Archive: September 18, 2024

A Green Goodbye: Lal Bagh Ka Raja Trust Leads an Eco-Friendly Ganpati Visarjan

Delhi, 17 September 2024 – The Lal Bagh Ka Raja (Regd) Trust has successfully concluded its 10-day Ganpati Mahotsav 2024 at Burari, Delhi. This year’s event, held from 7th to 16th September, was a grand combination of spirituality, culture, and community service, with notable attendees and eco-friendly initiatives that set it apart as one of Delhi’s most cherished celebrations.

Among the distinguished guests who graced the event were Manoj Tiwari, a renowned politician and artist, as well as revered spiritual figures like Baba Bageshwar Dhirendra Shastri, who led the Hanuman Katha, and Aniruddha Maharaj, who delivered the Ram Katha. Their presence added a spiritual fervor to the festival, which drew in thousands of devotees from across Delhi and beyond.

In addition to spiritual discourses, a Bhandara (community feast) was organized for the entire 10 days of the festival, feeding over 25,000 devotees daily. This act of service exemplified the Trust’s dedication to social welfare, making the event not just a religious celebration but a true community gathering.

The Ganpati idol, towering at 18 feet, was a central attraction for the devotees. Staying true to the Trust’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the idol was crafted with more clay and less plaster of Paris, while herbal colors were used for decoration, minimizing the environmental impact of the festival. These choices were aligned with the Trust’s ongoing “Go Green” initiative, aimed at reducing pollution during religious festivities.

To culminate the event in a unique and eco-friendly manner, the Trust has taken a bold step to adopt a new method of immersion (Visarjan). Instead of submerging the idol in nearby water bodies, a huge pit was dug at the event site in Burari for the burial of the idol. This method ensures that harmful substances do not enter local water systems, preserving the environment while honoring religious traditions.

The Chairman of Lal Bagh Ka Raja Trust, Mr. Rakesh Bindal, shared, “This eco-friendly approach to Visarjan has been a priority for the Trust, and we hope to set an example for others to follow. Our aim is to promote sustainable festivities while staying rooted in tradition.”

The Ganpati Visarjan, held today, marked the grand culmination of the Mahotsav, with an overwhelming number of devotees joining in to witness the final ritual. The event was a massive success, and the Trust is grateful to all who participated, making it a truly memorable celebration.

Orchid Pharma Launches AMS Division to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

New Delhi, 17 September 2024: Orchid Pharma, Chennai-based, a leading pharmaceutical company catering across the pharmaceutical value chain (discovery to delivery) with expertise in R&D and marketing, announced the formation of Orchid AMS (Antimicrobial Solutions), a dedicated division focused on helping address the critical challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India. This strategic move aims to address the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India and globally through innovative products, comprehensive support programs, and digital solutions.

Orchid AMS will spearhead the company’s efforts to combat AMR through a comprehensive approach encompassing innovative product development, robust support programs, and advanced digital solutions. The new entity aims to partner with over 2,500-3,000 hospitals and healthcare institutions in the next two to three years, to implement effective antimicrobial stewardship programs (AMSPs).

To mark this significant initiative, the company is hosting/facilitating a series of sessions aimed at providing a platform for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry experts to engage in crucial discussions on AMR and the role of antimicrobial stewardship. In the first phase of its outreach, Orchid AMS will cover Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Vishakapatanam, Coimbatore, Kochi, Thiruvanthapuram, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Chandigarh.

Orchid AMS will take lead in Antimicrobial Resistance wholistically through innovative solutions bucketed under five initiatives:

• Pathbreaking Products: Orchid’s pathbreaking products include Orblicef™ (Cefepime Enmetazobactam), Ceftaroline, and Cefiderocol that are already leading efforts in combating AMR
• A ‘First Do No Harm’ team: A dedicated group of experts committed to providing evidence-based recommendations free from commercial bias.
• Wide Product Basket: Introducing a comprehensive basket of molecules, covering 2500 – 3000 hospitals over the next three years
• Active participation in Anti-Microbial Stewardship Programs (AMSP): Collaborating with hospitals to strengthen their antimicrobial stewardship practices.
• Leveraging Digital Solutions for Doctors: Providing healthcare professionals with real-time data on pathogen resistance patterns and incidence rates.

With AMS, Orchid Pharma aims to be the preferred knowledge partner for hospitals, committed to ethical practices and enhancing hospital capacity in tackling AMR. The mission is to build a sustainable business while positively impacting society by helping hospitals reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), AMR, and average length of stay (ALOS) through improved clinical outcomes.

Manish Dhanuka, Managing Director, Orchid Pharma, said, “The launch of Orchid AMS is a proof of our commitment to addressing the urgent public health threat posed by AMR. By combining our expertise in antimicrobials and our USFDA-approved manufacturing capabilities, we aim to make a significant impact on combating this public health crisis in India and beyond, said Manish Dhanuka, Managing Director of Orchid Pharma.

Rajnish Rohatgi, Chief Executive Officer, Orchid AMS added, “AMR is one of the biggest healthcare challenges today, and governments across the world including India have launched programs to address it. It’s a complex issue requiring a multi-faceted approach, to impact patient compliance, ease of availability without prescriptions, use in crop and livestock farming, and use in hospitals. We wish to be the change we want to see – and commit to responsible promotion of anti-biotics, i.e. 1st Do No harm. Orchid AMS invites leading pharmaceutical companies to join us in this task – to collaborate, even while we compete – and work with healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective strategies to combat this growing threat.”

Orchid Pharma’s recent achievements, including the USFDA, EMA, and DCGI approval of its new chemical entity, Cefepime-Enmetazobactum, for treating complicated urinary tract infections, highlight the company’s strong foundation in antimicrobial research and development. The launch of Orchid AMS demonstrates the company’s dedication to addressing the complex challenges posed by AMR through innovation, education, and responsible antimicrobial use.

AMR is a global health crisis with far-reaching economic consequences. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in trillions of dollars in additional healthcare costs and GDP losses over the next decade. India, with a significant AMR burden, stands to benefit greatly from Orchid AMS’s initiatives.

As India faces a significant AMR burden, estimated at over 1 million deaths directly attributable to AMR in 2019, Orchid AMS’s launch comes at a crucial time. Its efforts align with India’s National Action Plan on AMR and aim to address this complex public health challenge through a multifaceted approach that prioritizes human health, prevents infections, ensures universal access to quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and promotes strategic information and innovation.

Research Shows Nano DAP Benefits for Farmers Across India

Mumbai, September 17, 2024: Data from the field experiments conducted by several reputed Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes and state agricultural universities across the country’s diverse agro-climatic zones have demonstrated that Nano DAP can enhance the yield of crops to the tune of 2.4% to 27% when applied at a recommended dose. This data showcases the unique advantage of Nano DAP in comparison to conventional DAP.

The experiments were held in farmers’ fields across India over 3,000 locations, led by a team of Agronomists who have studied the response of Gromor Nano DAP in a spectrum of crops, including rice, wheat, maize, moong, chickpea, red gram, groundnut, cotton, potato, onion, bottle gourd and cabbage, covering the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab. The data depicted that farmers who have started using Nano DAP are convinced with the results and begin to benefit from the Nano fertilizers.

Gromor Nano DAP was tested across the country as part of the research, including several reputed Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes such as India Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) – New Delhi, Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) – Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) – Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR) – Kanpur, Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) – Nagpur, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) – Bengaluru and Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) – Varanasi. It was also tested at various state agricultural universities such as Tamil Nadu Agricultural University – Coimbatore, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) – Hyderabad, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) – Rahuri, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) – Akola and Punjab Agricultural University- Ludhiana besides unequivocally demonstrated in farmers’ fields.

The Indian agriculture faces a wide array of constraints such as decline in soil organic carbon, imbalanced fertilization, multi-nutrient deficiencies and less fertilizer response ratio besides impacts of climate change and huge sum of fertilizer subsidies. The scientists have started exploring cutting edge technologies like nanotechnology which enables atomic manipulation to achieve processes and products that are precise to deliver input without associated loss of nutrients synchronized with environmental issues. To resolve this, Coromandel International has been manufacturing Gromor Nano DAP since 2023.

In alignment with the national-level nano fertiliser recommendations, the recommended dose of Gromor Nano DAP at 500 ml per acre twice at 20-25 and 40-45 days after sowing or transplanting, along with 75% recommended dose of conventional phosphatic fertilisers for optimum output.

In order to gain insights, rapid absorption of Nano DAP in comparison to conventional DAP was assessed using high resolution electron microscopy, quick assimilation and turnover of amino acids using enzyme

assays besides internalization in crops as stated by Dr K S Subramanian, Scientific Advisor, Coromandel International Limited and Former Director of Research, TNAU. Gromor Nano DAP was designed, developed and notified by Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) in 2023, at a time when the country is facing a phosphatic fertiliser availability crisis.