Orchids The International School Implements CBSEโs โSugar Boardโ Directive; Strengthens Existing Nutrition-Focused Initiatives
Rolls out informative Sugar Boards across campuses to build awareness on added sugar intake
Reinforces long-standing practices like balanced school meals and low-sugar hydration options
Empowers students with hands-on food education through farm-to-plate and nutrition learning
National, May 20, 2025: In response to the CBSEโs recent directive urging schools to establish โSugar Boardsโ to address the growing concern of childhood diabetes, Orchids The International School has announced the implementation of a comprehensive Sugar Awareness initiative across its campuses. This move complements the schoolโs ongoing commitment to nutrition-first education and student well-being.
Speaking on the rollout, Vijay Sreedhar, Culinary Head, Orchids The International School shared, โAt Orchids, we believe the classroom extends all the way to the cafeteria. Nutrition isnโt an add-onโitโs an essential part of learning. CBSEโs โSugar Boardโ initiative validates the importance of what weโve been championing for years: helping children understand whatโs on their plate, and why it matters. By integrating farm-to-plate experiences, balanced nutritional meals, and now structured sugar awareness tools, weโre not just reducing sugarโweโre raising consciousness. Our goal is to nurture a generation that doesnโt just eat healthy, but thinks healthy.โ
Speaking on the implementation, Naresh Ramamurthy, National Academic Head, Orchids The International School said, โThese Sugar Boards will provide daily sugar intake guidelines, charts showing sugar content in everyday foods and beverages, and student-led tips and insights. We already have a strict no-junk-food policy on campus, and this initiative takes our commitment further. With nutritionist-led workshops, interactive challenges, and a phased reduction in sugar consumption, we aim to empower students to make healthier, more informed choices that will benefit them well into adulthood.โ
Over the years, Orchids has already implemented a series of structured, health-centric initiatives, like:
Balanced School Meals: Orchidsโ meal program meets approximately 70% of a childโs daily nutritional needs, offering a carefully curated mix of macro and micronutrients with minimal use of processed sugars
Smart Beverage Options: The school serves Waterfull, a premium flavoured water with 80% less sugar than conventional drinks, promoting hydration without high sugar intake
Farm-to-Plate Model: As Indiaโs first school group to integrate hydroponic and polyhouse farming, students grow vegetables used in their own mealsโreinforcing sustainability and nutrition
Food Education Modules: Through projects, classroom discussions, and culinary sessions, students gain critical knowledge on healthy eating habits
Through these proactive steps, Orchids The International School continues to lead by example in fostering a generation that values health, balance, and informed decision-making.
Healthcare India
FUJIFILM India launches it latest CSR initiative โCare on Wheelsโ in Himachal Pradesh on World Health Day
FUJIFILM India launches it latest CSR initiative โCare on Wheelsโ in Himachal Pradesh on World Health Day
- Strengthening its leadership in healthcare innovation, in line with its Sustainable Value Plan 2030 to create a healthy society through the process of prevention, diagnosis and treatment in healthcare.
- Advancing CSR, FUJIFILM India bridges gaps, providing cutting-edge care to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in tough regions
- Enhances healthcare delivery with DRI-CHEM NX600 automated analyzer and portable FDR Xair X-ray unit for efficient diagnostics.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, 8th April 2025: FUJIFILM India โ a leader in healthcare imaging technology, has announced its latest CSR initiative โCare on Wheelsโ in Himachal Pradesh on the occasion of World Health Day. Inaugurated by Dr.(Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Honourable Minister of Health and Welfare, Government of Himachal Pradesh, this groundbreaking intervention features a dual approach with a static healthcare center complemented by a fully equipped mobile van that will deliver X-Ray and clinical chemistry tests combined with tele-radiology and tele-health services directly to peopleโs doorsteps. Leveraging state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging technology, this initiative ensures cutting-edge medical systems that strengthens healthcare infrastructure in Mandi and ensures access to proactive check-ups where population resides.
FUJIFILM India is ensuring accessible healthcare for all with this initiative and will reach door to door and address the health concerns in remotest of areas. By deploying state-of-the-art medical equipment through โCare on Wheels,โ the company is promoting inclusive healthcare and ensuring that essential diagnostic and imaging services are within reach of every individual. With the CSR approach, the mobile van in its initial phase will cover the whole area of 3,950 kmยฒ covering the Mandi district, providing essential services like General Health Checkup, CBC Test, TB Screening, X Ray diagnosis, Tele-Radiology, 18+ Blood Tests, COPD diagnosis and Tele-Consultation with doctor.
As part of this initiative, FUJIFILM India is incorporating cutting-edge diagnostic technology to enhance healthcare delivery. The DRI-CHEM NX600, an automated clinical chemistry analyzer and Portable X-ray Unit FDR Xair, will be deployed in the CSR program, making advanced radiography possible along with quick clinical chemistry reports, even in the most remote locations. These innovations will play a critical role in delivering efficient and precise healthcare diagnostics on the go while covering wide ranges of diseases from COPD to TB.
Talking about the initiative, Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India, said, โAt FUJIFILM India, we are committed to delivering innovative products and solutions that embody our Group purpose of โGiving Our World More Smiles.โ By blending diverse ideas, unique capabilities, and extraordinary people, we aim to create solutions that bring joy and smiles to the world. The โCare on Wheelsโ initiative in Himachal Pradesh is a testimony to our mission of bringing high-quality medical diagnostics to every corner of the country. By leveraging our expertise and advanced medical equipment, we aim to create a significant impact in communities that needs it the most, ensuring that healthcare reaches everyone.โ
Mr. Abhi Shekhar Singh, Vertical Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, FUJIFILM India, added, โWith our extensive work in Gujarat for Tuberculosis eradication, we have realised that there are opportunities in the diverse geographies to serve communities. There are regions untapped where accessible healthcare in the form of mobile radiology and mobile lab can make a considerable difference leading towards a healthy nation, thus aligning with FUJIFILM Group purpose of โGiving our world more smiles.โ With the efforts of Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation as our implementation partner, we are launching โCare on Wheelsโ combining a static center with a mobile healthcare unit, to ensure that communities in remote areas gain access to rapid and reliable medical assessments, significantly improving early detection and treatment outcomes.โ
FUJIFILM India through its CSR efforts have invested considerably to make accessible healthcare a reality. Under its Sustainable Value 2030 plan one of the priority areas are healthcare wherein FUJIFILM India is working towards fulfilling unmet medical needs, improve accessibility to medical services, contribute to early disease detection and health promotion.
About FUJIFILM India:
FUJIFILM India Pvt. Ltd. Established in 2007 is a wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo. FUJIFILM India is present in four business segments โ Healthcare, Electronics, Business Innovation and Imaging. With a vast portfolio of technologically advanced products, the company is involved in the business of Healthcare, Endoscopy Systems, Photo Imaging Solutions, Electronic Imaging, Instant Photo System (instaxTM), Optical Devices, Graphic Communication Solutions, Multifunction Printers, Recording Media & Industrial Product. For more information please visit: https://www.fujifilm.com/in/en
Press Release information
PR and Media Relations – FUJIFILM India Pvt. Ltd. and Mavericks
Pragya Jha
Email: Pragya.Jha@fujifilm.com
Shared by Name: Srishtee Sharma
Email: srishtee@themavericksindia.com
I am participating in Blogchatter A2Z 2025 and also the April Ultimate blog challenge and you can find all the April posts here. This is a D post.
Sharing is good Karma!
Why Do We Cook?
I didn’t have a cooking ,baking passion growing up.But I was surrounded by a super mom who couldn’t really afford a cook and thus bravely balanced her Government job and cooked for us.
She ensured we ate nourishing food before going to school,at school and when we were at home.I learned the basics of everything and could make rice,Dal,roti, sabzi,chicken fish …but didn’t feel inspired to learn more.I didn’t need to .My mom was a wonderful cook who needed help and I was happy to be the sous chef and clean up crew .
Plus my sister was a childhood baking genius.She and her friends even published a local newspaper where recipe of gur ka paratha was a runaway hit.
My sister was ten year old at that time and she was awe inspiring in her dedication for making these lip smacking,mouth watering yet complex dishes.She baked,cakes,cookies ,tiramisu ,payesh, patishapta,roast chicken,biriyani,stuffed parathas…all with equal passion and ease.I was the chief taster,sous chef and head(only member) of clean up crew,plus kept an eye on her ,to keep her safe in the kitchen.
All that good food and love in the food ensured I looked good ,had normal body weight and became an ENT surgeon and my sister became a beautiful Gold Medalist Geologist .
My sister continued to bake and graduated to baking bread which I learned too.
During the early years of my marriage ,both my husband and I cooked,ate from hostel canteen, eating out at Dilli haat on Saturday nights .I managed but with a very busy post grad life ,inspired cooking was rare.It was functional cooking.I had yet to meet my muse.
When my baby was born I got a cook to help me with cooking .I was struggling.The cook was nice,but cooked average food with extra oil.The result you can guess.This continued till March 2020.
What you experience through your taste buds and mind stays with you .But that was yet to be revealed.
I was glad both doctors,nutritionists and social media took it upon them to bust the propaganda being tried,with FOMO being used.
In 2020 with the COVID Pandemic and the absence of a cook ,my hubby and I magically transformed into cooking and baking gurus .The inevitable happened.
We cook as a family since 2020 March and my house cleaning help didi helps with the preps.Its a tango which we have found a rhythm with.
Recently while watching a Milind Soman reel where he was doing calisthenics, I read a quote of his…
If you respect two things;kitchen and workout place…your old age will thank you
Milind Soman
I am not talking about only the women cooking for the family.I am talking about everyone cooking for their own health and their loved ones.It won’t be a burden and you will definitely spend less on medication and healthcare costs.
I use my oven,air fryer,microwave ,pressure cooker and hacks to make cooking work for us.My husband, cooks almost as much as I do and it works as a tango.My daily helper didi helps with the preps and that is an answer to my prayers.I wasn’t always cooking my own food .COVID 19 was what made me learn and go full time.Its been the best investment in my heart and health for the long run.
Remember big food and big pharma are great friends.If it comes out of a package,it’s definitely processed and not having your best interest at heart.
But saying that I will tell you about a quote I read in a Bengali cook book(I forgot the name),so paraphrasing
“Who cooks for you?Is it the fire,the veggies,the utensil ?No it’s your heart full of love that cooks.”
If you are cooking for yourself,that is the best way to love and take care of yourself .
Clean kitchen,calm cooks ,love and peace in your heart will help you rustle up good food .But are you ready to do the work?
I am participating in Blogchatter A2Z 2025 and also the April Ultimate blog challenge.
This is a B post.you can find all the April posts here.
Sharing is good Karma!
Elimination of Tuberculosis by 2025 #WorldTB Day
This module is specially development by State TB Cell ,Swasthya Bhawan,Department of Health and Family welfare ,Government of West Bengal to help coordinate between private practitioners and state government resources for elimination of Tuberculosis.
It’s a social diseases which needs to be fought at all levels.
24th March is World TB day.Sharing this presentation for awareness.
New innovation in diagnosing TB
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HaystackAnalytics Unveils โTB Oneโ Solution to Strengthen India’s TB Control Efforts #PressRelease #WorldTBDay
The solution was launched at the India Innovation Summit: Pioneering Solutions to End TB today, as a next-generation solution (NGS) empowering labs and hospitals with genomic sequencing capabilities to enhance TB treatment outcomes
March 19th, 2025: In a move to bolster India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB), HaystackAnalytics has introduced โTB One,โ a Make-in-India solution designed to enhance TB diagnosis by enabling Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) at any diagnostic lab or hospital. This all-in-one offering includes a pre-sequencing kit for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), access to โOmega TBโโHaystackAnalyticsโ patented clinical reporting softwareโand on-demand access to 2GB of sequencing data. The Omega TB software delivers a comprehensive clinical report covering resistance to 18 anti-TB drugs, along with mixed infections, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and heteroresistanceโall within a single, standardized report. By equipping healthcare providers with precise, data-driven insights, โTB Oneโ aims to improve TB management and strengthen Indiaโs fight against the disease.
The Solution has been unvieled by Dr Anirvan Chatterjee, Co-founder & CEO, HaystackAnalytics & Dr Rajendra Prasad at Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) India Innovation Summit: Pioneering Solutions to End TB on March 19, 2025. With this solution genomics-based TB testing would become more accessible and scalable by enabling existing laboratories to upgrade to NGS testing for TB without significant infrastructure changes. This solution aligns seamlessly with HaystackAnalytics’ mission to make genomics accessible, applicable, and affordable, addressing a critical need to transform molecular diagnostic laboratories into advanced genomic facilities.
India has made significant strides in TB control, achieving a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, surpassing the global average reduction of 8.3%. However, challenges persist, with an estimated 27.8 lakh TB cases and 3.2 lakh TB-related deaths reported in 2023. Notably, India contributes to 26% of the global TB burden, underscoring the urgency for innovative diagnostic solutions. Additionally, drug-resistant TB remains a major obstacle to eliminating the disease. โTB Oneโ solution is designed to address this challenge by providing a comprehensive solution for drug resistance profiling, making advanced genomic testing more accessible to healthcare providers.
Emphasizing on the transformative potential of โTB Oneโ solution, Dr. Anirvan Chatterjee, Co-founder and CEO of HaystackAnalytics, said, โWe are empowering existing molecular labs to perform high-precision genomic testing without requiring expensive infrastructure modifications. This cost-effective and scalable approach ensures greater accessibility to advanced TB diagnostics across India. Each TB One kit contains reagents to process 16 samples and requires prior extraction of TB DNA. It seamlessly integrates into existing molecular workflows, facilitating efficient TB genomic sequencing.โ
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, a nationally acclaimed pulmonologist with over 51 years of experience in TB care and research, said, โDrug-resistant TB remains one of our toughest challenges, and faster, more precise diagnostics are the need of the hour. โTB Oneโ Solution can be a game-changer, bringing advanced genomic testing to everyday labs without major upgrades. By enabling comprehensive drug resistance profiling in a single test, it has the potential to help in TB care and save countless lives. This is a crucial step toward the journey of TB Mukt Bharat.”
โTB Oneโ Solution is a pre-sequencing kit that enables the preparation of a ready-to-sequence library from TB DNA. It simplifies the complex process of genomic testing, allowing laboratories and hospitals to integrate groundbreaking technology into their existing workflows. This advancement enables laboratories to conduct comprehensive drug resistance profiling with unprecedented precision and efficiency.
About HaystackAnalytics:
Based out of IIT Bombay, HaystackAnalytics is a HealthTech company creating clinical genomics products, which enable diagnostic labs and hospitals to offer accurate and personalized diagnostics. Supported by India’s most respected science agencies (Dept. of Science & Technology, BIRAC, Dept. of Bio-Tech), HaystackAnalytics has created and launched a portfolio of products to offer genomics in infectious and chronic diseases. The company has been honored with a few innovative healthcare startup awards, including CAHO Tech- PitchFest for healthcare startups, HealthTech startup of the year by The Entrepreneur magazine, Aegis Graham Bell Award, and recently HaystackAnalyticsโs platform for rapid identification of drug resistance in TB patients was launched by our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi at BIRACโs Biotech Startup Expo 2022 in New Delhi. For more information, visit https://haystackanalytics.in/
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WomenโsDay celebration with Oishani at IMA Malda 2025 #AccelerateAction
The IMA Womenโs Day Celebration is special and is cause for much planning every year.
This year we decided to felicitate Oishani as part of Women’s Day celebration at IMA Malda. Felicitation of Oishani a women centred ,women led social enterprise taking social causes forward.
Oishani established in 2009 has come a long way ensuring ,social work,upliftment of the needy,healthcamps,blood donation camp,blanket distribution,sports ,recreation work go hand in hand with Durga Puja.
Their protest ,candle light march against the heinous crime at RG Kar was mentioned by Dr.Mukti Basak and was deeply appreciated by the audience .
Mrs.Banani Laskar Treasurer Oishani and Mrs Anima Acharya Secretay Oishani were specially felicitated by Womenโs Wing IMA Malda for their contribution to society.
Thank you IMA President @โจDr.Prabhat Majeeโฉ sir @โจDr Chitraโฉ di , @โจDr.Abhijit Misraโฉ @โจDr Susmita Sarkarโฉ ,Dr.Sampa Raychaudhuri,@โจDr. Mukti Basakโฉ di @โจDr. Ekta Balodiaโฉ di ,@โจDr. Srijita Guptaโฉ di and all members of Women doctors wing of Malda IMA for making this a grand success.We were joined by Women victims from Indian Dental Association Malda, Dr.Amrita Pal,Dr.Nikita,Dr.Pinky,Dr.Nazuk and many others.The women medical representatives were special invitees for the event and helped make this event successful.
Wonderful presentation by Dr. Mukti Basakโฉ .She talked about the work they have done since 2009 for social upliftment of those who need help.
Dr.Susmita Sarkar was the inspiration behind the function. Dr.Anuradha, Dr.Sanchaita and Dr. Srija who all joined us this year helped make this event a grand success.
Dr.Sampa Roychowdhury gave the closing address for the event and ensured that the message of “Accelerate Action” was truly understood.
Oishani plans to start a wing for legal aid for women and also provide nutritional support for the needy girl child as part of their 2025 program.
Hope Oishani shines even brighter in the years ahead.
