation of design and content by indigenous equipments manufacturers. He too called for policy initiatives by the state government to reverse the decline in the machinery and tools industry of Punjab and harness it for defence manufacturing.

Highlighting various research and innovation projects undertaken by the Panjab University Chandigarh, many of which have also won patents, its Vice Chancellor Prof Renu Vig stressed the need for MSMEs to more actively involve the higher education institutions and the academia in their design and innovation projects.

Speaking in another session on “Creating A Robust Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem”, moderated by Prateek Kishore, Outstanding Scientist & Director TBRL, Maj. Gen. CS Mann, Head, Army Design Bureau, shared mirthfully with the audience that as far as defence manufacturing is concerned a vast majority of MSMEs fall in a category of those who want to do something in the field but don’t know what to do.

He informed that for the benefit of all MSMEs, a compendium of 110 problem definition statements has been published mentioning also the primary contact and secondary contact in each case.

He suggested that the MSMEs visit the Ministry of Defence’s ‘srijandefence’ portal for detailed information and guidance, including complete list of items earmarked for indigenization/import substitution along with present progress status.

Group Captain Anand Karve, Chief of Planning, 3 BRD, talked about opportunities for SMSEs in the defence aviation field at 3 BRD, while Ram Prakash, Scientist ‘E’  and Additional Director, Directorate of Technology Development Fund (TDF), gave an overview of the TDF Fund scheme which the MSMEs can tap for their defence projects.

Former Scientist G at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) HS Jattana suggested that the armed forces could adapt many of the technologies developed by ISRO to their requirement, like for example night vision technologies. They could also adopt the ISRO model of direct engagement with outsourcing vendors to ensure strict quality control standards, he added.

Prof Arun Grover, former Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, said to attract more funding from the central government universities and other institutions of higher learning in the region have no option but to prove themselves as being up to the mark in delivering on tangible solutions to make the country self reliant in various fields, including defence and other strategic areas. He advocated that they systematically work towards becoming the R&D arm of the entire MSME sector.

Former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff & Senior Advisor, DRDO Lt. Gen. JP Singh (retd) sought creation of centres of excellence in futuristic technologies like robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and quantum technology in and around places where DRDO or other laboratories offering state of the art testing facilities related to the respective fields are already available.

On the occasion, an exhibition of defence equipment and the latest technology was also organised where premier institutions of the region showcased items like tactical gear, medical equipment, drones and intelligence-gathering equipment. Indian Army also displayed for the benefit of the visiting MSMEs parts of equipments which they needed replacements for.

                                                           

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Clothing To Challenge World Brands

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

Here comes a new hi-fashion and avowed eco-friendly, ethical clothing brand for men, women and kids specialising in western wear. ‘Saranac’ is promoted by a market aggressive US entrepreneur of Indian origin who makes no bones about his ambition to one day take head-on the internationally acclaimed brands, especially in sports and high performance wear.

Announcing the launch of the Saranac brand, targeting a niche and up-scale market, at an event at JW Marriott Hotel in Chandigarh on Sunday evening, Sam Biswas, President and CEO of SARANAC Industries, said to start with the brand will be using the E commerce platform (www.saranacindustries.com) to reach its target audience and gradually diversify into the brick and mortar stores across the country.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

The sale of the brand’s initial limited portfolio of clothing will go online on the company website within a couple of days. Online buyers can get the clothing delivered anywhere in India.

Speaking exclusively with your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com on the sidelines of the event, Biswas shared: "Our brand will attempt to fill the huge gap in availability of sustainable and eco-friendly clothing. The current booming young middle class in India aspires to wear world class fashion-wear, with quality at par with top world brands but at an affordable price. We aspire to meet this market need.”

He promised that the brand is bringing the best fabric, designs and styling to the market. The inherent strategy, he shared, is not to compete with giants like JC Penny, Macy’s, Bloomingdales or Nordstrom (all medium and high-end) but to create its own comprehensive self-grown marketplace with environmentally sustainable and green products that change the lives of people who have touched the product manufacturing cycle from seed to sale.

The successful serial entrepreneur from Phoenix in Arizona, USA informed that for Saranac brand clothing the best of the fabric available in the country is being sourced from FABRICLORE (https://fabriclore.com), billed as India’s #1 online fabric store supplying customized fabric to fashion businesses globally, in which, he claimed he had a minority stake. The manufacturing is being outsourced locally in Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Gurugram with a view to empower talented local communities by offering them a remunerative price for their work, he added.

After focusing on expansion in India this year, the brand could be headed to the Americas and Europe next year.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Attention & Care Mark Free Multi-Speciality Medical Camp; 150 Benefit

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

It was a free multi-speciality medical camp like none other. Apart from the free consultations from top doctors in 10 specialities, along with a host of health tests, it was the attention and care they received which wowed the 150-odd visitors at the Chhuttani Medical Centre (popularly called CMC Hospital) in Sector 17-C on Sunday.

The hospital had marshalled its entire staff for the free camp and each visitor was greeted with a smile and courteously ushered in, something rarely experienced in such camps. Covid protocols were meticulously followed by the hospital staff for themselves and the visitors, who were presented free face masks and their hands sanitised.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

The camp was to begin at 10 a.m. but the hospital had to open its entrance to visitors as early as 8:30 a.m. when the more enthusiastic ones started to gather outside the hospital.

After extensive free health tests, including Haemogram, Blood Sugar, Urine Routine Examination, Blood Pressure and Ht./Wt./BMI at different places, which took quite a bit of time, the visitors were further guided to their respective doctors in their regular OPD rooms on two different floors to avoid a rush. Adequate seating arrangements had been made, and drinking water was served to the visitors at regular intervals.

For the first time highly experienced doctors, some of them former HoDs of PGI, GMCH-32,  provided free OPD consultation in a wide variety of specialities like General Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Gynaecology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Paediatric Surgery and Dentistry.

Among the most experienced doctors attending to the patients were Dr KLN Rao, former Prof. and HoD, Paediatric Surgery, PGI Chandigarh and a trustee of the hospital trust; Dr Rajinder Singh, former Prof. & HoD, General Surgery, PGI Chandigarh; and Dr Ram Singh, former Prof. & HoD, General Medicine, GMCH-32 Chandigarh.

The free medical camp was held to mark the hospital’s 45th Foundation Day, in memory of its visionary founder Prof (Dr) PN Chhuttani, former Director of PGIMER Chandigarh, who along with his father donated his entire property to the trust which now runs the hospital.

A ‘chaumukha diya’ was lit and the staff paid floral tributes to Dr Chhuttani’s bust to mark the formal inauguration of the multi-speciality medical camp.

Smiles all around at the end of the camp pointed to a job well done.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Top Doctors To Provide Free Consultation In 10 Specialities On Apr 23

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

One of the city’s very first multi-speciality hospitals, Chhuttani Medical Centre (CMC Hospital) in Sector 17-C Chandigarh is organising a free multi-speciality medical & free health tests camp on April 23 (Sunday).

The free medical camp will mark the hospital’s 45th Foundation Day, in memory of its visionary founder Prof (Dr) PN Chhuttani, former Director of PGIMER Chandigarh, who along with his father donated their entire property to the trust which now runs the hospital.

For the first time highly experienced doctors, some of them former HoDs of PGI, GMCH-32,  will provide free OPD consultation in a wide variety of specialities like General Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Gynaecology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Dentistry.

The following free health tests will also be performed: Haemogram, Blood Sugar, Urine Routine Examination, Blood Pressure, Ht./Wt./BMI

What: Free multi-speciality medical & free health tests camp

When: 23.04.2023 (Sunday)

Where: CMC Hospital, SCO 52-54, Sector 17-C, Chandigarh (near Bridge Market)

Timing: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Choose From Widest Range Of Voltas & Voltas Beko Products Here

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

Considering the immense importance of the Chandigarh market, comprising Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, for its products, Voltas, the country’s leading air conditioning brand, on Friday opened its first 2200 sq feet Customer Experience Zone in Chandigarh, one of only five across the country so far.

Formally opening the Voltas Customer Experience Zone in Industrial & Business Park Phase I, operated by Sukhmani Enterprises, company MD & CEO Pradeep Bakshi said the large format will allow display of an entire new and diversified range of Voltas and Voltas Beko products, including air conditioners, air purifiers, refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, dishwashers, air coolers, water dispensers, water coolers and commercial refrigerators under one roof.

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh

The company is further strengthening its portfolio of home appliances products in 2023 with the launch of a series of Voltas Beko home appliances through an equal partnership joint venture in India with global brand Arcelik. 

In an exclusive conversation with your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com, Bakshi informed that the Chandigarh market brings to the company 10% of its nationwide business and despite the presence of 70 odd brands, Voltas commands 30% of the market share here. Apart from this Customer Experience Zone in the city, Voltas has 17 Exclusive Brand Outlets in the Chandigarh market apart from hundreds of other Customer Touch Points.

From here on Voltas is seeking to aggressively expand its Customer Experience Zones to have one in each of the major cities in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, he added.

He signed off by sharing that a special offer is in store for Voltas Experience Zone customers with attractive financing options with up to 17.5% cash back, easy EMI finance offers, lifetime inverter compressor warranty and 5-year extended warranty. 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

1...323334...103Page 33 of 103

LIfe in chandigarh

About us

Anchored by a senior journalist, LifeInChandigarh.com is a digital endeavour, a news portal with a positive and progressive outlook, to keep you up to date with the latest developments as they happen in the Chandigarh tricity area.

Latest Articles

Chandigarh School Prodigy Nidhi Rana Among 5 Presented Rotary Young Achievers Award

News & Views 0
Award presented at the Rotary Institute ‘Tejas - Wings...

31st Punjab Open Amateur Ladies Golf Championship Tees Off Tuesday

Golf 0
100 amateur lady golfers to participate in three different...

GB Realty’s Luxury Project Opus One Enters Real Estate Hotspot New Chandigarh As Challenger

Market Watch 0
First GMADA ‘Iconic Certified’ RERA approved project on 8.75...

Most Popular

Chandigarh School Prodigy Nidhi Rana Among 5 Presented Rotary Young Achievers Award

News & Views 0
Award presented at the Rotary Institute ‘Tejas - Wings...

31st Punjab Open Amateur Ladies Golf Championship Tees Off Tuesday

Golf 0
100 amateur lady golfers to participate in three different...

GB Realty’s Luxury Project Opus One Enters Real Estate Hotspot New Chandigarh As Challenger

Market Watch 0
First GMADA ‘Iconic Certified’ RERA approved project on 8.75...

Subscribe

Copyright 2023 Life In Chandigarh All Right Reserved.