Chennai, August 18, 2026: Sundaram Finance Ltd. has been registered as a Member Lending Institution (MLI) under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), enabling eligible micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to avail themselves of financing backed by the government’s credit guarantee scheme.
The association is expected to strengthen access to formal credit for MSEs with viable business prospects but limited collateral. The facility will support their requirements for business expansion and working capital, while also helping create employment opportunities.
Commenting on the development, Rajiv Lochan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., said the company has, over the past 72 years, remained committed to supporting the growth and prosperity of India’s small businesses.
He said the partnership with CGTMSE would further Sundaram Finance’s efforts to promote responsible and inclusive financing, particularly for underserved micro and small enterprises. The initiative, he added, would help businesses unlock new opportunities, strengthen their resilience and contribute to India’s economic growth and the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
L-R: Ramit Goyal, Head of Product and Growth, Hyperpure; Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India; Vinita Sethi, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Third Wave Coffee; Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal; L Muralikrishnan, CMO and Co-Founder, Wow! Momo; Shakir Haq, CEO NKP Empire Ventures and Co-Chapter Head, NRAI Bengaluru and Vinesh Johny, Co-Founder, Lavonne Hospitality.
Bengaluru, August 18, 2026: Zomato has launched PackSwitch, an interactive digital platform designed to help restaurants and other users identify suitable sustainable packaging options for different dishes on their menus.
The platform offers a simple three-step approach: select the dish, explore suitable sustainable packaging materials and browse relevant suppliers. It provides practical information on material performance, commercial viability and environmental considerations, enabling restaurants to make more informed packaging decisions.
Packaging remains a major contributor to global plastic consumption, with food delivery emerging as one of its rapidly growing applications. Although awareness of sustainable alternatives has increased, restaurants often face challenges in identifying reliable options that balance functionality, cost, availability and end-of-life disposal.
PackSwitch seeks to address this gap by bringing relevant information together in one accessible platform. It offers recommendations based on different food categories, detailed information on sustainable packaging materials and access to a directory of more than 100 verified suppliers across India.
The platform was launched in the presence of Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India, who highlighted the need for greater awareness and easier access to sustainable packaging solutions. He said initiatives such as PackSwitch could help restaurants move from good intentions to practical action and contribute towards reducing plastic pollution in cities.
Anjali Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal Limited, said sustainability is an integral part of the company’s approach across its businesses. She noted that Zomato’s Plastic-Free Future programme has focused on building awareness among consumers, while PackSwitch takes the effort further by helping restaurants make packaging choices based on individual dishes.
The launch builds on Zomato’s broader efforts to encourage the adoption of alternatives to plastic packaging. Through its Plastic-Free Future Packathon, conducted in collaboration with Startup India and DPIIT, Zomato has supported innovators working on plastic-free packaging solutions for the food delivery sector.
Zomato’s Plastic-Free Future Programme has so far recognised more than 10,000 restaurants across over 500 cities for adopting alternatives to plastic packaging for their main menu items. As of March 31, 2026, participating restaurants had collectively delivered more than 100 millionorders using low-plastic packaging.
To mark the launch of PackSwitch, Zomato also hosted an immersive exhibition bringing together restaurant partners, packaging manufacturers, sustainability experts and investors. Curated by Shashwat Das and Jyoti Shrestha, the exhibition showcased eight sustainable packaging materials and a range of coatings used in food delivery.
The exhibition and expert discussions focused on how different materials perform in real-world delivery conditions, their commercial viability and their environmental impact, giving participants a closer look at the opportunities and challenges involved in shifting towards more sustainable packaging.
PackSwitch also includes a supplier directory featuring sustainable packaging solutions from various providers. Among them is Hyperpure, Eternal’s B2B supply platform that serves more than 100,000 restaurant outlets across India.
Meanwhile, customers can identify restaurants already using lower-plastic packaging through the ‘low plastic packaging’ tag on the Zomato app. The corresponding filter also allows users to discover and support restaurants that are adopting more sustainable packaging practices.
With PackSwitch, Zomato aims to make sustainable packaging choices simpler, more transparent and more accessible for restaurants across India, while encouraging wider adoption of environmentally responsible food delivery practices.
Bengaluru: A preparatory meeting of the staff and volunteers was held at the Nanjanagoodu Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Jayanagar 5th Block, Bengaluru, ahead of the 355th Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
The week-long Aradhana Mahotsava will be celebrated from August 27 to September 2, 2026, under the blessings of His Holiness Sri 1008 Sri Subudhendra Theertha Sripadangalavaru.
The meeting was conducted under the leadership of the Mutt’s senior administrator, R.K. Vadindra Acharya. It began with the lighting of lamps before Guru Rayaru, followed by Vedic chants by the priests, while Rajesh Kulkarni offered prayers and devotional songs.
Speaking on the occasion, priest Nandakishoracharya said the meeting focused on making elaborate arrangements for the convenience of devotees expected to visit the Mutt during the Aradhana celebrations.
R.K. Vadindra Acharya said special arrangements would be made for the thousands of devotees expected to arrive for darshan and prasada. The Poorvaradhana, Madhyaradhana and Uttaradhana will be observed on August 29, 30 and 31, respectively, along with special Annasantarpane programmes.
Members of the priest community, Mutt staff and more than 150 volunteers participated in the meeting and shared their suggestions for ensuring smooth arrangements throughout the week-long celebrations.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಆ.14: ಕೆಎಸ್ಆರ್ಟಿಸಿ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗೆ 26 ತಿಂಗಳ ವೇತನ ಹಿಂಬಾಕಿ ಪಾವತಿಗಾಗಿ ₹170 ಕೋಟಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಸಚಿವ ಭೈರತಿ ಸುರೇಶ್ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಕೆಎಸ್ಆರ್ಟಿಸಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ನಿಗಮಗಳ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ಜಂಟಿ ಕ್ರಿಯಾ ಸಮಿತಿ ಮುಖಂಡರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಕೆಎಸ್ಆರ್ಟಿಸಿ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಸಭೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆ ವಹಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರು. ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಅಧಿಸೂಚನೆ ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಸಚಿವರು ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.
ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ವಿವಿಧ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸಕಾರಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸಲಿದ್ದು, ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಹಂತ ಹಂತವಾಗಿ ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು. ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಅಧಿವೇಶನ ಮುಕ್ತಾಯಗೊಂಡ ಬಳಿಕ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಚರ್ಚಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು. ಬೇಡಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಇತ್ಯರ್ಥಪಡಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡುವುದಾಗಿ ಭೈರತಿ ಸುರೇಶ್ ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದರು.
ಹಿಂಬಾಕಿ ವೇತನದ ಮೊತ್ತವನ್ನು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸಿದ ಜಂಟಿ ಕ್ರಿಯಾ ಸಮಿತಿ ಮುಖಂಡರು, ಬಾಕಿ ಉಳಿದಿರುವ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಹಿಂಬಾಕಿ ವೇತನವನ್ನೂ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಸರ್ಕಾರವನ್ನು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿದರು.
ನಾಲ್ಕು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ವೇತನ ಪರಿಷ್ಕರಣೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು, ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಶೇ.12.5ರಷ್ಟು ನಿಗದಿಪಡಿಸಿರುವ ವೇತನ ಹೆಚ್ಚಳವನ್ನು ಶೇ.15ರಿಂದ ಶೇ.20ರೊಳಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಬೇಕು ಹಾಗೂ ಘೋಷಣೆಯಾಗದೆ ಉಳಿದಿರುವ 12 ತಿಂಗಳ ಹಿಂಬಾಕಿ ವೇತನವನ್ನೂ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳು ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದವು.
ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಮಂಜೂರಾಗಿರುವ ₹1,272 ಕೋಟಿ ಹಿಂಬಾಕಿ ವೇತನದಲ್ಲಿ ₹450 ಕೋಟಿಯನ್ನು ನೌಕರರಿಗೆ ಪಾವತಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಉಳಿದ ಮೊತ್ತವನ್ನೂ ಶೀಘ್ರವೇ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಮುಖಂಡರು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿದರು.
ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ, ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಇಲಾಖೆ, ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ನಿಗಮಗಳ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು ಹಾಗೂ ಹಿರಿಯ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.
ಜಂಟಿ ಕ್ರಿಯಾ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾದ ಬಿ. ಜಯದೇವರಾಜೇ ಅರಸು, ಜ್ಯೋತಿ ಅನಂತಸುಬ್ಬರಾವ್, ಎಚ್.ಡಿ. ರೇವಪ್ಪ, ಗಂಡಸಿ ಸದಾನಂದಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ದೇವರಾಜ ಅರಸು ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜೇಂದ್ರಗೌಡ ಜಿ.ಕೆ. ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು.
Bengaluru: Renowned singer Karibasava Tadakal, popularly known for his soulful rendition of devotional songs, visited the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Brindavana at Nanjangudu Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Jayanagar 5th Block on Thursday and sought the blessings of Guru Rayaru.
The special religious programmes were organised under the guidance of Parama Pujya Sri 1008 Sri Subudhendra Theertha Sripadangalavaru and under the leadership of R.K. Vadindra Acharya, senior administrator of the Jayanagar Sri Math. Special pujas were performed at the Brindavana, followed by evening rituals and Mahamangalarathi.
Karibasava Tadakal, who has won the hearts of devotees through devotional renditions such as “Mantralaya Vaasa Mantrakshateya Arasa, Kaayo Gururaya, Bide No Nanna Kaiya”, offered prayers at the shrine and received the sacred Shesha Vastra, Phala and Mantrakshate as a mark of Guru Rayaru’s blessings.
During his visit, he also received the invitation for the forthcoming Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Raghavendra Swamy from R.K. Vadindra Acharya and sought the blessings of the revered saints of Mantralaya.
Sreeja Joyce was also present on the occasion. Temple priest Sri Nandakishore Acharya shared details of the visit.
City Today News 
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