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Tag: Ratan Tata

  • Tata Capital opens digital doors wider with accessibility upgrade

    Tata Capital opens digital doors wider with accessibility upgrade

    MUMBAI: In a groundbreaking move, Tata Capital has redefined digital inclusivity by becoming the first financial services firm to enhance its website with accessibility features tailored for differently abled individuals. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to ensuring seamless access to financial services for all.

    Tata Capital chief operating officer for digital & marketing Abonty Banerjee stated, “At Tata Capital, we are committed to fostering an inclusive digital environment that ensures equal access to financial services for all users. This initiative reflects our dedication to leveraging technology to remove barriers and empower individuals.”

    The upgraded website now features an accessibility menu designed to cater to diverse user needs. With reading assistance for the blind and improved readability for visually impaired users, the platform ensures that financial services are just a click away for everyone regardless of ability.

  • Shantanu Naidu to steer Tata Motors strategy in new leadership role

    Shantanu Naidu to steer Tata Motors strategy in new leadership role

    In a move that has the industry buzzing, Shantanu Naidu, the dynamic entrepreneur and close associate of Ratan Tata, has been appointed as the general manager, head of Strategic Initiatives at Tata Motors as of January 2025.

    In his new role at Tata Motors, Naidu is expected to spearhead strategic initiatives, leveraging his diverse experience in business strategy, engineering, and leadership. His appointment is anticipated to infuse fresh perspectives into Tata Motors’ strategic direction, aligning with the company’s vision for innovation and growth.

    Naidu, 31, is no stranger to innovation. He founded Motopaws in 2015, an NGO dedicated to animal welfare, and later established Goodfellows India in 2021, focusing on providing companionship to senior citizens. His entrepreneurial spirit is further showcased through his authorship with HarperCollins Publishers India and his role as the founder of On Your Sparks, a platform aimed at guiding young entrepreneurs.

    His journey with the Tata Group began in 2014 as a design engineer at Tata Elxsi. Over the years, he ascended to significant positions, including deputy general manager and later general manager in the office of Ratan Tata. His close association with the Tata patriarch led him to pen the memoir “I Came Upon a Lighthouse,” offering insights into their unique mentor-mentee relationship.

  • Zee Studios to create biographical film on Ratan Tata

    Zee Studios to create biographical film on Ratan Tata

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises has expressed profound sorrow over the passing of Padma Vibhushan Ratan Tata. Tata has been a guiding light of leadership, vision, compassion, and work ethic for generations of Indians.

    In a heartfelt tribute to the veteran, who significantly contributed to India’s economy and uplifted millions, Zee’s MD & CEO Punit Goenka has proposed the creation of a “Biographical film on the life of Shri Ratan Tata Ji.” This film aims to honour the individual and highlight his positive global impact through his social and entrepreneurial initiatives. Goenka believes it is essential to present the remarkable work of Ratan Tata to the nation and the world, especially to the youth, and Zee is committed to taking action in this direction.

    Zee’s chairman R Gopalan stated that the entire board is saddened by the loss of Tata. Upon approving the project, he remarked that the film would be produced by Zee Studios as a tribute to the business titan. He believes the film will have a positive influence on the world, inspiring millions to emulate his legacy.

    This initiative requires Zee to obtain approval from TATA Sons. Zee will donate the profits generated by Zee Studios from this film to social causes and support the needy. To reach global audiences, Zee Studios will collaborate with WION (World is One News) as a co-producer, leveraging its viewership in over 190 countries.

    Zee Media CEO Karan Abhishek Singh said, “All of us at Zee News group feel privileged to be associated with the desired and timely initiative by ZeeL, we convey our sincere condolences for the departed soul.”

    Zee Studio’s CBO Umesh Bansal stated, “As a Nation’s very own brand, Zee Studios entire team is highly honoured and proud to work on a full length documentary/biographical film on the life of Shri. Tata that will reflect the positive impact that Shri. Ratan Tata has made to the World at large. We believe that it is our duty to celebrate such a great personality and his legacy. We assure BHARAT that Zee Studio will leave no stone unturned to give a true account of his contribution as well as depicting his life in a proper manner.”

  • Business stalwart Ratan Tata passes away at 86

    Business stalwart Ratan Tata passes away at 86

    Mumbai: 86-year-old stalwart industrialist and Tata Sons’ chairman emeritus Ratan Tata has passed away on Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital. He had been in critical condition, receiving intensive care for several days. While undergoing routine medical investigations earlier in the week due to age-related concerns, reports of his hospital admission sparked widespread concern.

    Tata himself took to social media on Monday, reassuring the public that there was “no cause for concern,” and that his evaluations were routine. He urged the media to avoid spreading misinformation, stating, “I remain in good spirits.” However, his condition worsened in the following days.

    In an official statement, Tata Sons’ chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed the profound sense of loss felt by the Tata Group. “We bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation,” he stated.

    Chandrasekaran reflected on Tata’s significant role in the organisation, emphasizing that he was more than just a chairperson. “To me, he was a mentor, guide, and friend. He inspired by example. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, the Tata Group under his stewardship expanded its global footprint while always remaining true to its moral compass,” he said.

    Tata’s dedication to philanthropy and societal development has left a lasting impact on millions of lives. His initiatives in education and healthcare have created a deep-rooted legacy that will benefit generations to come. Chandrasekaran highlighted Tata’s genuine humility in every interaction, showcasing the personal touch that defined his leadership.

    On behalf of the entire Tata family, N Chandrasekaran extended condolences to Tata’s loved ones, emphasising that his legacy will continue to inspire the group as they strive to uphold the principles he passionately championed. Ratan Tata’s remarkable journey and contributions will forever be remembered as a testament to his vision and commitment to societal betterment.

    Tributes have been pouring in from industry leaders, politicians, prime ministers, film stars , sportsmen and what have you on Ratan Tata’s passing. Here’s a collection of some of them:

    My mind is filled with countless interactions with Shri Ratan Tata Ji. I would meet him frequently in Gujarat when I was the CM. We would exchange views on diverse issues. I found his perspectives very enriching. These interactions continued when I came to Delhi. Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti.  Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better. One of the most unique aspects of Shri Ratan Tata Ji was his passion towards dreaming big and giving back. He was at the forefront of championing causes like education, healthcare, sanitation, animal welfare to name a few. – Prime minister Narendra Modi

    Deeply saddened by the demise of legendary industrialist and true nationalist, Shri Ratan Tata Ji. He selflessly dedicated his life to the development of our nation. Every time I met him, his zeal and commitment to the betterment of Bharat and its people amazed me. His commitment to the welfare of our country and its people led to the blooming of millions of dreams. Time cannot take away Ratan Tata Ji from his beloved nation. He will live on in our hearts. My condolences to Tata Group and his countless admirers. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti – Amit Shah

    Ratan Tata was a man with a vision. He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy. My condolences to his family and the Tata community. – Rahul Gandhi

    It is a very sad day for India and India Inc. Ratan Tata’s passing away is a big loss, not just to the Tata Group, but to every Indian. At a personal level, the passing of Ratan Tata has filled me with immense grief as I lost a dear friend. Each of my numerous interactions with him left me inspired and energised and enhanced my respect for the nobility of his character and the fine human values he embodied. Ratan Tata was a visionary industrialist and a philanthropist, who always strove for society’s greater good. With the demise of Mr Ratan Tata, India has lost one of her most illustrious and kind-hearted sons. Mr Tata took India to the world and brought the best of the world to Bharat. He institutionalised the House of Tata and made it an international enterprise growing the Tata group over 70 times since the time he took over as Chairman in 1991. On behalf of Reliance, Nita and the Ambani family, I send my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved members of the Tata family and the entire Tata Group. Ratan, you will always remain in my heart. Om Shanti.- Mukesh Ambani

    I am unable to accept the absence of Ratan Tata. India’s economy stands on the cusp of a historic leap forward. And Ratan’s life and work have had much to do with our being in this position. Hence, his mentorship and guidance at this point in time would have been invaluable. With him gone, all we can do is to commit to emulating his example. Because he was a businessman for whom financial wealth and success was most useful when it was put to the service of the global community. Goodbye and Godspeed, Mr. T You will not be forgotten. Because Legends never die… Om Shanti – Anand Mahindra

    “The clock has stopped ticking. The Titan passes away. #RatanTata was a beacon of integrity, ethical leadership and philanthropy, who has imprinted an indelible mark on the world of business and beyond. He will forever soar high in our memories. R.I.P “- Harsh Goenka

    My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about the progress of Waymo and his vision was inspiring to hear. He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India. He deeply cared about making India better. Deep condolences to his loved ones and Rest in Peace Shri Ratan Tata Ji – Sunder Pichai

    Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of visionary industrialist, philanthropist #RatanTata. He was a shining beacon of India’s entrepreneurial spirit. He has left an indelible legacy in the business landscape across the world which will inspire future generations. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, friends and followers in the hour of grief. #OmShanti – Navin Patnaik

    The Icon of leadership, philanthropy, and ethics!! His legacy will continue to inspire generations. India has lost a giant today. #RIPRatanTata #RatanTata — Rana Dugabatti  

    Deeply saddened by the passing away of Thiru. #RatanTata, a true titan of Indian industry and a beacon of humility and compassion. His visionary leadership not only shaped the Tata Group but also set a global benchmark for ethical business practices. His relentless dedication to nation-building, innovation, and philanthropy has left an indelible mark on millions of lives. India has lost a giant, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. I offer my deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and the entire Tata Group in this profound moment of loss.- MK Stalin

    India has lost a giant, a visionary who redefined modern India’s path. Ratan Tata wasn’t just a business leader – he embodied the spirit of India with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the greater good. Legends like him never fade away. Om Shanti – Gautam Adani

    We have lost a true Ratan of Bharat, Shri Ratan Tata ji. His life will be an inspiration for us all and he will continue to live in our hearts. Om Shanti – Virendra Sehwag

    They say you have gone .. It’s too hard to bear your loss..too hard.. Farewell my friend..#RatanTata – Simi Garewal 

    Deeply saddened to know that Shri #RatanTata ji is no more. Condolences to the family and loved ones. Rest In Glory Sir – Riteish Deshmukh

    “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.” – #RatanTata A visionary leader, and most respected and revered human of our times in India. May your legacy and teachings flourish and grow from strength to strength. RIP Sir – Aakash Chopra

    India’s most valuable man, not necessarily for his vast wealth, but for his values.. largest being Integrity !! Never a show off but always the star The life #RatanTata ji led will always be an inspiration – Randeep Hooda

     

  • Upstox urges us to take the first step towards investing

    Upstox urges us to take the first step towards investing

    NEW DELHI: Days after announcing its association with the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ratan Tata-backed brokerage firm Upstox has rolled out a new campaign, Start Karke Dekho, that aims to promote better financial participation in the country.

    By speaking to the fact that sometimes it’s all about just taking the first step, the campaign emphasises that with Upstox, investing is extremely simple and effortless, right from the get-go.

    It features a series of videos capturing insights from everyday situations. The campaign’s underlying objective is to create financial awareness and foster an investment culture across the country.

    The campaign includes commercials on television, OTT, digital, and social media platforms. While digital and OTT platforms are employed to reach out to target segments in metros and big cities, television dominates the media mix for tier-2, tier-3, and tier-4 towns.

    Upstox co-founder & CEO Ravi Kumar said, “The most important aspect of the campaign is that it gives first-time users confidence to start their investment journey. At Upstox, we want to refresh the way investing is done in India, just like IPL has reinvented cricket as a sport in India. We believe that our campaign Start Karke Dekho will create a significant impact on the millions of young people who want to manage their funds better.”

  • Cure.fit signs Rs 1-bn pact with Hrithik’s HRX

    MUMBAI: Wellness startup Cure.fit has announced its Rs 1 billion partnership with the Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who will promote Cure.fit through his brand, HRX. His iconic status as a fitness idol will amplify Cure.fit’s mass appeal, endorsing the philosophy of holistic health management.

    Cure.fit had bagged US$ 3 million (Rs 192 million) in a round of funding from UC-RNT Fund, a joint venture between Ratan Tata’s RNT Associates and the University of California.

    Cure.fit’s offers customised, integrated health-based solutions on a singular platform. This strategic association is expected to accelerate Cure.fit’s expansion plans, pan India. The company’s growth plan over the next five years includes adding 500 new ‘CULT’ outlets – Cure.fit’s chain of fitness centres – across India. The Cure.fit app’s subscriber base will grow to a million users.

    Cure.fit’s fitness vertical, Cult.fit, is predicted to witness an exponential growth as a result of its association with Hrithik Roshan and the synergy of ideologies between HRX and Cure.fit. As part of the collaboration, Hrithik Roshan’s signature workout – ‘HRX Workout’, designed by him along with his personal trainer under his brand HRX, is available exclusively at all CULT centers and eventually will be made available on the Cure.fit mobile app.

    HRX aims to revolutionise the fitness scenario in India, as a value-for-money, high quality alternative to international brands.

    Cure.fit co-founder Mukesh Bansal said, “Our partnership with HRX will enable us to expand our market presence and consumer base.”

    Roshan said, “I strongly believe in the philosophy of healthy living which is integral to brand HRX – it is not just about being fit, but truly undergoing a transformation in your lifestyle and understanding the connection between mind and body.”

    HRX co-founder Afsar Zaidi said, “The collaboration is a strategic move to grow the fitness community for our brand to propel itself as one of the top home grown fitness brands in the country. In our journey of HRX to touch a billion people of our country, this partnership will play a key role.”

  • Droom to sponsor MTV Dropout reality show, founder to mentor entrepreneurs

    MUMBAI: From Bill Gates to Sachin Tendulkar, people who have become some of the most iconic figures in our country have achieved what they have only because they had strong vision, resilience and courage to back their passion in achieving that vision. In keeping with the same spirit, Droom, India’s pioneering online automobile transactional marketplace has now become the title sponsor for MTV Dropout, India’s first start-up reality show that seeks to find out India’s next big entrepreneur. Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder – ShopClues & Droom is a Chief Mentor to the participants throughout the show, along with the founders of two other Internet startups.

    Droom, the marketplace for buying and selling new and used automobiles, has four formats i.e. B2C, C2C, C2B and B2B, and three pricing formats – Fixed Price, Best Offer and Auction.

    Aggarwal, who is known to be among the most prolific investors and entrepreneurs in the Indian e-commerce and entrepreneurial environment, is often considered a maverick when it comes to taking tough decisions, showing resilience and building scalable businesses. Once a globally top ranked Wall Street Internet analyst out of Silicon Valley, Aggarwal gave up his comfortable job and a luxurious lifestyle to give fire to his entrepreneurial dreams and create India’s first managed marketplace-ShopClues – in 2011. Since, in his various roles as an angel investor or mentor, he has always strived to extend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with great ideas, ‘grit in their teeth and fire in their belly.’ MTV Dropout is another such venture which aims to finds out India’s next prolific business ideas through the concept of a reality show.

    Call for entries from applicants across the country has started. The auditions for the show will be held in Mumbai in the month of May to select the final candidates who will then be divided into teams and judged on the parameters of Drive, Strength of Idea, Planning and Attitude.

    Aggarwal said, “During the show, I would try to pass on the trust and the good faith that was bestowed on me and provide whatever experience I have gained into enriching the decisions of the participants to fulfill their dreams. The show has been structured in such a way that it tests all the skills of the participants required to emerge as prospective entrepreneurs and business leaders. From food trucks to corporate events, the participants would need to show their all-round skills, resilience and tenacity apart from continuously working on their individual business ideas. I wish them all the best and look forward to see some great business ideas and interactions on the show soon!”

    MTV Dropout will expand the narrow and negative connotation of the word ‘dropout’ to refer to people who have not accepted the pressures of the system but succeeded by pursuing an alternate, non-conventional idea with belief and pride. It invites entries from prospective entrepreneurs as well as ideas rejected in the VC stage to test their mettle in front of the experienced panel of mentors.

    Droom MTV Dropout will consist a series of episodes and the teams in the final will present to globally-renowned industrialists, investors and iconic economic personalities such as Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Raghuram Rajan, Ronnie Screwala, Anil Ambani and Azim Premji. These stalwarts will select the one winning team that has the potential to revolutionize the business exosphere of India and further helm its start-up journey to a world of endless possibilities!

  • Tata Motors looks to score on football’s popularity with Messi

    Tata Motors looks to score on football’s popularity with Messi

    MUMBAI: Football fanatics in the country were overjoyed to hear the words “Namaste India” from their idol and one of the biggest names from the world of soccer Lionel Messi, as he made his maiden campaign address to the nation. After ruling over the hearts of millions of soccer fans across the globe, the champion has now set his eyes on India as the brand ambassador for Tata Motors for the brand’s #madeofgreat campaign.

     

    This is also the football star’s first ever association with an Indian brand.

     

    “I am very excited about my first association with an Indian brand and am extremely thrilled to be part of the Tata Motors family,” said Messi on his association with the brand.

     

    Titled #MadeOfGreat, the campaign that took off few weeks ago created quite a buzz in the industry through powerful TVCs , digital advertising, and experiential marketing initiatives. The campaign’s ground activation organised by Wizcraft across multiple cities at malls and other popular public places were well appreciated.

     

    Keeping all the fanfare aside, one can’t help but ask how relevant is Messi to Tata’s consumer base in India? Can a marketing campaign ride solely on the star player’s popularity without any relativity factor for the consumers? If sports were to be a moving factor, wouldn’t cricket and an Indian player fit the bill better for the brand’s India campaign?

     

    While some may argue that the brand’s’ idea to get Messi onboard was to create a huge stir with their first ever celebrity association, Tata Motors, passenger vehicle business unit, marketing and communications – head, Delna Avari begs to differ.

     

    According to her, the decision wasn’t single-mindedly led by Messi’s far reaching influence on the youth, but a well thought of strategy keeping India’s growing exposure to the game.

     

    “Football is not only a global phenomenon but it is one of the fastest emerging sports in the country in terms of popularity. Currently, India has an approximate viewership of 80 million for football. With various researches conducted across fields to measure the impact of celebrity association on a brand, we realised that Indian celebrities are over exposed and were associated with multiple brands,” shares Avari, hereby nullifying any prospect of brand association with an Indian sporting celebrity.

     

    She further adds, “We as a company wanted to connect with the younger audience (less than 35 years) especially in our domestic market and ‘cool’ is something that this age group loves to associate with. Messi is found cool across all age groups, his iconic stature and values inherent to him were just the perfect kind of amalgamation for us as a brand. He is a winner who is trustworthy, reliable, pioneering, simple and driven by self-belief, which is what is at the core of Tata Motors as well and hence he is the perfect match for us.” 

     

    Not to mention, with Indian Super League (ISL) second season going on, the campaign couldn’t have had a better head start.

     

    Avari points out that the campaign has garnered a positive response from both consumers and stakeholders. “Besides trending on Twitter on the day of the campaign launch, we have received approximately 178 million impressions. As part of the campaign, fans were sent around the city through a series of clues, until they arrived at the final destination where the hidden letter stood,” she informs.

     

    Backing the brand’s reason for changing their marketing strategy, Avari adds, “With an overall aggressive marketing strategy, we have always customised our marketing plans as per our products. Sub brands like Nano, Bolt, Zest, Safari and Indigo have their own strong individual identities. However the need to have a common link to bind these sub brands and to create a well-defined brand architecture for the company brought this campaign to life.”

     

    When it comes the mediums used to propagate the brand message, Tata Motors hasn’t left any stone unturned for maximum impact and reach. “All the mediums that we have worked with have a different strategy, be it print, digital or mobile. Experiential marketing is another important leg of our campaign as we believe that on-ground activations create great impressions on people’s mind,” she voices.

     

    Expanding further on their experiential marketing initiative, Avari says, “With Wizcraft on board to execute our BTL plans and DigitasLBi as our digital partners, we are working on a great mix and it will be showcased through this 360 degree campaign. which will comprise a series of innovative and compelling campaigns across mediums. For instance, a part of our BTL activation involves the implementation of augmented reality. With this, we gave our customers an exclusive chance to experience how getting a picture clicked with Lionel Messi would feel.”

     

    Not only that. On 3 November, over 10 million customers of the brand were pleasantly surprised by getting a call from Messi himself, albeit a recorded message. The initiative was an integrated campaign with Truecaller. “We were thrilled to know that out of the 10 million calls made, approximately 9.8 million people received them. While #madeofgreat trended on Twitter on the day of the campaign launch, we also crossed over 300 million impressions across mediums in just two weeks,” shares Avari.

     

    Given the football player’s high brand value, there’s natural curiosity on his signing amount for the campaign. “It is a two year contract. The cost is in line with what international celebrities are paid globally,” answers Avari when asked about the particulars of the contract.

     

    As per Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in the world for 2015 Messi ranks 4th with a net earning of $22 million from his endorsements. In the light of this knowledge, it is safe to assume that a large pie of the brand’s marketing spends has gone into getting Messi on board.

  • Rural India to dominate next set of internet users

    Rural India to dominate next set of internet users

    MUMBAI: India, with over 300 million internet users, is the second largest mobile market of the world, only after China. But, 300 million out of 1.2 billion population, surely leaves a lot of room for improvement. Urban India dominates 33 per cent of India’s total population, which means the next set of internet users will majorly come from the rural part, where people mostly communicate in their regional language.

    The recently launched ‘Internet Saathi’ initiative by Google India in association with Tata Trusts and Intel promises to bridge the language gap. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Google south east Asia and India VP and managing director Rajan Anandan said, “Google will introduce more and more regional languages with more technical upgradations. Also, the voice search feature will be strengthened to make the use of internet easier for the rural part of the country.”

    As per analysis, in the first six months of 2015, India is estimated to have added 52 million internet users of which 50 per cent (26 million) have come from rural India. For the first time India is going to witness equal growth rate.

    But the discrimination of internet is not only limited to rural and urban, but very much evident in male and female also. A large part of rural India considers internet as a tool for male counterpart. Only 12 per cent women from rural India uses internet and it is highly important to change this mindset, do away with the fear and make women from rural India active part of internet explosion.

    “We are working with various partners to help spread awareness about the benefits of being online amongst women. While we have now started the ‘Internet Saathi’ initiative, in association with Tata Trusts and Intel, earlier we had launched a new film to inspire young digital natives to bring their mothers online. There are a large number of educated women in India with internet access in their households, but they still do not use it. We are targeting them with our initiative,” informed Google country marketing director India Sandeep Menon.

    India now has over 100 million online shoppers, 200 million plus wireless internet users, 140 million smartphones, over 85 million 3G users out of which 9.3 million were added in past three months. But when Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks about ‘Digital India’, he dreams of 1.2 billion people benefiting from digital. But to achieve that, the rural-urban, male-female barrier needs to be tarnished as soon as possible with various initiatives.

    When it comes to frequency of internet usage, reports signify that a good 61 per cent of users are daily users. About 18 per cent access internet several times a day, 10 per cent users at least use it once a day and 33 per cent access it on all seven days of the week.

    If we take the example of mobile phones, the multiplications happened only once the device was made affordable in the rural and sub urban part of the country. India is a mass country with aspiration in every eyes and internet, if used adequately, can be a tool to achieve dreams in rural part where hi-tech education is yet to reach.

    Also, e-commerce can grow at a double speed if rural India starts shopping online. While infrastructure and pricing of wireless data puts India on the back foot, Initiatives like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Internet Saathi’ enthralls optimism. It remains to be seen how Modi, Google, Tata, Ambani, Mittal strategises to take internet to rural India.  

  • “I am delighted that PM has given preference and priority to digitise India:” Ratan Tata

    “I am delighted that PM has given preference and priority to digitise India:” Ratan Tata

    MUMBAI: In a marquee philanthropic move, Tata Trusts has teamed up with Google India to take internet closer to women of rural India with its ‘Internet Saathi’ initiative. The move comes at a time when India is celebrating ‘Digital India Week’.

     

    The initiative has been built on the philosophy that it is important to digitise the entire country and not just a particular geography or gender.

     

    Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata at the time of launch of the initiative said, “It’s a privilege for us (Tata Trusts) to join hands with Google, a company I vastly admire because of the way it has digitised billions of people with its broad connectivity.”

     

    Tata further added, “It took 7 to 10 years for India to popularise telephone, but today, right from a pan wala to a rickshaw driver, there are millions using the mobile phone. They can buy a prepaid sim and use the device and that has helped in enhancing their self respect and has brought education and knowledge closer to them. Such is the power of internet. I am delighted that our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has given preference and priority to digitise India.”   

     

    India is a booming market when it comes to mobile phones and wireless internet. “It’s absolutely unbelievable. No one thought India would have so many mobile phone users who are now gradually transforming into smartphone consumers. It’s very essential for women in rural India to earn their livelihood and be self dependent. I hope this initiative takes internet closer to them and takes commerce closer to them. I wish luck to Google, Intel and my colleagues at Tata Trusts,” he concluded.