Work4Progress to create a Million Jobs in India by 2027

Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives Group at Jobs We Want 2019, an event organized to showcase the progress of 18 months of Work4Progress in India, shared that “through Work4Progress programme, Development Alternatives in partnership with ‘la Caixa’ Foundation, will create a million Jobs in India by 2027”.

A 4 day multi-venue event – Jobs we Want 2019, spanning Mirzapur (UP), Orchha (MP), Patna (Bihar), Palwal (Haryana), Ghitorni (Delhi NCT) and New Delhi was organized to commemorate the 18 months of Work4Progress programme in India. The Event had a plenary session on System Change for Entrepreneurship led Job Creation oragnised at Development Alternatives Office at Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, which was addressed by Ms. Gayatri Acharya, Lead Economist, World Bank; Mr. Joshua Fisher, Director-AC4, The Earth Institute & Adjunct Professor, Columbia University; Mr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, Access Development Services; and Mr. Rohtash Mal, CMD, EM3 Agriservices Pvt Ltd. and attended by among others by Ms. Marta Solsona Masana,“la Caixa” Banking Foundation; Mr. Gorka Espiau, Professor, CIRM-McGill University; Ms. Anna Warrington, Forum for the Future; Ms. Tinni Sawhney, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation, India; and Mr. Phumlani Nkontwana, Founding Director, Fuata Africa.

Work4Progress is an open innovation platform for unleashing the power of entrepreneurship led job creation. Development Alternatives is undertaking this programme in India, particularly in 40 villages in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in partnership with the world’s third biggest foundation – ‘la Caixa’ Banking Foundation of Spain. The tremendous progress achieved under the Work4Progress programme in the last two years was much appreciated by all stakeholders.

Since the project involves learning, process evolution, and partnership building across four elements of dialogue, co-create, prototype and learn; Development Alternatives hosted this national level event. Under the programme, Development Alternatives alongwith ‘la Caixa’ Foundation and its local partners envisage creating entrepreneurs at the grassroots level and through it to create jobs.

Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives said during the event, “If sustainable livelihoods are the key to sustainable development, microenterprises are the keyhole. We need to practice innovation that is social in purpose, systemic in nature and inclusive by design.” Dr. Khosla, further emphasized how important it is to “Recognize that interconnected approaches to address deep systemic development issues are necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Ms. Ariadna Bardolet, Director of International Development Programs at la Caixa Foundation, highlighted how “empowering women, the youth and vulnerable communities is key to fight against inequities. At Work4Progress we promote creativity and innovation because we believe employment is a way to advance in social inclusion, and to make equal opportunities a reality to all individuals, despite their particular backgrounds”.

The Work4Progress platform has seen growing participation of enterprise development stakeholders from government programs, financial institutions, technology providers, market aggregators, training institutions, academia and international agencies. Work4Progress platform seeks to expand its network and build more partnerships.

Designer Siddhartha Tytler launched Bespoke Collection for glamorous mothers-to-be in association Rosewalk Hospital

With the philosophy that ‘Fashion is for everybody’ Designer Siddhartha Tytler showcased a bespoke collection for Rosewalk Hospital at Delhi Times Fashion Week at Hotel Roseate House, Aerocity.  

Rosewalk, the most loving birthing facility where excellence, indulgence and holistic healthcare converge, is powered by the expertise of Rainbow Hospitals. Within this sanctuary of all-encompassing wellness, expectant mothers can find the finest and most compassionate medical care where the entire experience spells luxury and class.

The Siddhartha Tytler label rebels against the ordinary and lovingly embraces newer frontiers with aplomb. According to him, “Novel silhouettes, innovative structural elements, new-fangled patterns, ‘wear-ability’ and originality are the essential elements in every creation at my studio. When I create a garment, several factors come into play, be it incorporating changing trends or being inspired by elements that exist as part of our everyday lives, and they all are equally significant to the process. Bringing forth this maternity collection for glamorous mothers -to- be, for ‘Rosewalk’ at this year’s fashion week has been exciting and truly fulfilling”.

He is also getting a few lady Gynaecologists & Obstetricians to walk the ramp at this one of a kind fashion show to breathe life into his astonishing collection, aiming to inspire young expectant mothers to woo the goddess within. This will eventually lead to the unveiling of the Rosewalk logo at the event.

Abrarali Dalal, Director, Rosewalk Hospital,  “It gives us great pleasure to announce that Rosewalk Hospital has collaborated with Delhi Times Fashion Week, which over the years has helped to transform the definition of luxury and fashion. Rosewalk Hospital is the perfect blend of top-of-the-line medical services and unparalleled luxury. It was only obvious that Rosewalk Hospital partnered with DTFW in a one of a kind display of fashion for the young Indian moms-to-be. We are very excited to put our support behind Mr. Siddhatha Tytler for the finale show at DTFW”.


Hina Khan’s Fashion Eye

By: Ishika Sharma

Ex- Big Boss contestant Hina Khan had earlier been perceived as the
“sanskari’ Akshara, and as part of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, she was
mostly seen in ethnic outfits.

Though Hina’s fashion statement has been versatile, we are probably used to more of her ethnic avatar than her femme fatale western ensembles. At a recent promotional event, Hina was spotted in a lime green sharara suit by Sukriti And Aakriti Official.

Image Source:- Instragram

The sharara pants had ruffled edges, set off by the gold zari work. The Kurta was plain , with a sprinkling of buttons on the front, was off set by the gold border on the dupatta.

The stripes on the Sharara and the dupatta added an extra layer of glamour to the lightweight suit. Hina opted for a pair of golden statement earrings and a ring to go with her outfit. Hina chose bold red lips and centre-parted hair tied in a ponytail to complement her outfit and gave us #FashionGoals for acing that lightweight ethnic look just right.

Image Source:- Instragram

AEPC Seminar on Enabling Competitiveness in Apparel Sector & Launch of Compendium for Good Management Practices

Sonal Jindal & Chetan Mathur, Managing Partners, Medusa Source recently participated in a Seminar organized by Apparel Exports Promotion Council (AEPC) & International Labour Organization(ILO) at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The topic for the Seminar was on Enabling Competitiveness in Apparel Sector & Launch of Compendium for Good Management Practices.

The seminar aimed to set a benchmark in the apparel industry production, management practices and profitability to global standards. Based on the practices adopted, the participating units would be benefited with the time & cost saving as indicated in the compendium. The main highlights of the seminar were to highlight policy concerns that need priority attention to continue RMG sector growth and to discuss facilitative policy framework and schemes that sector requires to meet the dual goal of employment generation and skill building and to launch the compendium of good management practices that RMG sector can adopt for market alignment and competitiveness.

About Medusa Source- Medusa Source is a supply chain management company providing end to end product sourcing solutions to Brands, Retailers, Labels & Wholesalers worldwide. With extensive sourcing experience, their unmatched capability has made them chosen by prominent brands across the globe. Their clients rely on them to keep supply lines going, propel their growth as well as profits. Their work includes identifying & evaluating factories, design and development assistance, production follow-ups, stringent quality control, logistics & shipping consolidations. They source all fashion – RTW apparel, fashion accessories, cosmetics, home decor and more. Their vendor network is spread through India, Nepal & Sri Lanka and they have over 150 suppliers and manufacturers in their matrix. With complete focus on transparency & traceability, Medusa Source supports and promotes “SUSTAINABILITY” from the stage of products being manufactured to the product being delivered to the customers.


Power Walk for a Cause by Wonder Women Connect

Arpana Agarwal, a renowned Luxury Consultant and Founder of Wonder Women Connect recently hosted the annual event “NEXUSS’19” at Vivanta by Taj, New Delhi. The event was followed by Power Walk for a Cause along with Award Felicitations. The Designers who showcased their Collections were Rashmi Goyal, Alka Mehrotraa, Collar by Mridula n Anju, Jewellery by Alka Ralhan. The event was in support to Life of Vision Foundation, an NGO who works for the upliftment of Girl Child in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. 
Many Well Known faces like Mr Sandeep Marwah, Harvinder Makkar,  Seema Midha, Lt. Rita Gangwani, Renu Hussain, Suparna Trikha, Rama Pandey, Gunjan Gaur, Dr.Varun Katyal, Manya Pathak, Asma Gulzar graced the occasion with their presence. Wonder Women Connect is an innovative networking hub for women from diverse fields to amalgamate, empower and to form a connect for mutual benefit and growth. The evening was followed by High Tea and members celebrated their annual event by showcasing their talents through singing n dancing. 

Sonal Jindal, Managing Partner, Medusa Source recently attended THE ICF FRESHMAN ORIENTATION 2019

Sonal Jindal, Managing Partner, Medusa Source recently attended the ICF Freshman Orientation 2019 organized by International College of Fashion. It was a panel discussion with the industries established fashion professionals at India International Center, Delhi. The panellist for the discussion were Ms. Sonal Jindal, Ms. Bandana Sondhi, Ms. Varija Bajaj, Mr. Nipun Aggarwal, Vani Bajaj Chief Mentor ICF, Vinod Kaul Joint MD of ICF.

The discussion was on “STARTING UP – AND SURVIVING – IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY”, and this topic covered the current industry scenarios and awareness of trends in the fashion industry, to explore opportunities and be prepared for the high spirits in the world of fashion. Every panel member shared their piece of advice on creating a career path for the young fiery aspirants. The fruitful discussion and interaction with the students certainly helped them in building confidence.

About Medusa Source- Medusa Source is a product sourcing company that has unleashed a new phase through a proven methodology and stringent quality control. With 4 decades of experience in the home furnishing industry, they have ventured into this new business vertical of Fashionable Wear, following the footsteps of success. The unmatched capability has made them the first choice of prominent brands across the globe. Their clients rely on them to keep supply lines going and to propel their growth as well as profits. The clientele is enriched with some of the top brands in the Northern American Continent, in Europe, in Latin America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia. At Medusa Source, professional qualifications and unparalleled expertise blend together to deliver excellence for the esteemed clients. They value each and every element in the supply chain creating a constructive conduit with gains for all.

Soul Queen by Anjanna Kuthiala- An Artistic evening with the blend of art, spirituality, fashion show, entertainment and felicitations by awards

Anjanna Kuthiala hosted an artistic evening ‘Soul Queen’ at Ambassador, New Delhi – IHCL Selections. A Soul Queen’s concept created from her soul level and it’s a platform for women who nourished their soul with time and experience. The event showcased seven segments which emphasized on queens of different eras- Noor Jehan, Jodha Bai, Meera Bai, Maharani Gayatri Devi, Anarkali along with Bollywood Soul Queen and Woman of Today 2019.

Guest spotted at the event were Amit Talwar, Rajnish Kuthiala, Nipun Kuthiala, Ritika Rajpal, Pratibha Prahlad, Vandy Mehra, Richa Goswami, Shreerupa Parasrampuria, Akshath Parasrampuria, Meeta Arora, Liza Narula, Amanpreet Wahi and Rinkoo Shroff, Meenu Gupta and Manmeet Singh,  Salma Sultan, Sonia Sanjay Kapoor to name a few. 


It was a completely mesmerizing experience to see art along with spirituality, fashion show, entertainment. Seven eminent fashion designers and three jewelry designers paid tribute to Soul Queens of past and present era. Women from different fields were awarded trophies created from Anjanna Kuthiala’s painting. The evening was followed by an entertainment session showcasing dance and fashion of each era inspired by real Royal Queens of five eras. 

Soul Queen by Anjana Kuthiala was held in association with F’loher and supported by Richa Goswami, Meenu Gupta, Study by Janak, Alka Rani Singh, Ritika Rajpal, Liza Narula, Kavita Motwani, Rinkoo Shroff, Joypur Jewels, Meeta Arora, Gems n Jewels and makeover by Aashmeen Munjaal’s Star Salon n Academy, salt lamps by Aumeesha.

Sunder Gems & Jewels by Neetu Bali introduces “Art of Kashmir” Collection

“Art of Kashmir” is a Bespoke Fine jewelry collection by Neetu Bali which has the Artistic touch of luxury. It reflects the ancient craft of paper mâché which has been recreated in 22 kt gold by their artists. This collection was launched in London as a tribute to the craftsman of Kashmir. The collection has been designed keeping in mind the traditional glamour and modern-day functionality. Each piece of this collection appreciates the intricate craftsmanship of the jewelry and the true purpose of its being- Art.


The designs have been evolved over time with the complete essence of exclusivity. Artistic Piece with Ruby & Emerald gems carved by nature-inspired elements gives a sophisticated look. The collection belongs to the niche market of art connoisseurs and aficionado.  The starting price range for collection is Rs 20,000-  onwards. 
Available at:16 B/b, Gandhi NagarJammu

About Sunder Gems & Jewels

Established in the year 2010, We at Sunder Gems & Jewels endeavor to create bespoke heirlooms which can be passed onto the future generations. It is all about fine pieces of jewelry, created by the finest craftsmen, in all Gold, diamonds, embellished with the Royal art of Meenakari, Polki which are the uncut Diamonds, precious and semi-precious gemstones. The Jewels created at Sunder Gems & Jewels are perceived, designed and created by Fine Jewellery Designer, Neetu Bali. The Bespoke Handcrafted jewels are timeless pieces of Art admired by the people from all walks of life and stature.

Mission Mangal Over Batla House

By: Ishika Sharma

Mission Mangal has emerged as Akshay’s Kumar’s highest opening day earner.
Last year too, Akshay Kumar’s ‘Gold had trumped John Abraham’s
Satyameva Jayate’ when both had clashed on the 15 August holiday.

New Delhi: Akshay Kumar’s space drama Mission Mangal, at Rs.28.50
crore has clearly beaten its competitor for the Independence Day weekend, John Abraham-stater Batla House that earned Rs. 14.50 crore. Last year too, Kumar’s Gold (Rs.26 crore) had trumped Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate (Rs 20 crore), when both had clashed on the 15 August holiday.
“Mission Mangal takes a fabulous start, Independence Day holiday gives the business an additional boost, multiplexes outstanding, mass circuits good,” trade analyst Taran Adrash tweeted.
“Batla House fares well on day one, although numbers are affected due to the clash. Gathered momentum post noon onwards, Independence Day holiday gave its business an additional push,” Adrash added.
To be sure, Mission Mangal has emerged as Kumar’s highest opening day earner beating Gold (Rs. 23.63 crores), Kesari ( Rs. 20.40 crore), the Hindi version of 2.0 (Rs. 19.74 crore) and Singh is Bling (Rs. 16.98 crores).
Trade website Box Office India said apart from going 15-20% higher than
Kumar’s previous outing, Gold, the Jagan Shakti directed movie has
scored big in Mumbai and Mysore with the former looking to be around
Rs. 9 crores and Mysore hitting the Rs.1.50 crore mark.
As far as Batla House goes, the Rs.14 crore figure would have been a good total, if it is, was not a holiday, especially considering that Satyameva Jayate did almost Rs. 20 crore last year. The difference between Batla House and the older film is that the latter had done better in the smaller multiplexes and single screens of Maharashtra, Nizam, and central India.

There is something different about Taylor Swift

By: Ishika Sharma

To complement her appearance on vogue’s September issue cover, Taylor
Swift took over the glossy’s “Go Ask Anna” video series to lob some hard-
hitting questions in the iconic editor-in-chief’s direction, including which
cat from “Cats” she most identifies with the trend she most despises.
But the highlight involved a question about the 29-year -old pop star’s
choice of hairstyle for the 2016 Grammys: a short bob with blunt-cut bangs
identical to the ‘do Wintour, 69, has famously sported for decades

“You have to be really honest about this: How did you really feel when I
copied your hairstyle?”
Swift asked.

“Tylor, I am being very, very honest, and I would like to tell you that I was
honored,” the editrix replied.

Irritation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.