On International Women’s Day, Ariel India joins women across the country in asking Dads to #ShareTheLoad!

March 8th, 2016, Mumbai: The conversation of inequality within the household, particularly when it comes to housework and chores is one of growing social importance for women across the country and indeed the world. In India alone, more than 80% of women believe that - men feel household chores are ONLY a woman’s job**! Ariel India was proud to join the conversation on – Is Laundry Only A Woman’s Job? back in January 2015.

As the social debate continues to evolve, a new study by an independent third party reveals that 2 out of every 3 children believe that household chores are a mother’s job*, with the stereotype of gender roles being passed down from one generation to the next. With more than 70% of men believing that laundry and housework are their wife’s job*, the message of gender equality within the household takes even greater importance today. With the objective of supporting women in their debate, and bringing to surface this important social cause, Ariel India joins women across the country and indeed the globe in asking Dads to #ShareTheLoad on this International Women’s Day.

Pankaj Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Tabu and Mandira Bedi, join the movement to end the stereotype of gender roles within the home!

Power couple Pankaj Kapoor and Supriya Pathak also graced the event, as Ariel India’s Dads #ShareTheLoad film continues to build worldwide acclaim with over 25MM views since launch. “Supriya and I are delighted to be here today on Women’s day and join Ariel India in this very important conversation”,  said the veteran actor who went on to add, “we as a society need to prevent the social conditioning of gender roles from being passed down to the next generation. As someone who does #ShareTheLoad at home and has been for many years, I can say that it is key to a happy marriage! I am hopeful that this powerful TVC will encourage husbands and dads across the country to join this movement and set the right example for the next generation.”

The ever graceful Supriya Pathak noted the importance of how the next generation is affected by the role play within the home, “2 out of every 3 children taking away the message that laundry and housework is a mother’s job, is of grave concern! We need to remove the stereotypes of gender roles from the education we provide the next generation both within and outside the household. I am glad that Ariel India has amplified this very important conversation both nationally and globally and thrilled to partner the Dads #ShareTheLoad movement. Pankaj and I have always maintained that household chores are a partnership, and that should be the message to the next generation!”

Bollywood superstar Tabu goes on to add, “I am glad to support and spread Ariel’s new message which encourages Dads to #ShareTheLoad. Ariel’s own study shows that a significant number of men believe laundry and housework are a woman’s job. As someone with many examples in my own family, where men and dads #ShareTheLoad, I think it important to amplify and spread awareness of this conversation. So this women's day "Gentlemen, “we love the flowers but also do the laundry please☺”

Commenting on the Movement, Associate Brand Director, Sharat Verma said, “Research shows that more than 70% of children today believe that household chores like laundry is only a mother’s job*. This prejudice of household inequality is being passed down from one generation to the next and Ariel’s movement aims at supporting women and men across the globe as they bring this issue to the forefront. In order to help drive change we are glad to join this conversation and encourage Dads to #ShareTheLoad! With Ariel, and get the best stain removal in 1-wash.” Bollywood actress Mandira Bedi, who has been a supporter of the #ShareTheLoad movement, goes on to add, “Dads and Husbands across the country can drive change by doing something as simple as the laundry load. Especially since anyone can do the laundry with Ariel, and you get the added benefit of best stain removal in 1-wash!”

The new film from Ariel India has more importantly received the support of women across the globe as they continue the debate on household equality.!  As articulated by Dr. Nandita Shah, Co-Founder, Akshara Centre, “The home belongs to all who live there. Each member should contribute and share the load to keep it running so that each one can also work outside the home in a productive and creative way”

You can join the Dads #ShareTheLoad Movement too!

Watch The Film -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogBz71IHAo

Follow us on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/arielcompleteindia
Twitter: www.twitter.com/arielindia
Free sample: https://www.rewardme.in/tag/ArielShareTheLoad

Disclaimers:

*All claims were generated from men, women and children (ages 10 to 14) who were in agreement with the above statements as per a 4-city (542 person) survey conducted by an independent third party in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad in January 2016

**Claims generated from men and women who were in agreement with the above statements as per a 5-city (1250 person) survey conducted by an independent third party agency in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad & Bangalore, in November 2014.

About Procter & Gamble India
P&G serves nearly five billion people around the world with operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. P&G is one of the largest and amongst the fastest growing consumer products companies in India. Its presence pans across the Beauty & Grooming segment, the Household Care segment as well as the Health & Well Being segment, with trusted brands that are household names across India. These include Vicks ®, Ariel®, Tide®, Whisper®, Olay®, Gillette®, AmbiPur®,Pampers®, Pantene®, Oral-B®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella® and Duracell®. P&G operates through 3 entities in India of which 2 are listed on NSE & BSE. The listed P&G entities are: ‘Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited’ and ‘Gillette India Limited’, whereas the unlisted entity (which is a 100% subsidiary of the parent company in the U.S) operates by the name ‘Procter & Gamble Home Products Ltd.’ Please visit http://www.pg-India.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G India and its brands.

Footnotes:

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's Chief Operating Officer, called it "one of the most powerful videos I’ve ever seen". Sharing it on her FB page, Sheryl Sandberg added, “When little girls and boys play house they model their parents' behavior; this doesn’t just Impact their childhood games, it shapes their long-term dreams. In this #ShareTheLoad campaign, Ariel India, show fathers and husbands can take small steps (like doing laundry) to create more equal homes. The real win is the way they are changing stereotypes and showing that a more equal world would be a better world for all of us”.

Melinda Gates, who has previously voiced the importance of equality between the sexes, including personally highlighting the fact that - In India women spend about 6 hours on household work, where men spend less than 1 hour, said of the film on her twitter page, “When men and women challenge the assumption that household chores are women’s work, everyone benefits #ShareTheLoad”. 

Akshara Centre inspires young women and men to become gender advocates, change makers and leaders in their communities by using innovation, capacity-building, networking and technology. Since its launch in 1995, Akshara has consistently worked with women for their empowerment through educational scholarships, building skills and understanding rights. Men are trained in the prevention of violence, to recognize their own privileges and work towards equality. Through collective actions and advocacy, we work towards a Safe, Inclusive and Sustainable Mumbai City.

New survey of 100 Indian test owners reveals relevancy struggle and cheating concerns

Mumbai, March 8, 2016 – Professional exam providers in India are struggling to maintain the relevance of their exams – and they are also concerned about cheating – according to a recently published report.

The study, conducted by Pearson VUE in partnership with IMRB, surveyed senior managers from 100 exam-owning companies and institutions in the medical, legal, finance, IT and higher education sectors. Almost half (43 percent) reported challenges in developing new assessment content, and four in ten (38 percent) expressed difficulty in maintaining the relevancy of their assessment.

The survey reveals the challenges of knowing whether an exam accurately measures relevant competency, with nearly four in ten test owners (38 percent) finding the restrictions of the exam format itself a challenge – which may in part have an impact on the ability to fulfil the test purpose.

The report, “Improving India’s exam standards: Challenges facing test owners”, also found that almost half of those surveyed (46 percent) are concerned that candidates are cheating in exams, and a third are concerned with candidate impersonation. There is also concern about test paper leakage (39 percent), which is a problem associated with pen-and-paper rather than computer-based testing (CBT).

The report also reveals a potential trend of test owners moving from pen-and-paper to CBT delivery in India. Of the 47 percent who currently use pen-and-paper over a third (33 percent) saying they are likely to move to CBT in the near future. The vast majority of all test owners (81 percent) stated that there is no alternative to CBT that is more reliable.

Divyalok Sharma, director of client development at computer-based testing company Pearson VUE, said: “Assessment content, or in other words the test questions, is the lifeblood of an exam. Focusing on that content is key to the success of an exam programme, along with finding ways to make exams more relevant not only in terms of legislation and up-to-date processes, but also making sure it is relevant to the professional role that person will eventually hold. It is equally important for test owners in India to review their current test development practices and standards and follow international best practices in testing.

“There are a number of inter-related factors and processes that can cause an exam to succeed or fail, including understanding of test objectives, robust test design, appropriate test format, good quality test questions and the statistical analysis of questions. These factors also contribute to the ultimate goal of creating a valid, fair and reliable test.”

“18 lakh enrolled in 8 months under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)”– Rajiv Pratap Rudy

·         To increase capacity for skill development through MSTIs at the rural level

·         Impetus on manufacturing to create makers for Make in India

·         Centre secured support from World Bank to upgrade ITIs

·         Capacity building and job linkages at State Level

Delhi, March 8, 2016: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, today announced that more than 50% of his skill budget will be focused towards focusing on job roles related to rural area.

While spelling out his ministry’s achievements, he stated that 18 lakh youth have already enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) over the last 8 months which reflects the relevance for skills that his ministry and partner have been able to set for the country’s youth.

“We had conducted 410 kaushal melas across 29 states reaching out to many of those who needed a direction with regard to employability and employment,” the Minister added.

To further ensure increase in capacity and scope of skill development, the Ministry of Skill Development will be also ensuring creation of 1500 Multi Skill Training Institutes (MSTIs) which will basically be the new generation ITIs set up in PPP mode. So far there have just been had standalone government or private ITIs. These will be set up in those 2500 blocks and districts of the country which are yet to focus on skill development and do not have ITIs.

The Hon’ble Minister stated that, “Budget 2016 seems promising for India’s youth – whether it is about quality of education, focus on skill development, improving teaching and research outcomes, emphasis on job creation, creating an ease of doing business or promoting entrepreneurship.”

“We should not look at the budget only from the direct facilitations point of view such as tax relaxations especially at a time when we have to maintain the fiscal deficit at 3.5%. Instead, it is clear that the Government’s focus is to strengthen the economy through indirect methods such as infrastructural development, healthcare, focusing on job creation, skill development, and micro small and medium enterprises,” he said.

Shri Rudy said that the budget aims towards bringing parity across all sections for an overall economic growth of the individual and the country. There is a clear effort to strengthen the economy through substantial investment in infrastructural development, rural India, roads and connectivity, job creation, skill development, and micro small and medium enterprises.

With the implementation of common norms with effect from April 1, 2016, there will be more synergies that will be seen across ministries, departments and states on skill development following one norm, one common outcome and tracking mechanism.

The government has also partnered with World Bank to upgrade industrial training in the country not only by extending monetary support but also ensuring best practices being implemented. Skill Training for Employability Leveraging Public Private Partnership (STELPPP) with the proposed assistance of USD One billion from World Bank and Skill Training for Industries Value Enhancement (STRIVE) with an estimated cost of USD 537.50 million.

The formation of the National Skill Certification Board is also another big step in further strengthening the skill ecosystem. It will see representation from both government and industry, which will collectively enable a joint framework for quality skill assessment.

Shri Rudy also stated that “We will work to deliver Entrepreneurship, Education and training in 2200 colleges, 300 schools, 500 government ITIs and 50 Vocational Training Centres. Aspiring entrepreneurs will be connected to mentors and credit markets.”

For more information on Skill Development, please follow the links below:

Pledge to support Skill: #ISupportSkillIndia

PMKVY Facebook: www.facebook.com/PMKVYOfficial

Skill India Facebook: www.facebook.com/SkillIndiaOfficial

Skill India Twitter: www.twitter.com/@MSDESkillindia

Skill India YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNfVNX5yLEUhIRNZJKniHg

The World’s First Curcumin Pastille For Oral Health Care Launched In Mumbai

March 2016           

Mumbai, 6th March, 2016: For the first time in the field of dentistry, Curcumin – a concentrated extract of turmeric with its excellent therapeutic effects has made its way as a pastille for preventive oral health care. This first of its kind pastille christened ‘Dennkur’ was launched in Mumbai yesterday and will be available with dentists across the country. The product has been introduced by Denteks, leading experts in dental technology of which Dr. Nirupam K Doctor and Dr. Lalit K Chokhani launched the breakthrough product in the presence of several eminent doctors and researchers.

The 100 per cent ayurvedic and sugar-free medicine is backed by clinical and social trials and has proved to be highly effective in preventive and therapeutic applications in a variety of oral diseases including bleeding gums, receding gums, gingivitis, and periodontitis, among others.

“Turmeric is an ancient spice and a traditional remedy, known and acknowledged the world over. Curcumin is the principle constituent of this spice with approximately 80 – 85 per cent concentration and is very well-known for its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory properties, and is a strong anti-oxidant agent. Years of study and research have conclusively proven that curcumin has a potential curative effect against various diseases while remaining safe and non-toxic. In dentistry too, it can decrease Aveolar Bone Loss occurrence in Periodontitis and prevents adherence of Streptococcus Mutans to the gums and tooth surface, thereby preventing Plaque formation and inhibiting dental Caries,” says Dr. Nirupam K Doctor, Founder, Dennkur.

“Dennkur is a soft, in-mouth dissolving pastille that contains Curcumin extract which offers the most unique delivery system for Oral Health Care. This preventive care not only makes the consumer confident but also provides an additional therapeutic adjunct in dentistry,” he adds.

Since the recommended way to consume the pastilles is by placing it in the mouth and allowing to be dissolved, it bypasses ‘First Pass Effect’ on routine ingestion pattern. When left in the oral cavity for nearly 20 minutes, the active ingredient of Curcumin remains in contact with oral tissues which are the target site for remedial effect.

“In our case the target sites are the plaque and BIOFILM that attaches to the tooth surface which is the beginning of all oral disease like gum disease and decay of teeth. So when one consumes the pastilles as per dosage, it acts as the first point barrier and healer. Being a routinely “edible” product, Dennkur a derivative of Curcumin is a food and health supplement and in general, is a detoxifier of body to help in healing several oral and general ailments,” concludes Dr. Nirupam.

Recommended dosage may range from two to four pastilles per day depending on whether it is being consumed for therapeutic, maintenance or preventive reasons. Dennkur will be available as a strip of ten pastilles and a box of twenty are priced at INR 300/- with a shelf life of twenty-four months.

About DENNKUR: DENNKUR is an innovative oral healthcare product that combines the effectiveness of Curcumin and convenience of pastilles. The soft pastilles are in itself a newly developed ‘Drug Delivery System’ containing menthol, eucalyptus oil and sweeteners besides its key component, Curcumin. The state of art technology of manufacturing DENNKUR pastilles preserves the natural goodness of Turmeric with modern drug delivery technology in the form of mouth dissolving pastilles or lozenges. The pastilles are being studied both in VIVO and VITRO at multi-centres and at the level of social trials adequate benefits have been demonstrated.

Mumbai Traffic Police partner with Uber to install Uber Breathalysers in City

Mumbai, 7 March, 2016: Uber, the technology company that seamlessly connects riders to drivers at the push of a button, has today partnered with the Mumbai Traffic Police for the launch and installation of Uber Breathalysers at bars and pubs in the city.

Uber Breathalyser is a kiosk that analyses the alcohol content in a person’s blood and accordingly flashes a red light if it’s over the legal limit and a green light if it’s safe for the person to drive. If his/her reading is over the legal limit, a message is displayed on the screen that helps the person request an Uber home, instead of driving. And if it's their first Uber ride, it's free.

Said Shailesh Sawlani, GM, Uber Mumbai, “We're excited to launch the first Breathalyser in partnership with the Mumbai Traffic Police. Through this campaign, we aim to build awareness against drunk-driving and give people a convenient and reliable ride back home. We hope to work with the Mumbai Traffic Police to install these devices across all bars and pubs in the city." 

With a commitment to help reduce DUI cases in the city, and to build awareness about road safety and against drunk driving, Uber Breathalyser is yet another step by Uber to enable a reliable, safe and affordable ride home for the citizens of Mumbai. 

The first kiosk in Mumbai was installed and launched a few days ago in Nook, a nightclub in Phoenix Marketcity Kurla.

About Uber

Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our app, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in hundreds of cities today, Uber's rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. Today Uber is available in almost 400 cities in 68 countries. Today, the service is available in 26 Indian cities -- more than any other country outside the United States.www.uber.com

Kamal Hassan and ManiRatnamhonor the closing ceremony of ‘Film Preservation and Reservation Workshop, India 2016’ with their presence

Viacom18 and Film Heritage Foundation’s 2ndsuccessful year of association

March, 6th, 2016: The Film Heritage Foundation saw major success with the 2nd edition of Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2016; a crucial initiative, given the urgent need to preserve India’s rich film legacy. Viacom 18 was the principal sponsor of this 10-day workshop that was conducted by Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), which was held at NFAI, Pune. 

Versatile Actor Mr. Kamal Hassan and renowned Indian filmmaker Mr. Mani Ratnam were the Guests of Honour at the closing ceremony of the Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop 2016. The 10 day workshop had an international faculty of leading experts in the field who addressed current issues surrounding film preservation and restoration including practical training of current restoration and archival best practices. The unique part of this initiative was that it covered the preservation of both film and non-film material like posters, documents, lobby cards, photographs, etc. which are an integral part of our cinematic heritage. 

Mr Sudhanshu Vats, Chairman CII National Committee on Media & Entertainment & Group CEO Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd said, “Preservation and Restoration of Indian cinematic heritage is an on-going priority for us. Our goal is to help create awareness as to how important it is to preserve our cultural heritage for the benefit of the future generations. We are thankful to Film Heritage Foundation for having us on board once again and we look forward for a continued association to ensure enhanced dialogue and cooperation between all those who care about and love Indian cinema”

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Founder Director, Film Heritage Foundation said,“This has been a great year and with a second successful workshop behind us, we now have to start work on our mission to build an army of skilled film preservationists and restorers that is needed to save our moving image legacy. As always, we at Film Heritage Foundation cannot thank Mr. Sudhanshu Vats and his entire team at Viacom18 for their continued support for our cause and for understanding the importance of encouraging those who value India's rich cinematic legacy to learn, explore and contribute towards saving it for posterity.” 

Kamal Hassan, veteran actor and one of the Chief Guests of the occasion said,“I am very pleased to be invited to be Chief Guest at the closing certification ceremony of the Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop in Pune and to present the FIAF certificates to the participants. A workshop of this kind is crucial for our country that has lost so much of our cinematic history and we need to grow a resource of passionate film archivists who are committed to saving our cinematic heritage. I would like to congratulate Film Heritage Foundation for this remarkable initiative and for conducting the workshop at the National Film Archive of India.”

ABOUT VIACOM18 MEDIA PVT. LTD.:

Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is one of India’s fastest growing entertainment networks and a house of iconic brands that offers multi-platform, multi-generational and multicultural brand experiences. A joint venture of Viacom Inc. and the Network18 Group, Viacom18 defines entertainment in India by touching people on-air, online, on ground, in shop and through its cinema.

ABOUT FILM HERITAGE FOUNDATION:

Film Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit organization based in Mumbai set up by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. Recognizing the urgent need to preserve India’s cinematic heritage, Film Heritage Foundation is dedicated to supporting the conservation, preservation and restoration of the moving image and to develop interdisciplinary educational programs that will use film as an educational tool and create awareness about the language of cinema.

A message from Team India | India Vs Bangladesh | Asia Cup Final

As our victorious Indian Cricket team heads towards finals of Asia Cup on 6^th March 2016, here’s a word for the opponent team Bangladesh… they surely don’t have a “Mauka” this time !

Music Album launch of Pt. Bhavdeep Jaipurwale's 'Nirantarr'.

Pandit Bhavdeep Jaipurwale's album 'Nirantarr 4 Generations' was launched by AR Rahman and Juhi Chawla. 

It is for the first time that 4 generations of Playback singers from one family have an Album together. 

Many from Music fraternity like Harihan, Suresh Wadkar, Peenaz were seen. 

Ashutosh Gowarikar was seen busy chatting with Music Director Sameer Sen. 

Juhi Chawla said that, "I have learnt music from 3 of these 4 Generations and am happy to be a part of this event." 

Johnny Depp’s must-watch movies all this month on MN+

MN+’s Walk of Fame to air the best of Johnny Depp all March, Saturday nights at 9

Mumbai, 3 March 2016: Lovers of the best Hollywood movies in India are in for a fiesta of Gold Class movie watching. This March, MN+ will feature some of the best films starring Johnny Depp, acknowledged by peers and critics worldwide as one of the most gifted and talented Hollywood actors. The Johnny Depp specials will air in the popular MN+ property, Walk of Fame, starting the 5^th of March, every Saturday night at 9.

Films to be aired in the Johnny Depp Walk of Fame on MN+include the 2005 musical fantasy, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Directed by Tim Burton, the storyline of the movie moves along with young Charlie, accompanied by Willy Wonka, in a guided tour he has won through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world.

Another remarkable movie is Dark Shadows, a 2012 American horror comedy based on the gothic television soap operaDark Shadows. The film is about an imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, who is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.

The third film on the Johnny Depp Walk of Fame on MN+ this month is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Based on the hit Broadway musical, the movie is the story of the infamous Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who sets up in London a barber which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. For the movie, Depp was bestowed the National Movie Awards, UK in the Best Performance – Actor category.

Another movie is the American science-fiction-thriller, The Astronaut's Wife, written and directed by Rand Ravich and featuring Charlize Theron with Depp, is about how, after an explosion in space and the subsequent two-minute radio-out period, two astronauts return home to their wives. Only – now that they’re back, it’s revealed that they're not the same as they were.

Interestingly, Depp is a movie buff with a somewhat encyclopedic knowledge of older films. He loves watching animated films with his daughter such as Shrek (2001) and Finding Nemo (2003). For movie connoisseurs like Depp, this festival is a can’t-miss event.

So, for a delightful weekend watch every Saturday night at 9, head for:

The MN+ Walk of Fame

Featuring Johnny Depp movies

Throughout March, every Saturday night at 9 pm, starting the 5^th of March

About MN+:

MN+ is a premium HD English movie channel part of Times Network which brings The Gold Class of Hollywood Movies with both, popular and critically acclaimed titles, in pristine HD quality for the movie connoisseurs. The MN+ library comprises of must-watch movies across genres that are universally celebrated and are discussed extensively in social gatherings of people who have an opinion.