In conversation with Digpu, Dr Priya G Modi, MBBS, MD Radiology, talks about how the global COVID-19 pandemic came as an alarming reality check to the world.

With increasing innovations and technology, our fast-moving lives came to a halt as the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world. The unanticipated lockdown brought everything to a standstill and the time spent in the lockdown has been quite an experience in many ways.

In conversation with Digpu, Dr Priya G Modi, MBBS, MD Radiology, talks about how the global COVID-19 pandemic came as an alarming reality check to the world. She says its time to support local and also asks for forgiveness from the migrant workers for what they have gone through. Here are some takeaways from our conversation with Dr Priya G Modi including the life lessons to be learnt before coming out of this lockdown.

1. Respiratory Etiquette: Wearing masks when required should be made a lifestyle. Many serious diseases which infect the lungs mainly spread from person to person contact through the air and other mediums. For instance, when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.

The incidence of the disease will significantly reduce if we wear mask regularly and prevent ourselves from a deadly disease, we also prevent our other airborne diseases which human beings are highly susceptible Rhinoviruses, Influenza viruses (type A, type B, H1N1), Varicella viruses (cause chickenpox), Measles virus, Mumps virus, Hantavirus (a rare virus that can be transmitted from rodents to humans), Viral meningitis and Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Airborne infections are an increasingly important factor in veterinary centers, quarantine units, and breeding facilities preventing from occupational diseases to a greater extent.

2. Hand Washing and Sanitizing Etiquette: Regular hand washing and sanitizing is directly proportional to healthy life preventing illnesses to a greater extent. Never was the common man so serious about washing hands and using sanitizers, it is because of COVID-19 pandemic that such social awareness has been spread. As part of their daily routine, people are now following these steps. It is especially important for children since it prevents frequent sickness and keeps them healthy.

3. Entire Cities And Localities Getting Sanitized: We have seen cleaning streets with brooms but have never witnessed people spraying sanitizer across public areas, which kills 95% of bacteria and viruses. This sanitization contributes to a cleaner and heathier environment. Even essential supply stores and public transport vehicles are getting regularly washed and sanitized is also preventing the spread of diseases.

By staying indoors each one of us has witnessed less pollution, thus improving air quality index and has seen a drastic decrease in the incidence of air pollution diseases. We have witnessed the positive effects of lockdown on the earth’s ozone layer as well.

4. Getting House Arrest: Being house arrest was a new thing, all of us were so occupied in bustling life, work commitments. The sudden lockdown qualitatively has brought families closer since spending time together prior to the current scenario was limited to a family vacation.

Also Read: Why Are Doctors So Vulnerable, asks Dr Priya G Modi

5. Appreciating local vendors and Indian products: E-commerce had made us so laid back that we did not bother to shop from surrounding shops and street vendors. When online shopping was shut, we actually realized the value of surrounding stores and indeed helped them overcome their financial constraints.

6. Launch of Aarogya Setu App: In April, the Indian government launched a COVID-19 tracking app called Aarogya Setu which uses GPS and Bluetooth to inform people when they are at risk of exposure to COVID-19. It made tracking easy for the people and the authorities as well.

7. Innovators And Entrepreneurs Making India Self-Reliant: They say necessity is the mother of invention and rightly so. When COVID-19 positive cases were increasing, India started making Personal protective equipment (PPE) for our frontline warriors in healthcare and other places. Earlier we never manufactured any PPE but now India makes approx 2 lakh PPE a day.

8. India manufacturing N95 and Homemade Masks: Many Indians came forward and took up an initiative to make N95 masks, homemade masks,  and Face shields approximately 3 lakh masks have been manufactured in India.

9. Sanitizer Dispensers: Foot-operated sanitizer dispenser, automatic sanitizer dispenser, touchless sanitizer dispenser gave a boon to the new invention in India. Manufacturing of drones to supply essential commodities and sanitizing city, manufacturing of respirators, ventilators everything was need of the hour due to the increase of cases and shortage of equipment.

10. Go Local: A loud and very clear message was given out by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost our economy and help each other growing domestic vendors, Swadeshi products and entrepreneurs.

Amid all the good things that happened, there were certain untoward happenings also. The migrant workers were devastated. They were left jobless and hungry. With zero income, hungry stomachs to feed, children and women walking hundreds of kilometres on foot in their desperation to go home.

It was heartbreaking to hear about many migrant women who had to deliver babies on the roadsides, in trains and walking hundreds of kilometres hungry. Many such incidences were reported and shown on social media but never heard those women taken to nearby hospitals and getting proper medical care. It’s just that they could not afford life due to poverty and they felt very let down amid the pandemic.

In conclusion to her conversation with Digpu, Dr Priya G Modi says she is happy that the world has taken life very seriously, yet she asks for forgiveness from the people who suffered due to the pandemic.

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With the world in lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the casualties has been sports which had to take a back seat due to government-imposed travel restrictions and new laws on social distancing. Golf has been one of the sports most affected with courses shut up.

One such golfer has been rising Indian star 8-year-old Chaitanya Pandey, whose meteoric rise to the top of his sport has been halted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the boy who has been compared to a young Tiger Woods, and who been described by the Indian Minister of Sport, Kiren Rijuju, as part of India’s future and one of the world’s best young players has time on his side, and it will not be long before he is striding the fairways and the greens again on the way to yet another brilliant title win.

In the meantime, celebrating his European win anniversary, it seems an appropriate time to relive some golden memories when Chaitanya travelled to Longniddry in Scotland last year, and returned home triumphant with the European Championship in his possession.

Chaitanya Pandey went to Scotland as one of the youngest in a glittering field of featuring competitors from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, as well as the substantial home-based contingent.

And, for many of them, the Longniddry course, which is famed for its difficulty, posed a unique set of challenges with hundreds of trees lining the course, deep bunkers and the adverse weather conditions.

And Chaitanya Pandey certainly had to contend with all that the famous old course could throw at him over the three days of the tournament. Friday was the best day weather-wise and Chaitanya took full advantage scoring a superb 30, which was 6 under par for the 9-hole course, enough to earn him a share of the lead with one of his closest rivals from Thailand.

On Saturday, things got tougher and Chaitanya could only score a par 36, still highly respected in the circumstances, but with Thailand rival managing a two-under-par score, Chaitanya had slipped to second in the overall standings.

However, the final day Sunday was to prove decisive. Not only were the conditions difficult again, particularly playing shots into the wind and heavy rain, but pressure also began to play its part, particularly in the case of Thai rival who shot six over par to end his chances. Chaitanya meanwhile kept his nerve and composure superbly, continued to find the fairways from the tee, and made sure that his putting was up to its usual brilliant best.

He shot par again, the third-best round of the day, and enough to give him a marvellous and thoroughly deserved victory by two shots from the South African Lex Foxcraft. It was the biggest success of his fledgeling career to date and made him the youngest Indian to win the European title.

Typically modest after his record-breaking win, Chaitanya was quick to praise those who had helped him achieve such success at an early age, including his coach Romit Bose and Aditya Sachdeva who prompted him to play golf, the Delhi Golf Club, especially its President, Mr RS Bedi and Captain, Rohit Sabherwal, and his school K R Mangalam World School. Above all though, his gratitude was reserved for his parents without whose tireless support and devotion, none of his achievements would be possible.

Since then he has won a number of major events maintaining his pole position in India in Indian golf Union merit list, US Kids Golf India and finished third in the Kids’ World Championship in Malaysia.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he will not get a chance to defend his European title this year that has had to be postponed for a year, along with many of the other major championships in the United States he was due to compete in later this year, including the IMG World, FCG Callaway, and US Kids’ World Championships, which were all scheduled to be staged in the USA.

However, when play does resume, it is a certainty that Chaitanya will once again be amongst the favourites to win all the big titles.

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Now, 8k tests being done per day, local authorities say

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has now become number one in the country in COVID-19 testing with the testing rate of over 10,000 per million.

The testing capacity in the Union Territory has gone up from just about 100 tests/day in March to 8000 tests/day now. In the last one month alone, the testing capacity has been enhanced from 1800 tests/day to 8100/day – an increase by a whopping 350%.

The information was provided earlier this week by Principal Secretary to Government, Power Development Department and Information, Rohit Kansal, who is also the official spokesperson of J&K Government.

He said that aggressive and sustained testing is the only effective weapon against the disease and the administration shall continue to pursue it effectively.

The official also stated that the Government has taken a slew of measures on the health, economic and welfare fronts. “Jammu and Kashmir was probably one of the first States or UTs to take note of the emerging situation and initiate action and many of our interventions have not only been fast but effective too.”

It may be recalled that the total number of COVID 19 cases in J&K is 1759. The number of recovered cases are 833 while as 25 people have died of the infection.

Health officials say that while J&K had been able to achieve a low growth rate and a doubling rate of over three weeks, this should not become a cause of complacency.

Effective lockdown, strong containment policy, aggressive testing and cooperation by the people of J&K has played a key role in containment of COVID 19.

Meanwhile, the government has claimed to be adopting a policy of testing 100% of all returnees. All the returnees are being tested, and as a result of the strategy, the administration has been successful in tracing more than 450 positive cases so far.

It is in place to mention here that the UT Government has issued SoPs for the reopening of markets, industry and trade. Similarly, SOPs have been issued for returnees and passengers.

Given that the increased testing rate will be helpful to test all potential positive cases, the next challenge for the government is to convince people to keep staying in their homes as there seems no likelihood for the lockdown to be relaxed in the days to come.

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Numr is a tech-led market research company that helps other companies attract new customers, delight existing ones, and innovate their product. They do this by utilising Agile Market Research.

When asked what Agile Market Research means, Amitayu Basu explains, “Agile MR is the only way to respond to the changing dynamics of this current crisis. Agile Research is real-time, dynamic, flexible, and collaborative. At its core, it entails responding to change as and when it occurs, rather than following a rigid plan. Instead of shying away from uncertainty, it embraces it. This is crucial in the current crisis.”

Here are some takeaways from our conversation including his tips on how businesses can flourish right now, and how Numr incorporates them.

1. CX Is Important, So Delight Your Customers

“Did you know that 89% companies now compete mostly based on Customer Experience?” He adds, “Delivering outstanding CX has become increasingly important, especially in the current panorama, which is why, our AI-led CX platform uses NPS® to collect real-time customer feedback across multiple channels such as SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, and IVR.”

What differentiates Numr from other CX companies is that they collect feedback at ‘the moment of truth’. This data is analysed automatically using AI, prioritized, and then distributed in real-time with customisable dashboards to the people who need to act on it. This allows companies to cut costs while delivering superior CX.

Numr also use sentiment-analysis and AI to help companies obtain insights from comments, reviews and massively reduce Churn. Additionally, the company uses predictive analytics to find customers with the highest chance of leaving and helps in focusing a company’s efforts on recovering high-value customers.

2. Evaluate Your Content To Get New Customers

Numr’s agile platform deploys Intuitive-Association (System-1 Thinking) to evaluate a company’s written content.

About the sales funnel, Amitayu says, “Potential customers usually go through a Sales Funnel before they convert.  This includes going through your website for the first time, subscribing to your newsletter, reading your blogs over a period, talking to a salesperson, and finally deciding to buy your product.”

After a customer has become aware of the product, he moves into the consideration stage of the funnel where he spends some time forming a definitive opinion about the company. During this evaluation stage, the customer is nurtured through various blogs, case studies, promotions etc.

We, at Numr evaluate what a potential customer felt during this stage (e.g. informed, increased trust etc.) when he encountered these nurturing tools.” Using these feelings, each customer is given a prime score, which is used to specifically retarget customers with the highest probability of converting.

Basically, Numr provides automated hot alerts directly to the sales team when a potential customer has reached a score where he can be converted easily.

3. Analyse Your Market Space and Brand Perception

 Amitayu says, “We empower companies to understand their Brand Perception by discovering words and phrases that consumers associate with their brand vs the competition.”

The company does this by presenting a target group with a survey about the words they intuitively associate with a brand. Numr’s proprietary algorithm uses a factor of the speed of the response as a predicator for the strength of the association with a word or phrase.

“This wide space analysis allows you to differentiate your brand from pre-existing ones by showcasing a way to cultivate uniquely distinctive assets that can be used in marketing and sales”, Amitayu Basu states.

4. Perform Concept and Idea Testing Before Launching Your Product

Launching a new product is an expensive affair. Before investing money and resources into developing a product, it is wise to uncover if people have a need for it.

“While Concept Testing is a lengthy process with Old-school Market Research,” says Amitayu Basu, “our agile methodology delivers results in a matter of hours.”

Numr’s platform presents the concept (e.g. poster, video or actual schematic of the product) to a group of potential customers to uncover how likely are they to try the product. Then, the trial rate is compared to previously tried concepts or the industry trial rate.

Numr utilises this trial rate to predict the market share the product will occupy way before the product is manufactured.

5. Perform Price Testing To Find The Perfect Price-Point In The Market To Maximise Success

Price Testing helps companies find the perfect price point to sell their product for. Numr uses Conjoint Analysis to quickly identify what product features the consumers want, at what price point.

In conclusion to the conversation with Digpu, Amitayu Basu asserts, “This is not the time to go off on a hunch. To flourish during these times, make sure all your business decisions are backed by data and research.”

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COVID-19 is an extremely contagious viral infection of zoonotic origin. Since the first outbreak of SARS-CoV in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 has swept into almost every corner of the world. Corona pandemic has influenced every industry, including health.

Laparoscopic Surgeons are at the highest risk of contracting this virus. There is a need for protection in the operation theaters and proper management of gas due to pneumoperitoneum leaking with smoke viral DNA and Carcinogens present in surgical smoke. The need to safeguard themselves and their patients has prompted the laparoscopic surgeons to develop their protocols to tide over the pandemic situation. Although there has been a shift of available resources from elective surgeries to the management of COVID-19 cases, specific surgical emergencies need immediate management.

Amidst the corona crisis, surgeons have to take care of the issues and safeguards associated with laparoscopic surgery. The doctors at World Laparoscopy Hospital are taking all the care that surgeons, as well as patients both, should be protected. Studies have demonstrated an association between smoke plumes from electrosurgery and acute headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritations, dermatitis, colic, acute and chronic pulmonary conditions said Dr R.K. Mishra, Director World Laparoscopy Hospital, Gurugram.

Higher concentrations of particulate matter

Laparoscopic surgery produces more particulate matter than open surgery, increasing the risk of viral transmission. The high particulate matter is mostly attributed to:

• Electrosurgical devices employed
• Low gas motility of pneumoperitoneum
• Gas expulsion through ports or trocars

Viral dissemination through aerosol droplets

Creating a pneumoperitoneum is an essential step in laparoscopic surgery. However, pneumoperitoneum-associated aerosolization of particles raises the concerns regarding the risk of dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 during minimally invasive surgery. Particles in surgical smoke contain a variety of toxic and virulent materials that can cause infection through inhalation. A similar outbreak of SARS-CoV-1 in 2002–2003 was associated with nosocomial transmission through aerosol droplets.

Electrosurgical smoke contains potentially hazardous organic and inorganic compounds including Nobel Coronavirus if the patient is affected from this disease; the researchers of one study found the amount of surgical smoke produced in a laparoscopic surgery operating theatre is equivalent to 27 to 30 cigarettes said, Dr R.K. Mishra. Bacteria and viruses can be transmitted through this smoke. The topic of electrosurgical smoke is important to occupational health nurses not only because of their responsibility to protect workers but also because they, like surgeons, may be exposed to smoke routinely.

Protection in Operation Theater

80% of the patients with COVID-19 are healthy carriers, have mild symptoms, or are completely asymptomatic. This increases the risk of exposure. The surgeons must make decisions based on their clinal judgment and availability of resources. Following steps should be considered:

• Prefer non-operative management when possible.
• Surgical care should be given to patients on the practice of evidence-based medicine.
• In case of suspicion, the surgical team should wait for COVID-19 test results of the patient before starting surgery.

At times of surgery, the aerosol is generated from intubation, electrocautery of blood, catheter insertion, and other procedures, increasing the risk of viral dissemination. According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) surgical mask is cleared mask that protects the wearer from microorganisms, body fluids, and large particles greater than 5 µm in size. A surgical N95 respirator is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved and FDA cleared; it filters at least 95% of airborne particles.

N95 respirators are the preferred personal protective equipment for avoiding harmful chemicals during electrosurgery. Before using an N95, all operators should be fit-tested to a specifically sized mask to ensure an adequate face seal. In support of them use, N95 respirators have been shown to provide protection against aerosolized infectious pathogens.

A laparoscopic Smoke Evacuation System is also necessary. According to Dr. Mishra the smoke Evacuation System is an easy-to-use device, that connects to a standard luer-lock trocar and a suction or vacuum unit. When used during laparoscopic procedures, it will effectively and efficiently remove smoke, from the peritoneal cavity. So, surgeon can have enhanced visualization of the surgical site safety from COVID 19 and Improved air quality in the. Therefore, the whole surgical team should wear personal protection equipment including

• Use of Laparoscopic Smoke Evacuation System
• Disposable surgical caps
• Medical protective mask (N95)
• Surgical shield uniform
• Disposable medical protective uniform
• Disposable latex gloves
• Full-face respiratory protective devices
• Powered air-purifying respirator

Laparoscopic surgery during a pandemic comes with multiple threats for the surgical team. Therefore, it is crucial to take measures for the safeguard of colleagues, family, and friends. Although these measures are going to increase the cost of surgery for the well being of health professionals this is necessary.

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Turning different passions into thriving businesses is not everyone’s cup of tea. Jamie Villamor a multi-passionate entrepreneur, is teaching women around the globe on creating successful businesses by tapping into their full potential. Whether it is about being a professional athlete or a gorgeous cover model, this highly skilled entrepreneur has become an inspiration for many.

Jamie Villamor crushes anything she does. As a professional competitive pistol shooter for Rockisland Armory, she is not slowing down anytime soon. Her international matches may have been cancelled for the year but we are blown away at her drive to continue working hard and creating new opportunities.

Since the pandemic, Jamie has been training at home doing dry fire/reload drills with her 1911 single-stack alongside trainer JJ Racaza via FaceTime. We also witnessed her complete a challenge of 100 burpees a day for 30 days in which she took part in to help level up her endurance and strength.

Quarantine has given Jamie Villamor more time to focus on her small business; Vegas Bows & Apparel. Over the past month, she has expanded from making cheer bows into making stunning fabric masks. Her masks have an edge with eye-catching Swarovski crystals. You can find her masks and bows on Etsy at Vegasbows1.

Jamie believes that keeping a positive mindset and being grateful for small things in life is the ultimate secret behind her success. Being a single mom to three kids has helped her keep grounded in tough times when people are fighting for their lives. Jamie is a big supporter of an all-natural lifestyle and her recent obsession includes CBD by shell shock. Jamie states that gummies have been a lifesaver for her. It just helps her to relax and sleep better at night.

Jamie has been taking proper precautions to stay protected from the effect of the virus, by washing hands, sticking to social distancing and wearing her favorite protection, Innocent Armor. Innocent Armor is a premium line of bullet resistant clothing, where style meets protection.  It’s discreet body armor in everyday clothing.  Extremely lightweight and highly resistant to impact, they are NIJ Level IIIA, which is the highest level of protection available in soft body armor. Be on the lookout for Jamie’s 2021 calendar. Presales are available on her website and she will be donating a portion of the proceeds back to a local Las Vegas charity.

Jamie Villamor is active on her TikTok. To know more about her, visit www.jamievillamor.com

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Noble Eden is actively volunteering and bringing together global leaders and partners of ‘The Aum-Lai Chapter’ to discuss the revival of rivers.

Mohit Sinha, Director, Noble Eden is a versatile professional with commendable experience and is renowned in the real estate industry as a young entrepreneur who has redefined benchmarks of success.

Mohit started his professional venture in real estate with the prime objective of revolutionizing the real estate industry with knowledge as business fuel and has been instrumental in taking Noble Eden to new heights with his strong business acumen.

After a successful career in the real estate industry, Mohit is working towards creating awareness about water, soil and air. In economics, the word ‘land’ is used not merely in the sense of the soil or surface of the earth but it stands for all nature, living and lifeless. It includes all free natural resources that we get from air, water and land.

The land is also considered as dignity and identity for some people. Real estate and nature have determining influences in moulding the lives, occupations and standard of living for the people. Thus, all aspects of economics, agriculture, trade and industries are generally influenced by natural resources available in land, water and air. We must take our corporate social responsibility seriously and take care of our natural resources.

Noble Eden under the leadership of Mohit Sinha is actively volunteering and bringing together global leaders and professionals as well as friends and partners of ‘The Aum-Lai Chapter’ from around the world in an open dialogue, under one roof to discuss the water issues faced by our nation and to develop possible strategies as to how to ‘Revive Rivers And River Management’ can become aware and more engaged in initiatives taking place in India.

The rainfall is irregular in nature. Ground water is major source of water and that’s why ground water is declining day by day. It has resulted in the alarming depletion of water level & drastic deterioration in ground water quality.

Water harvesting methods in parks and open spaces involve micro-watershed management methods that allow rainwater infiltration and percolation into the ground. The runoff has to be minimized by providing adequate number of percolation pits and dispersion trenches. Rainwater Harvesting in layouts can be done using the ‘Cascade Capture Method’.

In this process, rainwater can be harvested on a plot or through recharge of ground water. The run-off from the plot could be captured by storm water drains and directed into artificial infiltration or percolation pits. The overflow from the storm water drains and infiltration system could be captured in lakes and tanks.

Noble Eden nurtures ethical and sustainable land economics real estate practices and pledges to protect nature at a global level. It works towards building a road map of management of water resources which will be distributed fairly, equitably and used judiciously. It envisions preserving fresh air and sustainable clean environment for our future generation.

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SATYA MicroCapital Limited is one of India’s leading RBI registered NBFC – MFIs focused on the provision of a consistent and essential passage for making financial services accessible to marginalized sections of the society.

During the increasingly aggravating epidemic of COVID-19, where the national economy is being significantly impacted, SATYA MicroCapital Limited, one of the leading and fastest-growing micro-lending companies in the nation, has raised INR 105 crore in equity funding by Gojo & Company, Inc. This is one of the first investments in the Microfinance sector after the nationwide lockdown.

To inhibit the nationwide turbulence created by a lethal coronavirus, India entered an outright lockdown, on 25th March 2020. The aftermath of the move is likely to severely affect the upcoming FY 2020 – 21. In times like these, SATYA aspires to successfully regulate the funds for enacting its commitment towards reaching out to mass parting of migrant workers and meagre people who are facing adverse effects of the pandemic. The recent capital infusion will be trajected in a diversified manner for employment generation and livelihood rehabilitation across terrestrial footprints in the country.

Mr Vivek Tiwari, MD & CEO, SATYA MicroCapital Ltd. stated, “We are grateful to Gojo & Company, Inc. for their continued belief in us. This shows trust of our investors in the company as well as in the MFI industry which is exceptionally praiseworthy. The extent of confidence Mr Sanjay Gandhi and Mr Taejun Shin have fostered in our organization holds paramount significance for us and serves as a clear indication of our substantial strength, intrinsic values, and reliability. This further validates our business model and the responsible growth we have achieved in the last 3 years.

Yielding capital infusions like this during the hazardous outbreak of such a pandemic is rare. Gojo not only holds a deep understanding of the microfinance sector in Asia but also shares our long-term vision of building a high-quality organisation serving people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. We are certain that the capital infusion will serve as driving force to SATYA for reinforcing its vision of being a catalyst for the socio-economic upliftment of 5 million households by the year 2025, which will enable us to empower more and more entrepreneurs from the underserved sections of society”.

Owing to the persevering bounce back power, adaptability to change and resilience of MFI industry; the industry will again prevail stronger than ever before and will certainly win over the contagious COVID – 19 crisis Given the fact that once the pandemic crisis is over, destitute section of the population will look forward to the microfinance  sector for coming back to their normal lives. The sort of sectoral confidence and strength industry has illustrated in the past, serves as an imperative evidence that MFI strata will play an integral role in eradicating the domestic distress via credit-based poverty reduction strategy and will relevantly develop the underserved at an exponential speed.

Gojo & Company, Inc., is a Japan-based holding company of microfinance institutions around the world that aims to provide financial access for everyone in developing countries via MFIs. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and has subsidiary microfinance institutions in various countries such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.

Mr Sanjay Gandhi, Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Gojo & Company Inc. said “It gives Gojo great pleasure to close the INR 105 crores equity funding round with Satya Microcapital Limited. Despite these tough COVID times, Gojo’s confidence in Satya remains as strong as ever. We are positive that Vivek Tiwari and the highly committed Satya team will make the best use of fresh equity and continue with its journey to provide financing support to micro-entrepreneurs across the nation. With Vivek at the helm of affairs, we do believe that in the days ahead, Satya will emerge stronger and we will see more adoption of technology to make Satya the MFI that will set the highest standards for others to emulate”.

SATYA MicroCapital Limited is one of India’s leading RBI registered NBFC – MFIs, with a hardworking and dedicated team of 1800+ employees. Having commenced its operations in January 2017, SATYA is integrally focused towards the provision of a consistent and essential passage for making financial services accessible to marginalized sections of the society. The company caters to a diverse range of 3.8 lac+ wide client base which primarily accounts to married women who own businesses and are looking for means of expansion, income growth or income generation.

The organization fundamentally serves low-income, underserved entrepreneurs by extending microloans across rural and semi-urban areas in the country. SATYA has a massive presence in over 15,000+ villages through 145+ branches in 131 districts across 22 states and intends to scale up its presence henceforth for extending its distinguished financial services in a broader spectrum.

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To meet a temporary liquidity mismatch arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak, Canara Bank has announced a new credit support scheme for borrowers affected by the pandemic.

The scheme extends a quick and hassle-free loan to overcome temporary liquidity mismatches for payment of statutory dues, salaries, wages, electricity bills and rents.

The public sector bank has since sanctioned six lakh loans amounting to Rs 4,300 crore under agriculture, self-help groups and retail categories.

Besides, the lender sanctioned more than Rs 60,000 crore of advances to corporates and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since March.

“We are sure that once the lockdown is completely lifted, our customers will be able to avail the sanctioned facilities to the full extent and improve their business,” said Managing Director and CEO, L V Prabhakar in a statement.

The government has announced an emergency credit line of 20 per cent of outstanding credit as on February 29 to MSME borrowers having Rs 25 crore outstanding with an annual turnover up to Rs 100 crore.

The credit line is 100 per cent guaranteed by the government. The facility can be availed up to October 31.

Besides, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s regulatory package on COVID-19, the moratorium has been extended on payment of all instalments for term loans falling due from March 1 to August 31.

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Additional research is needed to check for bone loss and heart problems at the lower dose, but those effects too could likely be eliminated or lessened by reducing the dosage of rosiglitazone.

Combining a once-popular but largely abandoned treatment for Type 2 diabetes with another drug could be used again to eliminate problematic side effects, say the findings of a novel study.

Rosiglitazone, sold under the brand name Avandia, won Food and Drug Administration approval in 1999 and became a leading treatment for Type 2 diabetes, capable of increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.
It fell out of favour after studies raised concerns about the risk of a heart attack in some patients, as well as a risk for osteoporosis and evidence of increased weight gain and fluid retention.

In the UT Southwestern study published in Cell Metabolism, researchers show how adding a second, experimental drug referred to as Compound A activates a receptor in fat cells and certain immune system cells, called the G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), to complement the effects of rosiglitazone and allow a lower dose to be used.

In a mouse study, the combination of Compound A with a minimal dose of rosiglitazone produced a similar degree of insulin sensitization as the maximal dose of rosiglitazone, according to the report.

“The very low dose we used in this study showed no side effects – no weight gain, no fluid retention – in mouse models,” said Dayoung Oh, Ph.D., senior author of the study, assistant professor of internal medicine, and a researcher in UT Southwestern’s Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research.

Additional research is needed to check for bone loss and heart problems at the lower dose, she noted, but those effects too could likely be eliminated or lessened by reducing the dosage of rosiglitazone.

In 2010, responding to studies reporting an increased risk of a heart attack in rosiglitazone patients, the FDA issued prescribing and dispensing restrictions on the drug.

Those were lessened in 2013 and removed entirely in 2015 after the FDA determined the data did not show an increased risk of heart attack with rosiglitazone. However, the usage of rosiglitazone has remained low.

“For a long time, rosiglitazone has been used for treating Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance,” Oh said.

Although there are other drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes, “this drug is very good – very effective. But at the same time, there are still serious side effects, including weight gain, fluid retention, and more,” Oh added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 34 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and 90 to 95 per cent of those cases are Type 2 diabetes. The disease can lead to kidney or heart disease and stroke and can be fatal.

The current study found that the positive effects of rosiglitazone, which acts on the anti-diabetic target PPARy in fat cells, can be heightened by combining it with an activator, or agonist, to spur GPR120 activity as well.

The study showed that Compound A, a small molecule developed by Merck & Co. Inc., works much like the omega-3 fatty acids enriched in fish oil, a natural GPR120 activator, to lower inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.

While mice that were given the minimal dose of rosiglitazone alone failed to show improved insulin sensitivity, those given Compound A in combination with low-dose rosiglitazone had enhanced insulin sensitivity, according to the study.

Oh explained that she would like to work with interested clinical researchers to test Compound A to boost rosiglitazone’s effectiveness and reduce its side effects in patients at the lower dose.

She also plans to do additional research to uncover the specific mechanism by which GPR120 activation reduces rosiglitazone’s side effects.

“The hope is that we will be able to use rosiglitazone at lower doses to treat Type 2 diabetes patients in a more effective way without side effects,” Oh concluded.

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