Category: Trends

Categories
Trends

Self-cleaning stones for buildings in Mumbai

Lapitec stone slabs imported from Italy are slowly beginning to make an appearance in exclusive building projects in the city.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

There’s a new type of stone slab being used in a few premium construction projects in Mumbai, and the makers claim, it is a self-cleaning one! Apparently, Lapitec slabs are the largest in the world. They have a ‘self-wash’ feature, under which the stone cleans away germs and bacteria by itself. These slabs are normally used where very high standards of cleanliness are required.

We spoke to Akash Chavan, Executive Director for India Operations of Globus Procon Pvt. Ltd, the company which deals with importing the stone in India.

What is Lapitec stone ?

CASA PAOLO BERRO 3Lapitec is a natural inorganic ceramic material composed of 100 per cent natural materials, sintered at 1200 ° Celsius, produced in full body slabs using an exclusive technology developed by Breton S.p.a.

Where do you source it from ?

We import it from Italy. We are the sole importers of Lapitec in India.

Why did you decide to associate with this product ?

When we started out with this company, we always wanted to do something new and exciting. When we came across Lapitec during our extensive travels in Europe, we were convinced with the product and the various aspects associated with it that made it something to aspire for. As a result of the product’s novelty and the value of its features, we were honored to be associated with them.

How can one use Lapitec stones in their homes, offices or other usage spaces ?

Lapitec is the ideal solution for interior and exterior cladding, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, exterior paving and furniture and engraving application. With some imagination, its uses are virtually limitless.

Is the stone costly ?

Considering it is an extremely exclusive product and very futuristic, it is priced premiumly starting from around Rs 1,000/sq ft.

How popular is it in Mumbai ?

The potential of the product can be gauged by the fact that we are already working on projects before even officially launching the product.

Do you foresee a huge demand for it in the near future ?

We foresee amazing growth for this product as even the mindset of the Indian buyers is changing. The awareness among the buyers is growing due to extensive travels globally. We plan to tap the growing demand for lifestyle products among the people. Lapitec shall redefine the exclusive luxury stone market within the coming few years.

(Pictures courtesy Globus Procon Pvt. Ltd)

Categories
Trends

Mumbai needs more dialysis machines

Several kidney patients in Mumbai report renal failure that requires dialysis, and their numbers are going up – requiring more dialysis machines.
by Dr Jyotsna Zope | Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Mukta Kidney Dialysis Centre

Mumbai is witnessing a long list of kidney patients waiting for treatment. With the rise in renal failure cases, the number of patients requiring dialysis has increased by many folds in hospitals across the city. As a result, despite many having multiple dialysis machines, the patients are forced to wait, said Neprologists.

Dialysis is an important component to treat the patient in case of End Stage Kidney Failure (ESRD). The kidneys help in maintaining the body’s cleanliness on the inside. Dialysis is suggested when the kidney fails to do its job. It is an artificial means to clean our blood and in turn our body. ESRD is a last stage of kidney failure. After this stage, if a person wants to clean the body, dialysis or transplant is often recommended. In India, dialysis is offered at an affordable cost, thereby trying to meet the requirements of people suffering from ESRD.

The Haemodialysis Units are, till date, mainly located in major cities. Mumbai and its surrounding areas are catering to the huge demand with almost 210 centers of various sizes from one or two dialysis stations to 25 dialysis stations. Some of the dialysis units are part of the hospitals while others are just stand-alone units catering to the maintenance dialysis Patients. These entire units together have almost 2,000 haemodialysis machines working full-time. They are taking care of approximately 22,000 ESRD patients.

Doctors attribute this surge in cases of renal failure mainly to an increase in diabetes and hypertension.Figures show that almost 30 per cent of diabetic patients develop diabetic kidney disease. And with an exponential increase in the number of diabetics in India, the number of patients suffering from diabetic kidney disease is set to rise high. According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in 10,000 of the world’s population will have diabetes by 2035. Estimates show that people living with diabetes will surge from 382 million to 592 million by 2035.

There is not just the need for haemodialysis machines, but there is also the need to maintain the quality of dialysis, which is equally important as there are higher chances of catching infection from various sources. The leaders in this field are very eager to give quality care to all their patients, but they face mountainous difficulties. They find it difficult to maintain the quality standards, amounting to paucity of funds. There is a lot that needs to be done to give long fruitful life to our dialysis patients. People need to understand that prevention is better than cure, so get yourself properly screened for lifestyle diseases, including diabetes and hypertension to prevent kidney failure in the later stage.

(Pictures courtesy www.ghrc-abu.com. Image used for representational purpose only) 

Categories
Trends

Municipal schools seeing more dropouts every year

A Praja Foundation White Paper projects a 63.6 per cent retention rate for year 2015-2016, lower than last year’s 70.6 per cent.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It is by now a known reality in Mumbai that most parents are unwilling to send their children to the city’s municipal schools. A recent study by Praja Foundation has revealed that parents are worried about the quality of education provided in the city’s municipal schools, and are hence, unwilling to send their children to these schools.

The Foundation’s White Paper on the state of Municipal schools in Mumbai paints a dismal picture: “In the last five years (2009-10 and 2013-14), 51,649 children have dropped out of the municipal school system, and in the corresponding five years the Municipal budget allocation to the Education Department has more than doubled from Rs 1,255 crore to Rs 2,534 crore. In 2009-10, 10,67,477 children enrolled in Class I in municipal schools, whereas in 2013-14, this dropped to 39,663,” the Report states.

“Infrastructure-wise, BMC schools are 100 per cent compliant. However, when we compare the performance of children studying in BMC schools with those studying in other schools, (Private unaided, private aided and unrecognised), there is a huge difference. In 2013-14, students from municipal schools had a passout rate of 67 per cent compared to 83 per cent for students from other schools in Class X (SSC),” the Report adds, stating further that the highest numbers of dropouts in 2013-14 were in the Hindi medium (17 per cent) and Urdu medium (13.1 per cent).

Praja has also suggested an action plan to tackle the problem:

– More transparency and accountability in the Education Department.

– Empower and strengthen school management committees (SMCs) to improve accountability at the school level.

– Focus on teacher trainings, SMC trainings and capacity building; free teachers from unnecessary administrative duties.

– Rigorous filling out of Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) reports and inspection reports. Link reports with performance appraisal of respective teachers.

Read the entire White Paper here.

(Image used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Trends

India continues to suffer outdoor air pollution

WHO report says outdoor air pollution continues to be a big reason for mortality in India; is a major health burden.
by TERI Features

A new report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) says that if current trends of vehicle population, fuel and emission standards persist, PM 2.5 emissions  will increase by a factor of three, and those of NOx will increase by a factor of five. The transport sector contributes about 15 to 50 per cent of PM 2.5 emissions in cities, and is a dominant contributor to NOx emissions, says the report.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that of the 67 risk factors studied in their Global Burden of Disease project, outdoor air pollution was ranked fifth in mortality and seventh in health burden in India, contributing to over 627,000 deaths and 17.7 million healthy years of life lost in 2010.

The new report titled ‘Options to reduce road transport pollution in India’ establishes the scientific basis for reducing emissions, the technologies available, and governance issues that need to be urgently addressed to improve air quality in Indian cities.

Said Dr RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI: “We should go beyond technological transfers and evolve pathways for pollution control as there are co-benefits of reducing greenhouse gases and reducing the health burden. We need to develop larger frameworks to mobilise resources and invest in technological innovations. This report will provide intellectual inputs to formulate specific pollution control models for States, and this will require the intervention of not just the government, but all stakeholders.”

80 per cent of cities in India have exceeded the ambient air quality standards prescribed by the Government of India. And this is worsening air quality and leading to a plethora of health problems.

Said Dr Mary Nichols, Chairman, CARB: “In 1991, there were 20 million vehicles in India. The number had skyrocketed to 140 million in 2011, and by 2030, vehicle population is expected to reach a staggering 400 million. We need multiple strategies to bring regulatory agencies and the regulated communities together and provide incentives to reduce the pollution load.”

Vehicular emissions contribute to particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) and to Nitrogen oxides, NO and NO2 (NOx). NOx in turn leads to the production of ozone. PM 2.5 is the dominant contributor to premature deaths and numerous other illnesses, followed by ozone and NOx, and these are the major contributors to agricultural impacts, says the report.

Said Prof V Ramanathan, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, University of California, San Diego (UCSD): “Tackling air pollution may seem a complex problem, but California has demonstrated how drastic reductions in air pollution can be achieved. We simply cannot ignore the linkages and the multi-dimensional impacts of air pollution – for instance, ozone pollution leads to massive crop losses.”

TERI-UCSD-CARB collaboration

Without affecting its impressive economic growth, California has drastically cut down its emissions. In the 1960s, California had one of the highest air pollution levels in the world, and this triggered a public health outrage. Over the past 40-50 years, California has succeeded in reducing the levels of all air pollutions by 75 to 90 per cent though a series of measures. In particular, it has significantly reduced black carbon and particulate pollutants from automobiles.

On the other hand, 80 per cent of cities in India, which have comparatively much fewer vehicles, have exceeded the ambient air quality standards prescribed by the Government of India. And this is worsening air quality and leading to a plethora of health problems. There is mounting evidence now to show that the transport sector is largely responsible for the increase in the concentrations of particulate pollutants.

In an attempt to replicate the best practices, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) launched a programme – India California Air Pollution Mitigation Programme (ICAMP) – in 2013, to learn from air pollution control measures implemented in California to mitigate vehicular emissions and improve air quality in Indian cities.  Based on research and dialogues between Indian and Californian experts, the project partners have now come up with this new report.

(Picture courtesy en.wikipedia.org)

Categories
Trends

Platinum is every Indian woman’s first choice

Survey conducted across seven metros in India finds that Indian women, especially young ones, prefer platinum jewellery over all others.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Women and jewellery share an irreplaceable bond, and more so, when it is platinum jewellery in question.

Moreover, young women today are displaying an increased affinity for jewellery, as indicated by a recent Platinum Guild International research conducted across seven metros in India. Over 250 women were studied to understand the Indian jewellery market and gain further insight on the category.

The result? Platinum appeals to the younger audience between 18 to 35 years, across SEC B+, A, A+, single, engaged, married or living in a metro or mini metro.

Target audience and understanding

The survey was conducted amongst a mini focus group that included women, broadly three different age group at diverse life stages. Each group provided different experiences and the varied interactions reflected in the attitude towards jewellery. Almost all women surveyed felt that ‘jewellery is a woman’s adornment’ and that the practise of including jewellery as a part of your ensemble evolves with the natural progression of life.

Platinum Jewellery Attitude to jewellery and purchase drivers for platinum

Young unmarried women (16 to 24 years) pursue modernity and express a strong sense of self-identity. They acquire precious jewellery as gifts from parents, grandparents or other members of the family. The occasions to receive jewellery are personal milestones like the 18th birthday, completing school education, college graduation and getting the first job. The younger audience is also more educated, Internet savvy and aware of international trends, seeking options in jewellery metals and designs and willing to try out newer looks and experiment with styles. Design is one of the key criteria of evaluation, as is quality.

Platinum has high affinity for this demographic as it represents her ‘modern’ values. The research states, ‘They see platinum as premium, upper class and exclusive and they consider themselves as ahead of the curve when choosing platinum. The metal is perceived as high quality, modern and very premium. The designs in platinum jewellery too are minimal and understated which appeal to her.’

Young married women (25 to 35 years) aspire to showcase modernity in lifestyle and thinking. They participate in financial decisions to prove their ability to manage the household. ‘While the young married woman has acquired heavy jewellery at her wedding and hence is looking out for delicate designs across social occasions like kitty party, husband’s office party, small family get together to prove her modernity. This was extensively visible amongst women in Delhi. The perceptions of jewellery being an expression of love and commitment is prominent in Chennai, the consumer trend in Ahmedabad is evidently driven by its exemplification of a self-assured modern woman,’ the report states.

Platinum is seen as a symbol of everlasting love amongst young couples. The consumer mind-set strongly complies that jewellery is an establishing factor of social status and platinum is seen as metal for discerning and true upper class. They aspire for platinum and diamond, light jewellery with modern designs. She perceives platinum as premium, exclusive, modern and international, making her stand out and differentiated from her peers. Platinum love bands, rings or light jewellery is very popular.

The behaviour further evolves amongst older married women (35 to 40 years) as jewellery is now associated as a mark of economic stability for the present and future. In Kolkata, jewellery is acquired and acknowledged as a highly desired asset with a twofold benefit of safeguarding the future of children and self, whereas in Delhi it satisfies the need of attention and approval while one focusses on exhibiting status and confidence. Modernity was the key element to platinum appeal across age groups including this group.

Vaishali Banerjee, Country Manager India, Platinum Guild International said, “As per the survey results, 85 per cent of platinum consumers are in the age group of 15 to 30 years. Today, the young Platinum Jewellery (2)India wants platinum as it is considered a metal that speaks the modern language with its contemporary design form enabling an emotion of pride to the wearer, is established as a symbol of the deepest relationships and is exclusive, unique and expensive which denotes status. Platinum is also perceived as an expression of love, intimacy and commitment; reinforcing the consumer demand for platinum love bands, a footfall driving category that grew at +35 per cent last year. We have also witnessed a growing trend of young brides taking to platinum for their trousseau across key markets in India.”

Commenting on the favourable consumer trends for platinum jewellery in India, Suvankar Sen, Director, Senco Gold Jewellery said, “The strong appeal amongst customers for the white metal -platinum is on an upward trend as today people are seeking new designs and platinum offers exclusivity, while maintaining a perfect balance between modern and traditional. The platinum love bands category positioned as an ultimate choice to celebrate love and special occasions has grown significantly last year by 42 per cent. Its strategy is at par with the consumer demand and the sales figures are proof of the progressive growth witnessed in the 2013 and will continue this season as well.”

 

Categories
Trends

‘Is this sex product Jain?’

That’s right. Indians are asking for some truly bizarre sex products and experimenting with the sexual experience like never before.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Indians are buying intimate products online, and the things they’re asking for sometimes border on the bizarre.

According to a report recently published by an Indian personal products website,ThatsPersonal.com, when it comes to buying sex products online, Indians are anything but shy. However, most women were seen to register purchases in their partners’ names, to maintain their privacy.

SexSaid Samir Saraiya, CEO, ThatsPersonal.com, “We recently conducted a comprehensive quantitative survey on the buying behaviour for intimate products in India, after analysing our sales and website traffic for 18 months. This quirky and fun research is our way of giving society a good laugh. Talking about sex has been a taboo for quite some time in our country, however, people have shed their inhibitions and pre-conceived notions and are ready to explore and experiment.” He added that the site routinely gets some extremely unusual requests and queries about sexual wellness products. “There are queries about certain products being Jain or non-Jain. Then there are questions on how to ‘do it’ for the first time. However, we decided to respect our customers’ privacy and published only the figures for aggregate sales and traffic.”

According to their research, Western India clearly leads the way in buying pleasure products, as the region accounts for 36 per cent of their total sales vis-a-vis only 7 per cent from the Eastern part of the country. North India lags slightly behind at 21 per cent, whereas the South market comprises a large chunk of their market share accounting for 31 per cent of total sales. The research also threw some light on smaller cities, which provide a substantially higher basket value. Surprisingly, a Tier 2 city like Baroda was found to have the maximum women buyers.

Also, age-wise segregation showed that the age groups of 25 to 34 years were the most active buyers. Men were found to be higher spenders and surfers than women.

Lubes and condoms lead the sales, thus emphasising the safe sex message and India’s growing awareness about protected sex. Although the condom remains the most bought and trusted product, Indian men now want to experimenting with other fun stuff like handcuffs, edible lingerie, adult card games (very popular at bachelorette parties), edible body paint and the likes.

As per the research:

– Hyderabad men love to get their hands on handcuffs.

– Gujaratis buy a lot of fun, adult games

– Kerala buys more of latex free condoms.

– South Indian women are maximum buyers of delay gel.

– North Indian men buy a lot of edible lingerie.

(Pictures courtesy www.national-awareness-days.com, www.womendailymagazine.com)

Exit mobile version