SBI Life unveils a comprehensive Financial Immunity survey, providing valuable insights into consumer predispositions in a post covid world

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Key findings: 

~  8 in 10 Indians (78%) strongly feel that stress / anxiety affects mental & physical immunity

~  Over 50% Indians not sufficiently prepared to face financial emergency related to lifestyle diseases

~  Top 3 financial worries:

o  Financial security against critical illnesses

o  Family member getting infected by any lifestyle disease or Covid-19

o  Job or income loss

~  8 in 10 Indians (80%) associate Life Insurance with ‘Safeguarding the family’s future’

~  More than 6 in 10 Indians (61%) have bought or intend to buy critical illness plan/ cover to address the rising treatment costs and to avoid financial pressure on the family

~  7 in 10 Indians (75%) not having a critical illness cover, intend to buy one in the next three months

Mumbai, September 29, 2020: SBI Life Insurance, one of most trusted private life insurers in the country unveiled a comprehensive consumer survey, providing deep insights into consumer predispositions towards Financial Immunity in a post covid world. SBI Life commissioned the ‘Understanding consumer attitude towards Financial Immunity’ survey with The Nielsen Company, reaching out to over 2,400 consumers across 13 key cities covering the length and breadth of India. 

Understandably, in the wake of COVID-19, maintaining personal physical immunity has been on the fore, with almost every respondent confirming to have increased focus on physical immunity in some way. In fact, 8 out of 10 Indians are aware that ‘stress’ lowers mental and physical immunity.  

The survey further attempts to better understand the cause of stress, by enquiring about the top financial worries of the consumer today. The top three reasons for stress are attributed to (1) Financial Security against critical illness, (2) Family member getting infected by any lifestyle disease or Covid-19 and (3) Job or income loss. The reasons for financial worries cited by consumers underpin the stress caused by financial management of lifestyle diseases. Alarmingly, over 50% Indians are not sufficiently prepared to face any financial emergencies related to lifestyle diseases.

On the brighter side, the pandemic has brought in a realization on the need for protection, with 7 out of 10 Indians who currently do not own a Critical Illness cover, explicitly expressing an intention to buy one in the next three months. Another encouraging insight thrown up by the survey, is that 8 out of 10 consumers purchase Life and Health insurance with a clear motive of safeguarding family’s future.

Speaking about the survey findings, Mr. M Anand, President – Zone II, SBI Life said, “Over the last six months, individuals and families across the length and breadth of our nation, have shown tremendous resilience in coping with the pandemic. Despite the challenging environment, SBI Life’s consumer study on ‘Financial Immunity’ highlights the reassuring sentiment on the need to build a robust Financial Immunity to safeguarded one’s future and be protected from financial adversities.” He further added, “At SBI Life, we strongly believe that gaining financial immunity rests at the foundation of achieving one’s life objectives.”

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HFNC and RT-PCR machines worth 1.53 cr donated to Government hospitals in the presence of Minister Dr Sudhakar

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Bengaluru, 29 September 2020:
Hon’ble Medical Education Minister Dr K. Sudhakar received medical equipment including HFNC and RT-PCR machines, donated by ExxonMobil and 3M in partnership with United Way Bengaluru, to the Government hospitals, in Vidhana Soudha, today.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister informed that the medical equipment, donated under CSR fund, will be used to support Coronavirus treatment at Victoria Hospital, hospital in Chikkaballapura, Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Shankara Hospital, Ramanagara Covid hospital, and District Hospital, Kodagu.

Applauding the contribution by ExxonMobil and 3M, he called upon corporate companies to join hands with the State Government’s fight to contain coronavirus in Karnataka by volunteering to donate medical equipment and other necessary amenities.

Naveen Shukla, CEO, ExxonMobil Services & Technology Pvt. Ltd., handed over 31 HFNC machines worth 1.53 crore, 10 oxygen concentrators, 4 RT-PCR machines and 2,000 pulse oximeters donated to the hospitals

Suraj Melur Raman, Global Security Advisor at Exxon Mobil Corporation and others were present on the occasion.

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Avanse Financial Services raises ~$15 million via External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) Route

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Social impact funding for a period of 10 years from WorldBusiness Capital backed by US International DFC

September 29, 2020: Avanse Financial Services Ltd, India’s new age, education-focused non-banking financial company has raised ~$15 million from World Business Capital Inc., a US based financial institution and this money is backed by guarantee from US International Development Finance Corporation (US DFC) via External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) route. The organization has received this long-tenure social impact funding under US DFC’s women empowerment initiative – ‘2X Women’s Initiative’ as ~30% of the students funded by Avanse are women educational aspirants. The ‘2X Women’s Initiative’ aims to catalyse investment in projects that are owned by, led by, or empower the world’s women and supports the administration of Women’s Global Development & Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP).

This new investment is a formidable step towards enhancing the education ecosystem of India. This funding is well-poised to support the expansion of Avanse Financial Services’ education financing program and thus, strengthen its leadership position in the lending space. Avanse is one of the Indian companies to receive this investment as it is on a mission to make education financing seamless and affordable for every deserving Indian student. Its tailor-made solutions are designed to cater to 10,000+ institutes and courses in ~50 countries.

The organization has always been focused on enhancing gender diversity by encouraging women participation in higher education. It celebrates Women’s Day, Daughters’ Day over an extended period by offering special product programs to all interested women students to fulfil their academic aspirations. Avanse Financial Services ensures equal access for all students to secure affordable education financing solutions.

Amit Gainda, CEO, Avanse Financial Services said, “ECB is a unique way of raising funds from the best of global platforms. Based on this process, we have been able to create a new category of long-tenure social impact funding. The fund will be utilized to help more number of deserving Indian students to fulfil their academic aspirations. We will create strategic deployment plans to support the expansion and fulfilment of education aspirations of deserving students.”

Avanse Financial Services is dedicated to create robust platforms to motivate women student participation in higher education. Mr. Gainda added, “We strongly believe that educating women results into empowered families, stronger societies, a knowledgeable economy and ultimately, a prosperous nation. Hence, we will continue to develop products and services to encourage women to pursue their academic aspirations.”

Recently, Avanse Financial Services secured ₹250 crores under Government and regulatory initiatives. ₹100 crores have been raised through the Targeted Long Term Repo Operation (TLTRO) window 2.0 by RBI from leading public sector banks and ₹150 crores under the Partial Credit Guarantee (PCG) Scheme. The organization is one of the pioneers to have started funding non-conventional courses along with the large conventional ones. The NBFC funds courses such as STEM programs, MBA programs and also, some of the non-conventional courses like photography, music, aviation, animation that students want to pursue both in India and in international markets.

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Doctors report 30% surge in heart attacks in Bengaluru in late stages of lockdown

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Many patients have been delaying hospital treatment after suffering a heart attack due to fear of Covid infection, and therefore having a complicated course of recovery
BENGALURU / Sept 28, 2020 – Doctors have reported a 30 percent surge in cases of heart attacks in Bengaluru in the last two months, possibly related to factors like mental stress, economic difficulties, a sedentary lifestyle and bad diet imposed by the lockdown. Many heart attack victims have also been delaying coming to a hospital due to fear of Covid infection and therefore having a complicated course of recovery because of lack of timely treatment, said Dr. Sreekanth Shetty, Head – Interventional Cardiology, Sakra World Hospital.
Dr. Sreekanth Shetty said: “In the first few month of the lockdown, there was a drastic fall in the number of heart attack patients. There were many reasons for this, like reduced stress levels due to staying at home and getting more rest and heart attack victims not coming to hospitals for treatment due to Covid fears. Lack of prompt care saw a spike in sudden deaths at home. However, the wheel has turned full circle. As levels of mental stress, frustration and insecurities among people rise due to financial anxiety, job losses, salary cuts, unregulated working hours, etc., we are now witnessing a surge in heart-attack cases in the late phase of the pandemic. This is due to the pandemic induced stress on people.”
He added: “At Sakra hospital, we have experienced a disproportionate rise in heart attack hospitalizations. In fact, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of heart attack patients coming for treatment in the months of August and September, compared to the same period last year. While heart patients are still shying away from elective procedures, admissions in emergency ward have risen for heart attacks.”

Dr. Shetty said: “Patients with pre-existing heart disease are at the highest risk of mortality due to Covid infection. It has been seen to affect the heart in various ways. One, when the lung is severely affected, extremely low oxygen levels depress functioning of the heart. Two, the virus can cause low blood pressure which in turn can also affect the heart. Third, the virus can trigger a severe inflammatory response which also involves the heart. Fourth, Covid can cause clotting in the arteries and veins of the body, leading to heart attacks, brain strokes, limb gangrene, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Covid can also directly affect the heart, causing myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Also, certain types of heart arrhythmias are seen to happen in Covid patients which can cause death. Worse, Covid can affect the heart in patients with no prior cardiovascular problems and they can face the same complications.”
“Due to fear of the infection, many heart patients have restricted themselves from coming for their scheduled hospital visits. Some have availed of video consultations to take guidance. Fortunately, most patients are conscious of the need to continue their medications and we have not come across any heart patient defaulting on medication during the pandemic. Also, availability of medicines has not been a problem in this period,” said Dr. Shetty.
He added: “There are many things that people with heart condition can do to limit their risk of infection. Avoid people who are sick and keep a two-meter distance from other individuals, wherever possible. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Wear appropriate masks but avoid those with a valve. Stay at home as much as possible and work from home if feasible. Continue to take prescription medications without fail, including for blood pressure and diabetes. Do not stop blood thinners if you are on them. In case of symptoms suggestive a new cardiac event, visit the hospital without hesitation.”

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2019 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರಣಾಳಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಪಿಎಂಸಿ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿತ್ತು, “ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ” -ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಪಾಟೀಲ್

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ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ; -ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಪಾಟೀಲ್
ಹಾವೇರಿ,ಸೆ.28: ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಈಗ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ತನ್ನ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಹೋರಾಟ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಕೃಷಿ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಪಾಟೀಲ್ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಹಿರೆಕೆರೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿಂದು ಸುದ್ದಿಗಾರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಸಚಿವರು, ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಹೇಳುವುದೊಂದು ಮಾಡುವುದು ಇನ್ನೊಂದು. 2019 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರಣಾಳಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಪಿಎಂಸಿ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿತ್ತು. ಅಲ್ಲದೇ ಭೂ ಸುಧಾರಣಾ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ತೆಗೆಯುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನ ಡಿ.ಕೆ.ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್, ಆರ್.ವಿ.ದೇಶಪಾಂಡೆ, ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಖರ್ಗೆ ಅವರೇ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು. ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆಯೇ ಈಗ ಕಾಯಿದೆಯನ್ನು ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನಾಯಕರೇ 79 ಎ ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಯನ್ನು ಅನ್ನು ಕೈಬಿಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು. ಅದು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಾಖಲೆಯೂ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಈಗ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ದುರುದ್ದೇಶಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿರೋಧಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲ ಎಂದರು.
ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ನರೇಂದ್ರ ಮೋದಿ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಸಣ್ಣ ರೈತನಿಗೂ ಸಹ ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಕೃಷಿಕಾಯಿದೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ವಿನಾಕಾರಣ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ದುರುದ್ದೇಶಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಇದನ್ನು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಜೆಡಿಎಸ್ ವಿರೋಧಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆ ಎಂದರು.
ಭೂ ಸುಧಾರಣೆ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿಯಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಳುಬಿದ್ದಿರುವ 30-40 ಸಾವಿರ ಹೆಕ್ಟೇರ್ ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷಿ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆ ನಡೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಕೃಷಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತೇಜನ ನೀಡಲು ಭೂಕಾಯಿದೆಗೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಯುವಕರಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯೋಗವಕಾಶಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಲಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಪಾಟೀಲರು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

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