VitrA's Touch-Free Bathroom Solutions...

VitrA is the leading bathroom solutions brand under the aegis of Eczacıbaşı Building Products Division in Turkey that has introduced its technologically advanced V-care smart WC pan.

Designed by the famous design studio NOA, these innovative toilets combines the functionality of a toilet and cleaning properties of a bidet with impressive WC design to offer increased comfort.

There a number of products on display at the VitrA Delhi Showroom, where the V-care range of WC Pans was newly launched a couple of days back.

The bathroom solutions offered by VitrA include basins, shower channels, faucets, shower heads, cisterns, and water closets.

The new V-care range of WC pans with a specially designed nozzle spray allows the user to regulate the water as desired.

V-care can be used via a remote controller that helps in controlling features like nozzle position, water pressure, and the temperature of the water and the seat. Thanks to elegant designs that incorporate advanced technology, this range is built suits any and every washroom.

The innovative V-care range by VitrA is ergonomically designed for maximum comfort and hygiene. The rimless design of the inner bowl and a conspicuous installation by VitrA makes it easier to clean the WC.

Coming with two alternatives - Basic and Comfort - that present all the features of a modern WC with added advantages of an elegant touch-free toilet - V-care range provides technological advancement in the bathroom solutions sector.

Here's what Mr. Sumit Shah, Regional Manager - North, Eczacıbaşı had to say about VitrA and the newly launched V-care range...

Both the Basic and Comfort models offer a range of features that can be set to personal preference through a remote-control handset that is easy to use, thanks to its hand-fitting ergonomic form and user-friendly interface.

Here's a snippet of the V-care WC Pan and Remote in action...

V-care Basic has fundamental features pitched at an affordable price, while V-care Comfort, as the name offers the most comfortable experience. A single button on the pan provides conventional washing for patrons who might prefer manual use, ensuring maximum convenience for everyone.

The V-care WC pan offers different washing options so that cleaning can be customized to the hygiene needs of each family member. The specially designed nozzle allows you to adjust water temperature, pressure, and position for ultimate comfort. The nozzle automatically self-cleans before and after each use and can be easily removed for manual cleaning if desired.

With features like maximum drying and air purification, V-care comes across as an ideal solution for personal cleaning and hygiene.

Choosing The Perfect Water Purifier...

Which water purifier would you choose if you had to buy one? That is, in fact, a difficult question. Knowing about a product category in general and taking a decision to buy one are two entirely different things. That requires a good amount of research and brainstorming. One needs to know which is the best water purifier among so many that are available in India. Which among those are the frontrunners? Which of those are newer models with latest technologies?

Though there might be various types of water purifiers in the market, you need to be sure about the one you plan to purchase because it is not something that you would be buying and installing every other day. Even the best of the brands might be selling a mix of models out of which some would be latest and some would be at the end of their product life-cycle.

With the changing lifestyle trends, life is becoming much busier and less relaxed than before. But on the other hand, an enhancement in technological advancements are making us lazy. We have already started dreaming that with the help of voice recognition we would be able to make devices work for us without moving closer to devices.

But, when it comes to water, which is one of our basic needs, the increasing impurities are elevating the threats associated with impure water too thus raising the gravity of the issue and number of health concerns related to it. Even at times, at many places, we don't know or bother to know, the source of water, and the condition of water from its point of origin to the point which we took it from or at various other stages. Definitely, we have an excuse for not having time for all this. But that won't help in avoiding health issues. For that, we need to deploy a good water purifier.

Tap water, as we all know, is a contaminated source of water. It contains a number of impurities some of which are quite hazardous for health. These impurities include lead, harmful bacteria, chlorine, metal traces, and so on. Although there are a number of traditional ways to manage these impurities but how effective those are, is important to understand.

That is why choosing the best water purifier is the most feasible solution. On the basis of their purification technology, various water purifiers will have a different price range. These existing technologies include Reverse Osmosis, UV or Ultra Violet Rays Filtering mechanism, Ultra Filtration which are the best-known technologies so far for the purpose of purification of drinking water. While zeroing in on the technology you want to go for, it is also important to select the best of the brands available in the market.

That is the only way to select the best water purifier which not only meets all your requirements but also excels in quality, delivery, and service. The ultimate goal of the life is to live a healthy life in as better a manner as possible.

#CelebratingTomorrowTogether With GMR Varalakshmi Foundation...

GMR Group is one of the most well-known infrastructure enterprises in India, having a foundation spanning close to four decades and a diverse portfolio of projects focusing on constructing state-of-art facilities ranging over Airports, Energy, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure. 

In fact, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is a consortium of GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, and Fraport. Apart from providing the country with world-class infrastructure to boast about, GMR Group also has its CSR initiatives going strong with Varalakshmi Foundation as its CSR arm. 

In conjunction with Varalakshmi Foundation's silver jubilee and DIAL VTI's ten-year-long efforts and on the occasion of Teacher's Day yesterday, I was delighted to accept an invitation from GMR Group to pay a visit to Varalakshmi Foundation's Vocational Training Institute here in Delhi and witness the Foundation's best efforts at the grassroots level in critical scenarios of Education, Primary Health and Hygiene, Empowerment and Livelihoods (particularly of youth and women), and Community Development in keeping with GMR's seven core values and beliefs. 

Seven Core Values and Beliefs of GMR Group

GMR, in keeping with the core philosophy of working hand in hand with the community, and as elucidated by Ms. Meena Raghunathan, Director, Community Services at GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, explored Skilling as avenue beginning 2003. Focusing primarily on unemployed youth (school/college dropouts) from underprivileged families, GMR VF set out to provide a first step into some skilled vocation for many, rather than informal work. Once trained, trainees across a total of twelve currently running courses (ten vocations and two - Personality Development and Communication Skills) could express interest for a job for which the VTI works with their Industry Partners of the likes of Voltas, Volvo, Schneider Electric etc. or self-employment. 

Apart from two other such training facilities in Hyderabad and Bangalore, ten have been established in rural backdrops. So, that makes for a total of thirteen such training centers across the length and breadth of the nation. While VTI Delhi offers ten vocations, there are a variety of thirty courses being offered across all such centers. 

It was overwhelming to know that five of the ten vocations are making girls capable enough to be employed, those being: Computer Data Entry, Nursing, Tailoring, Garment Quality Checking, and Retail. While the gender ratio is a bit skewed towards boys i.e. 55 is to 45, it is still heartening to acknowledge the effort of girls coming forward to support their families amid testing waters. 

It was also comforting to interact with seven trainees currently pursuing courses at VTI while applauding their efforts to carve their identities by attempting to acquire plausible skills and encouraging them to egg on with their positive spirit. 

Whilst touring VTI to acquaint ourselves with some of the ongoing courses, their duration, the eligibility criteria for trainees to seek admission, and the relevant Industry Partners, we were also let known of the fact that word-of-mouth was of utmost importance while mobilizing such youth who could benefit from the foundation's initiative. 

VTI is well-equipped with classrooms, hostel, mess, work shed, library, seminar hall, and a playground for trainees. The significant features of the Vocational Training Program were elucidated to us as under:  

• Provides skill training in 10 different trades in collaboration with credible industry partners.
• Available training for candidates of fifth-pass to graduate level.
• Since inception in 2009, a total of 4000 youth have been trained and about 3374 have been placed. Around 15% trainees are working in IGI Airport in Delhi through different vendors.
• Residential vocational training center having the capacity to train approximately 750 youth each year with a settlement success rate of 84%
• Industry partners are engaged for all ten channels to ensure settlement of the trainees
• Integration of soft skill training and English speaking to ensure the job readiness of trainees.
• The center has a well-developed system for mobilization of youth, counseling, training on soft skills, placement and post placement support. 
  
  

In addition to such an initiative by Varalakshmi Foundation, EMPOWER – 'Enabling Marketing of Products of Women Entrepreneurs' facilitates training, production, and marketing of a range of artifacts made by self-help groups comprising of women from underserved communities across India, including Delhi. Training in making jute products, hand-made paper products, weaving and embroidery, stitching and tailoring are some of the activities undertaken as a part of EMPOWER. 

Depending on the orders, women earn anywhere between ₹4000 to ₹8000 per month. The initiative is almost close to breaking even for the entire value chain, but the support it gets from GMR VF in terms of training, equipment, spaces, etc. subsidize the cost of the enterprise, thus helping it to move towards sustainability. 

Women working at VTI Delhi to manufacture Jute Bags

As an educator myself, it was overwhelming to witness first-hand, and appreciate the heartfelt efforts being put in by GMR Group as a realization of their presence as an agent of constructive change in society by enhancement and creation of value through Corporate Social Responsibility. :)

Goodbye To Water Purification Woes With LivPure...

When I think about the best RO Water Purifier in terms of performance, quality, and pricing, one of the first brand names that come to my mind is Livpure. Now, what makes it a special RO water purifier is important to understand. The fact is that Livpure thrives on two key factors of any RO purifier that makes it best. These are health and purity. Livpure emphasizes to make sure that every Indian is healthy by ensuring purity in their lives by means of pure water & pure air. That is why they offer the best class of Electric Reverse Osmosis (RO) Purifiers with Mineral Guard Technology. Hence, you can get healthy and safe drinking water with their RO purifiers. Another important aspect to probe is RO water purifier price. The price of Livpure water purifiers ranges from INR 8,999 to INR 20,990. And there are around seventeen models available to buy as per one's choice. 

There is a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors that provide an ample choice to buy a model that matches one's style well. In fact, you can buy a purifier that matches well with the color of your walls and also customize the size accordingly. The price will also depend on the capacity of the device that you want to buy. On comparing the entry level model with the highest priced model, certain facts can be adjudged. The entry level model Livpure Glitz Plus RO water purifier which is priced at INR 8,999 and the highest priced model is Livpure UTC Neon RO water purifier which can be purchased for INR 20,990. In fact, the basic features remain the same in both. Like Sediment Filter, Pre-activated Carbon Filter cum Absorber, Reverse Osmosis Membrane, and Ultra-Filtration Membrane are components that are fitted in both water purifiers. 

But there are certain key differentiators that are responsible for the difference in the pricing of the two models. Like, in the latter there is a Carbon Block Filter that blocks and absorbs chlorine and organic impurities from water. In addition, it eliminates odor-forming organic compounds and bacteria from water. On the other hand, the former has an Anti-Scalant Cartridge that prevents scaling on membrane layers thus improving the purification capability and membrane life. In both the models there is a Post Carbon Filter that eliminates micro-level dissolved organic impurities thus enhancing the taste and quality of purified water. In the higher mode, there is an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Column. The UV radiation disinfects the water and protects from various water-borne disease-causing bacteria, virus, and protozoa, thereby making it safe to drink. 

Hence, there are seven stages of purification in the higher model while the lower model has six. The storage tank capacity also varies in different models so does the purification technology. While in the higher model it is RO+UV+UF, the lower model is RO+UF. The purification capacity is more in the higher model. Another key differentiation is that the lower model goes under the sink. The higher model is a wall mount installation. 

All in all, LivPure comes across as one of the reliable brands when it comes to addressing the needs of water purification and also cater to providing safe water for the entire family. 

#ThatsMyDate For Menstrual Hygiene With Fortis La Femme...

Menstrual hygiene is imperative for women and adolescent girls alike. However, as much we would like to be #PeriodPositive, matters relating to menstruation and the discussion of all such are mostly considered stigma in many parts of the country, despite us calling ourselves a developing nation.

It is thus crucial to breaking free of the taboos that this sensitive subject is surrounded with. Being open-minded about the same is of utmost importance for us and our girls. Menstruation and issues concerning menstrual hygiene should no longer be faced with closed eyes, covered ears, and hush-hush whispers.

I have always been vocal about this subject which should ideally interest every girl and woman in this world in the past on my blog, and this time, World Menstrual Hygiene Day was commemorated no differently.

Fortis La Femme has always been a crusader for all kind of women rights, through its medical facilities. The core belief behind is that a woman is a very special entity requiring special attention. Therefore, it aims to provide an exhaustive clinical and holistic attention which is designed exclusively for women. This exclusive care intends to cover every stage of a woman's life right from her birth.

In accordance with their core belief, Fortis La Femme in association with Sachi Saheli, a Delhi-based NGO organized a human chain rally to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day at Connaught Place in the presence of  Manish Sisodia, Honourable Deputy CM, Delhi Govt. The event was also supported by many NGOs like NAZ Foundation, SARD, Nav Srishti who also participated in the rally.

The rally witnessed a participation of approximately four thousand people including school students who also presented a street play on breaking the myths around this taboo. The overall purpose of the rally was to draw larger attention to the issue of menstrual hygiene, get more people involved in the movement, get media to talk about and build a momentum for something truly sustainable through commitments.

Menstrual Hygiene Day raised awareness towards the challenges women and girls face due to their menstruation. A majority of women in rural India lack information about menstruation including access to menstrual products and sanitary mechanisms for disposing menstrual waste.

According to a study “Sanitary Protection: Every Woman's Health Right”, undertaken by AC Nielsen conducted in 2011 indicated that only 12 percent of women of reproductive age in India use sanitary napkins.

Anika Parashar, COO Fortis La Femme said,

“Menstrual Hygiene is one of the major growing concerns in India and has to be addressed at the earliest. We will soon be starting adolescent and menopause clinics to spread awareness and ensure good health and support the initiative.”

Fortis La Femme has taken the onus upon itself to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to be confident and well informed about their health and hygiene. 

Being A #KentSuperChef With Chef Pankaj Bhadouria...

Kent RO Systems has been a pioneer when it primarily comes to hygienic drinking water. The Indian water purifier industry has gradually become one of the most lucrative sectors for national and international consumer durable brands and Kent is one of the market leaders in the same.

Kent as a brand, is the brainchild of Mr. Mahesh Gupta and has been working since its inception as per the motto - 'Drink Pure, Eat Pure, and Breathe Pure'. In continuum with its endeavors to present hygiene in tandem with consumer durable goods, two brand new products that were launched under their campaign, #KentSmartChef last week were Kent Noodle and Pasta Maker and Kent Turbo Grinder and Blender at their head office in Noida in the presence of MasterChef India Season 1 Winner, Chef Pankaj Bhadouria, and Kent's founder and Chairman Mr. Gupta.

Speaking at the launch for their Noodle and Pasta Maker, Mr. Gupta said,

“Noodle, pasta and momos are favorites among all age groups, and kids just love them. With news reports about presence of chemicals in the most reputed instant noodle brands making headlines, consuming them is a health compromise.

That is where this easy to use, modern day smart kitchen appliance, Kent Noodle & Pasta Maker comes in. It allows you to make all your favorite snacks, hygienically at home, without use of any preservatives or any other chemicals. Moreover you can make noodle or pasta from all types of flour and customize the taste by adding juices or egg”.

Kent Noodle and Pasta Maker comes with a smart drawer design, where one can easily store all the accessories including the shaping dies and the cleaning tools. This ensures that the shaping dies or any other accessories are not misplaced. It is spacious enough to hold all the dies and cutters in an excellent manner thereby making it easy to locate and use.

Commenting on the unveiling of Kent Turbo Grinder and Blender, Mr. Gupta said,

“We, at Kent have always believed that a clean and healthy life is right for every individual. This ethos has made us embark on a journey to develop innovative solutions for purifying water we drink, vegetables and fruits we eat, homes we live in and the air that we breathe. Kent Turbo Grinder and Blender is no exception as it is in sync the brand philosophy. It is a new age high speed blender for home which helps in quick and hygienic processing to make a variety of food and beverages easily at home. It can easily make Dosa batter, Besan batter, fruit smoothie, cold coffee, soup, soy milk, milk shake, juice and crushed ice in just a few minutes!”

The Kent Turbo Grinder and Blender features heating function. With the help of this, one can make hot beverages like tea, soup and soy milk in the same jar. With its quick grinding and blending quality one can make Dosa batter and grind lentils in less than three minutes. It comes with a multipurpose jar which means that the same jar can be used for wet and dry grinding for a hygienic, convenient and hassle-free experience.

Furthermore it offers preset menu options with automatic operation for extra convenience.  The twelve preset menus utilize a fully automatic process to make a variety of dishes like juices, soy milk, smoothies, milk shakes, ice-cream, herb tea, Dosa mix, porridge, soup, powder, mince and steam cooking.

With its robust built and quality, years of trouble-free service can be promised. It has an ABS material body with stainless steel cladding. It also boasts of safety features such as without the lid and the jar in place the appliance will not start. In addition, it has overheating and over current protection.

Priced at an economic value-for-money factor at ₹12000 and ₹14950, both the Noodle & Pasta Maker and Turbo Grinder & Blender are both compact appliances which can be placed anywhere in the kitchen. Both require minimal maintenance and are specially designed in a way so that the cleaning is extremely simple.

Chef Pankaj Bhadouria was there to demonstrate the functioning of and appreciate the nifty details of both the appliances and there were quite a few items that were prepared using both appliances like Soy Milk, Vegetable Soup, Pasta, and Noodles.

All in all, it was a fantastic launch for both #KentSmartChef appliances, marketed especially for working mothers like myself who are pressed for time, yet do not want to compromise one bit on their child's health. :)

Epilation To The Rescue...

As ladies, we need to take care of a gamut of things. More often than not, we forget to take care of ourselves. We need to pamper ourselves after all, but keep consoling ourselves with one or the other excuses.

Women are largely subjected to body shaming. I feel it extends beyond just weight issues. Body hair on women is also looked at critically. 

While it may be a routine at regular intervals during the year to visit your trusted parlor for pampering yourself, admit it, ladies - it becomes a pain in the nippy winter chill. Moreover, body hair does add to the warmth factor along with the layers of fuzzy clothing. 

Convenience is the key in such chilly weather and what better than to ditch the tedious waxing and harsh creams and resort to epilation instead? 

Braun, which is a subsidiary of P&G (Procter & Gamble)  develops and manufactures a wide variety of small domestic appliances that feature technical innovation, reliable quality, and distinctive design. From electric shavers and beauty products to hair care appliances, Braun has held on to a strong consumer base. 

Well, if you haven't tried epilation ever, go ahead and dare to ditch that wax once (and for all, maybe). For Braun promises its consumers. an experience of beautifully smooth, silky skin that they won’t be able to let go of. 

Go on a date with your skin. And, that has to be baby soft skin at that. Epilation unveils smooth skin like you haven’t  experienced since pre-puberty - all at the press of a button. You would want to constantly feel super-smooth, round the clock. :)

There are no in-between days. Epilation catches hold of the most minute body hair, 0.5mm to be precise. That leaves waxing far behind because epilation gets smooth work done, minus the regrowth period, or the price tag, or the mess. 

That coveted smooth feeling lasts long, longer than the one waxing provides you with. Next time when your girlfriends gape at your smooth skin with gasps of a shock coming your way, reply with the name of your beloved epilator - Braun Silk-épil  9 SkinSpa 2-in-1 - instead of that monthly salon appointment, that you've already ditched when they ask your secret. ;)

What could be better than getting quality results from the comfort of your home? Only fuss free, quick,  and easy hair removal, with the expectation of lighter and less noticeable hair regrowth with continued use. 

Finally, you would be able to afford the expenses that would otherwise take a back seat, thanks to the fact that epilation equates to ZERO salon trips, hence a win-win situation. :)

The weather gods are the only ones influencing your outfit choice and not your grooming (or lack of!). 

Epilation makes you gain, WITHOUT pain. Braun Silk-épil epilators have a clever massage attachment for gentler epilation, and you can totally epilate in the bath or shower too. Warm water equals relaxed and soothed skin, which in turn means less discomfort for you! Epilation is now virtually painless. There’s no turning back, ever. :)

Get ready to greet head-to-toe satin skin as Braun's epilators are beauty multi-taskers that are here to stay in your 'pamper thy self' army. 

With two speed modes available,  it's been crafted for women to select between speed 1 for extra gentle epilation and speed 2 for extra efficient epilation. Simply switch on, hold at a 90-degree angle to the body part you’re  epilating, slowly glide against the direction of the hair growth and voila, fuzz-free skin in an instant! :)

It appeals to Queen Bee inside each of us women who likes to stay in control of her appearance at all times. Braun epilators guarantee thorough hair removal and prevent pesky ingrown hairs, thanks to their sophisticated design. Braun Silk-épil  9 SkinSpa 2-in-1 includes Braun’s  most efficient epilator to date alongside two exfoliation brushes - including the new Deep Exfoliation  Brush which provides six times better exfoliation compared to a manual exfoliation scrub alone. 

Thanks to the convenience that tags along with epilation, say hello to the welcome confidence boost and that accompanying spring-in-your-step your significant other notices almost instantly. :)

Moreover, among all the women, Jessica Alba is the one rooting for effective epilation with Braun. Who could be more gorgeous than her to idolize when it comes to satin-smooth skin? 

P.S.: All images attributed to Braun