Colgate’s Oral Health Movement to empower millions of Indians with AI-powered personalized Dental Screening

Colgate’s Oral Health Movement to empower millions of Indians with AI-powered personalized Dental Screening
The Movement will cascade Oral Health awareness among millions of Indians and prompt action in partnership with the Indian Dental Association’s 50K strong dentist network

Mumbai, 18 November 2024: As part of its mission to champion India’s Oral Health journey, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the country’s leading Oral Care brand, has announced the launch of its transformative Oral Health Movement.
This unique AI-enabled initiative aims to encourage Indians to prioritize their Oral Health, while leveraging technology to bridge the gap between the awareness and accessibility of Oral Healthcare in India. This initiative aligns with Colgate’s commitment to elevate India’s Oral Health status through ecosystem building and science-led innovations, positioning Oral Care as a significant priority and contributor to the nation’s overall health.
At the heart of this movement is an AI dental screening tool developed in partnership with Logy.AI, which allows users to receive an instant AI generated dental screening report through a simple WhatsApp interaction. Available in 9 leading Indian languages, anyone can participate by scanning the QR code on the recent Colgate product packs or by dialing 8806088060, answering a few questions, and uploading three images of their mouth to receive a free AI-powered dental screening report.
Furthermore, Colgate has partnered with the Indian Dental Association (IDA) to activate a network of 50,000 dentists to support the Movement and offer free dentist consultations to people post the tool-based screening. To ensure widespread reach, the Movement aims to cover multiple touchpoints like retail stores, educational institutions and corporates across multiple cities in India.


Commenting on the Movement, Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, said, “At our core, is the mission to improve the Oral Health of everyone in India. This is both our fundamental responsibility and a tremendous privilege. The #ColgateOralHealthMovement is a significant step towards this long-standing commitment. We firmly believe that Oral Health is essential to overall well-being and through our AI-powered Oral Health Movement we are democratizing awareness and access to Oral Care. This action will enable millions of Indians to take charge of their Oral Health in the comfort of their own homes, and pave the way for a healthy population and healthy nation. We are grateful to our partners who are helping us reach millions of Indian homes to make Oral Health a part of their overall health focus.”
The company’s flagship education program, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) has gone strength to strength in India, reaching over 180 million school children since 1976. The program focuses on inculcating the right Oral Care habits, awareness about tobacco prevention and the need for good nutrition. This year, the BSBF program achieved significant milestones partnering with the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Goa to extend the reach of this flagship in-school, additionally aiming to positively impact Oral Health awareness amongst over 2 crore children in Uttar Pradesh and over 2 lakh children in Goa.
90% of Indians suffer from Oral Health issues* and yet, 80% of urban Indians don’t brush twice daily and a mere 9% visit a dentist in a year.
A comprehensive pan-India study conducted by Colgate and Kantar in 2023 underscores why prioritizing Oral Health is the need of the hour. According to the study, (North) only 10% of the region visits the dentist each year. However, the region also reports that 18% people experience toothaches, while 14% face gum problems.
According to the study, East India reports that only 8%visit the dentist each year. However, the region also reports that 27% people experience toothaches, while 21% suffer from sensitivity concerns and 15% have cavities. Notably, 22% of East India faces gum issues, which is 60% higher than the national rate.
According to the study, while South India is more conscious about their Oral Health, only 9% visit the dentist in a year, 14% experience toothache.
According to the study, West India reports higher instances of advanced dental procedures, with 10% of dentist visits a year. That being said, currently 14% experience tooth sensitivity while 16% are facing toothaches according to the study. 
Through the power of partnerships, Colgate’s Oral Health Movement will leverage an extensive network for maximum impact. Apart from its partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA), the company will collaborate with a significant number of retail customers, educational institutes, housing societies, bus stations and corporates for on-site free dental screenings.
The Oral Health Movement is accompanied by a mass media campaign, rolled out across television and digital platforms urging people to take dental screenings, supported by nationwide on-ground activations and influencer partnerships.   Through this multi-faceted approach, Colgate aims to reach millions of Indians.
For more information about Colgate’s Oral Health Movement and to participate in the AI-enabled dental screening, scan the QR code below to experience this yourself.
#ColgateOralHealthMovement QR Code

City Today News 9341997936

Public hearing on challenges faced by deprived communities in accessing pensions



Bengaluru-19, November 2024 – Karnataka Pension Parishad is organizing the public hearing on Challenges and issues faced by deprived communities in accessing Widow pension, Manaswini, Indira Gandhi, Sandhya Suraksha, transgender and disability pensions provided by government. This is being held at Bapu Sabhangana, Gandhi Bhavan on 20th Nov 2024 from 2pm-5pm.

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, access to pensions became increasingly difficult. Around 7.5 lakh pensions were canceled without prior notification, leaving vulnerable pensioners from slums and colonies – many of whom are illiterate- unable to understand why their pensions were suddenly discontinued. To address this crisis, members of pension parishad have been engaging with communities in 220 slums, informal settlements & colonies for the past 2.5 years to facilitate pension access addressing the gaps. Through this engagement, it was realized that many issues are due to restrictive criteria and the absence of effective systems to address frequent technical changes imposed by the government, forcing pensioners to run from pillar to post. According, our reach around 50,000 eligible individuals only 36% are able to access pension as of today.

The eligible pensioners living in vulnerable situations are being deprived of pensions due to various issues, such as the non-availability of necessary documents like Aadhaar card, birth or transfer certificates, BPL card, age certificate, death certificate. These pensioners will share their experiences, highlighting the difficulties they face, which include dealing with intermediaries, bribe, network issues, and undignified behaviour from officials at the Nadakacheri centers.

On the 20th, the pensioners will share their stories in person and through video presentations. Additionally, issues from 18 Nadakacheri centers will also be discussed. Officials are expected to provide alternative solutions to address the pensioners’ challenges. There will be 5 jury members who will submit their recommendations to the officials after considering the community’s difficulties.

Aforesaid statement was released at press meet held at press club of Bangalore in behalf of Pension Parishad.

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Scientific Breakthrough: MIT-WPU & Christ College Researchers Discover New Damselfly Species in Kerala

14 November, Kerala/Pune: In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, a team of scientists, including researchers from MIT World Peace University, Pune and Christ College, Kerala, has discovered a new species of damselfly in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Named the “Agasthyamalai Bambootail,” this newly discovered species was found in Manjadininnavila, a region in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, near the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.

The scientific name of the species, Melanoneura agasthyamalaica, honors the Agasthyamalai landscape of the Western Ghats, where it was discovered, said Vivek Chandran, the lead researcher. The research team included Dr. Pankaj Koparde and Arajush Payra from MIT World Peace University, Pune; Reji Chandran from the Society for Odonate Studies; and Vivek Chandran and Dr. Subin K. Jose from Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Kerala.
The Agasthyamalai Bambootail is closely related to the Malabar Bambootail (Melanoneura bilineata), the only other known species in this genus, which is found in the Coorg-Wayanad region.

The new species is part of the bambootail group, distinguished by its long cylindrical abdomen resembling a bamboo stalk—a feature that inspired its common name.

This discovery adds a second species to the genus Melanoneura, previously represented only by the Malabar Bambootail.
It is unique not only because of its striking appearance but also due to the genetic differences observed between it and the Malabar Bambootail. Over 7% genetic variation was found in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-I gene between the two species. The Agasthyamalai Bambootail has a long black body with brilliant blue markings and differs from the Malabar Bambootail in the structure of its prothorax, anal appendages, and secondary genitalia.

The Agasthyamalai Bambootail was first observed in streams flowing through home yards into the Karamana River, an ecosystem outside the reserved forest area. This region falls under the Aryanad Grama Panchayat and is adjacent to the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, emphasizing the significance of ecosystems outside protected areas in conserving biodiversity. In addition to Manjadininnavila, the species has also been recorded in Ponmudi Hills and Bonacaud, both part of the Agasthyamalai landscape.
“The discovery emphasizes the urgent need for conservation efforts in the Western Ghats, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. The new species has a restricted range, with records suggesting it may be found only in certain regions within the Agasthyamalai landscape. Protecting both this species and its habitat is essential for the survival of the Agasthyamalai Bambootail,” stated Vivek Chandran from Christ College, Kerala.
“Additionally, this discovery underscores the crucial role of non-reserve ecosystems, in sustaining biodiversity. Conservation efforts must go beyond the protected forest boundaries to include the broader landscape that supports such species,” remarked Dr. Pankaj Koparde from MIT World Peace University.

The discovery by a team of scientists, including researchers from MIT-WPU and Christ College, not only reflects important scientific endeavours by educational institutions but is also essential for supporting species like this damselfly and maintaining the balance of ecosystems across India’s landscapes.

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Children’s Day Celebration at BOSCO Bengaluru

Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (BOSCO), an NGO working with underprivileged children and youth for forty-four years, organized a Children’s Day celebration at BOSCO Life Skill Training Centre, Sumanahalli, Bengaluru, on November 17, 2024. This year’s Children’s Day celebration was based on the theme, ‘Family is Where I Belong’.

Smt. Umashree, Former Minister for Women and Child Development, Empowerment of the Differently-abled and Senior Citizens, Kannada Language and Culture, and Actor, Kannada Film Industry, addressing the children said, “BOSCO is working for the welfare underprivileged children for more than forty years. I salute the management and the staff for their unwavering service for the young at risk. It is possible only if one has the heart of a mother. I would like to convey my best wishes to the BOSCO family”. The Annual Report -2023-24 and BOSCO Brochure were released on the occasion by Smt. Umashree and other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri. Shamid Basha, Assistant Commissioner of Police, VV Puram Sub Division, Bengaluru exhorted the children to make best use of the opportunities provided to them to become successful individuals”. Varghese Pallipuram, Executive Director, BOSCO Bengaluru in his keynote address said this was the day to celebrate and enjoy. As adults every one has the responsibility of empowering children by addressing the issues related to children like child labour, child trafficking, child marriage etc. Smt. Sulochana, Sub Inspector, Upparpet Police Station and Smt. Ramya, Sub Inspector, Kamakshipalya Police Station were present on the occasion.

Chance games and theme-based cultural programmes were organized during the event. Stakeholders who have been identified by BOSCO for their contribution to the protection and promotion of child rights at the centers and areas of its service were awarded the Makkala Mitra Award. Children who have excelled in cultural, social, sports and educational fields were awarded the Prathibha Puraskara Award during the event. Around nine hundred children from the various centres of BOSCO and localities of service participated in the event.

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Chris Hodges, U.S. Consul General, Inaugurates Technology Exploration and Product Engineering Centre in Bengaluru



Bengaluru, November 18, 2024:
Chris Hodges, U.S. Consul General, Chennai, inaugurated the Technology Exploration and Product Engineering (TEPE) Centre at GITAM Bengaluru. This marks his second visit to the campus in 2024, following the February inauguration of the Multidisciplinary Unit of Research on Translational Initiatives (MURTI). During this visit, he also reviewed the progress made by the MURTI Research Centre and suggested possible collaborations.

The TEPE Centre at GITAM equips engineering students with practical experience in product design, prototyping, and deployment. Students use advanced tools like Laser cutting machines, tabletop machining centers, multiple variants of 3D printing machines, electrical and electronics measuring equipment, Development boards etc to solve interdisciplinary real-world challenges in healthcare, renewable energy, and mobility. The initiative emphasizes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration, frugal engineering, and cost-effective problem-solving, enabling students to develop industry-ready solutions.

“The concept of Technology Exploration and Product Engineering (TEPE) is particularly significant in today’s highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary world. It encourages young freshmen engineering students to consider societal challenges and explore how technology can provide solutions. Initiatives that bridge theoretical knowledge with practical applications help develop a generation of problem-solvers equipped to tackle critical global issues such as climate change, food security, energy, healthcare, and sustainable development. These efforts also foster international collaboration and innovation, strengthening bonds between nations,” said U.S. Consul General Chris Hodges.

Prof. K.N.S. Acharya, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Bengaluru, presented GITAM’s recent global collaborations with American universities like Elon University, Penn State University, George Washington University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, SUNY at Buffalo, and Binghamton University. These partnerships include joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges, and credit transfer programs.

“TEPE integrates technical learning with real-world applications. It prepares students to meet the demands of industry and national development while our global collaborations expand access to international research and learning opportunities,” said Prof. Acharya.

The TEPE Centre strengthens efforts to connect education with industry needs, positioning Bengaluru as a hub for applied education and translational research.

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