Author: Sindhu Vinod Narayan

Ex IT professional. Now a freelance writer, editor, translator & influencer. My blog is a reflection of my thoughts on skincare, fashion, book reviews and wellness.
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Must have winter wardrobe staples

While every season comes and goes it is also necessary, we choose what to wear that would suit the climatic conditions. With temperatures dropping it is high time that we ladies up the dressing game with winter fashion trends. The mornings are getting colder that we could barely get out of bed, and the constant worry of what to wear.

This comes up as a challenge to many but an opportunity for many to dress up and flaunt the best winter fashion pieces from their wardrobe. Maintaining a sense of chic and style while bundling up with layers is something that makes dressing up a lot of fun.

I look forward to dressing up each day and plan my outfits the day before. This season is a great opportunity to have fun with the winter staples in our wardrobe. Whether it is adding layers, fabrics or textures dressing up in winter clothes is something that every fashionista looks forward to.
But on a sustainable note look for what you already have. Does it need an upgrade or can be used.


Knit sweater


They’re the centre of winter fashion and center of layering. Different cuts and colours you can never stop with just one. They keep you warm and cozy and a great piece for layering your outfits. They literally can be paired with anything like skirts, trousers and pants so go get them.

How can you style?

Wear it over a skirt.
If your dress is too tight or is too thin for wearing, layer it with a sweater.
Wear it over an oversized t-shirt.

Scarves

Scarf is a winter fashion essential and when it comes to scarf go for bigger ones. The bigger the better. It is chic and is effortless to be worn on top of any outfit. Over the shoulders or as a wrap they can make any look bag a lot of eyeballs going up. Experiment with vibrant colours, patterns and textures.
They can even brighten up a boring look, keep your neck warm or even be a good layer of clothing.
How to style?
Cashmere scarf known for intricate works goes with vibrant shades. So choose one that is in neutral shade.

The longer the scarf the better the layering.
Coats

The first buy when it comes to winter wear shopping should or must be a coat. The outer wear of your attire should make a style statement. Whatever trends may come and go the classic coat is still in the winter fashion game. Heavy puffers, long or oversized ones make sure you choose the one that suits your personal style. Not confident of wearing an outfit, the coat can save your day and also keep you warm.

How to style?
Choose a classic neutral and a bold one.
Go for looser fits so that its easy to layer up.
Modern silhouettes definitely make you stand out of the crowd.

Blazers


When the temperature doesn’t require puffers go for a well fitted blazer. Can be over the tshirt/blouse or even beneath your coat. Blazer adds to sophisticated looks. It can make the transition from work wear to casuals seemingly effortless.

How to style?
Pairing it with jean gives a dress feel.

Printed blazers over blouse gives a funky look.

Choose right fabric, colour and fit. A perfect fit is definitely worthy.

Plaid trousers


If you are someone who makes a style statement, then the plaid trousers is a must have in your winter wardrobe. Versatile in its pairing as it can be worn with Pump and crisp button down so as to a sweatshirt and a sneaker. It makes a great work wear outfit.

How to style?
Play mix and match with the plaid patterns.
GO for loud designs and neutral pairing.

Turtle necks

A light weight turtleneck is the base for your layering game. It serves it purpose as a heat provider and also a style statement. Be it a sleeveless dress or a sweater over it, the turtleneck can also be paired with a high waist jean. This will help to keep you warm around the neck and still be the fashionista.

How to style?
Stock up basic colours
Style it under a shift dress for keeping warm.

There are lots and lots of choices out there for you to shop this winter. But be mindful and choose to shop only ones that you would put to use in the long run. Looking fashionable and staying warm definitely sounds easy. But whatever it is choose appropriately according to your style statement.

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Review of Young blood

BLURB:


Bored roommates use a planchette to contact a legendary ghost that haunts Pune University. Will she answer?
Is the abandoned Khairatabad Science College in Hyderabad really haunted? A gang of students break inside to investigate.
Nirav and Pavi love each other . . . most of the time. Will exploring a forbidden place inside IIT Kharagpur bring them closer?
From strange sightings to urban legends, from haunted buildings to not-so-friendly ghosts, colleges in India have their fair share of spine-tingling tales, be it Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, St. Bede’s College in Shimla or Delhi University. Young Blood is a collection of ten tales that reimagine college urban legends and true first-person accounts, that promises to terrify even die-hard fans of horror.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chandrima Das has a B.Tech in Computer Science from NIT Durgapur and an MBA from IIM Calcutta. After a decade-long career in management consulting, she followed her passion for writing. Her digital debut The Talking Dead was a bestseller in the horror category. She’s performed live at storytelling events with Tall Tales and Kommune, and was published in The Best Of Tall Tales. 

MY REVIEW:


I enjoy horror as a genre in both watching movies and reading books. Though many would disagree that horror books do not give you the same vibe when you read them as much as you watch movies in that genre. But individuals differ and its all in the reader’s mind I would say.


So, when I knew there was this chance to review the book, I knew I should definitely not miss the chance of reading book in my favourite genre. The blurb intrigued me further because not long enough my husband and I were discussing about planchette and was coincidentally mentioned in the blurb as well.
The book has ten stories from different institutions across the country and involves the various tales that haunt the campuses. The stories gave me chills at certain points. I wantedly chose to read them at nights so that it adds to the thrill and the author sure didn’t disappoint me.

Each story sets a different stage and addresses a social issue pertaining to the modern age. I loved the way how the author connected the tale and the social issues. The nature of how each story was narrated is one of the biggest pluses that does not let you keep the book down once you start reading.


The author through her writing makes you feel that you are in the tale experiencing the horrific events when you are just right there on your bed reading the book. That is a win-win for any author to make the reader transport to the bookish world.


The stories and the notes at the end made a well-connected read. I’d suggest not to read notes at last but as and when you finish a story for a much greater reading experience.

The book is a must read for those who love horror and who would want to try the genre too.

Buy the book here.

This book review is part of blogchatter’s bookchatter.

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5 best ways to invest for child education

Best ways to invest for child education
Child education investment

The average Indian household’s major expense has been skyrocketing even though we do not see the same trend in inflation. Higher education costs have been rising ever since and it is one of the major cash outflows of Indian families.

Be it a four year engineering or a five year medicine or a three year art degree the rise in costs haven’t spared any of these sectors. Gone are the days when they used to say we cannot afford engineering or medicine better to take up arts and science.

The low competition and the lower rates at Government institutions made it easy for the previous generations. But today the tough competition to get admitted into quality governments institutions is making people sought costly private institutions forcibly.

Though in the near future we might have some of the global majors come down to our country the education costs are still going to be on a higher scale. Change in lifestyle and the inflation also has an impacts on the higher education costs.

Our way of Living definitely influences the decision we make on where we send our kids to get educated. Quite often the trend that is seen is children being brought up under affluence predominantly reject being admitted to Government institutions due to the minimal infrastructure facilities.

The burning question in every Indian parents mind is that will they be able to afford the higher education for their wards. Will they have any problems on the funding for the choice of higher education chosen by their children.

The answer would confidently be a ‘yes‘ if they are an early bird in investing and have a clear cut understanding of taking the right steps on where to invest.

Here are the most commonly faced challenges by parents and ways to overcome them when it comes to funding for higher education.

Early bird

Beginning to saving early is an obvious solution . This will not only help in yielding a large sum but the money will also gain from the compounding power. A sip investment for 18 years in equity with an amount of 9000 giving a 15% return is not going to make one crore a daunting amount.

Compounding needs to work on longer period because the inflation rate of education seems to be very high . So saving as early from when the child is three months is one of the doable solutions yielding great results.

When you start late you are not only going to see lesser returns but also can ruin your plans on other financial goals. Starting at 40, isn’t going to become a successful plan because it can definitely land you in a short fall of the amount that is needed.

The Indian household immediately plunges the retirement savings to manage the expense which is a risky move because this will make you dependent on them once you get old. Employment nature is changing because young workers who are energetic replace the one’s at 40 because of their latest skills and this apparently makes it necessary to start investing early.

Short term helps play safe

If the time you have is less than five years then relying on the lower return fixed income instruments is the option. But on a positive note they offer guaranteed returns and safety. These factors make it important in short term.

Though these options seem fairly safe it isn’t fine to do it on a random basis. When you invest in these debt instruments you will need to check that liquidity shouldn’t be a problem .

In this case the much lauded PPF may seem to be a great option but if the money is needed in 3-5 years this idea wouldn’t work.

The tax savings bond on the other side looks to be attractive but poses a reinvestment risk. Always safe to opt for the cumulative option because the interest payout every year, will need to be reinvested in lower interest rates

Choosing the right option that suits your need

Not only does starting early important, but investing on the right place yields good difference.

Equity mutual funds have delivered annualized returns of 16.5 percent in ten years. But this is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Indians have a high urge to save and invest but they still look to the side of safety. If 15-18 years is the time you have for the child’s higher education then equity funds would be the right place to start investing.

The return volatility is flattened out since this is a longer time period. So if you have the will to risk you can go to allocate even 75-80 percentage of the portfolio here. Diversified equity or stocks can be great for investing to tackle the inflation rate of higher education.

The remaining can be put into ppf, fixed deposit or tax free bonds which are safe.

Portfolio review

A yearly review of the portfolio is a must , once the portfolio is in place. Keep a check on the amount required for goal. In this case the two main factors would be tution fee and cost of living. If any one of these rise up you will need to rethink the inflation rate.

Keep checking whether the portfolio is on the track to meet the goal. If there is a downfall you may need to increase. This is also applicable of there is a salary increase.

Keep a check on the fund performance. If a fund lags don’t jump to sell off rather stop sip and invest in in a better performing fund. Analyse the fund and understand the reason for its down performance. Make a decision after analysing 3-4 quarters.

Make sure to rebalance the portfolio at the end of each year. Sell an outperforming fund and reinvest in underperforming funds.

Goal approach

The long term investment process is not static. Start shifting out money to safety of debt if you are in 10-15 year equity investment.

A systematic transfer to short term debit fund would be apt. When the savings is for a crucial goal be sure to act conservatively. The child’s admission to college should be in mind and a down performance in the stock cannot do a spoilsport in your child’s future.

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Skincare ingredients harming the environment. Did you know?

As much as all of us want to make ourselves presentable in terms of physical appearance and also to smell good, we fail to notice one of the most important after effects.

As per studies an average human uses about 30 gallons of water to wash . And when I say wash it does include the chemicals we wash away too like soap, face washes, shower gel. This not only goes to our drain but ends up in the aquatic ecosystem.

All this because certain substances are non biodegradable and we also end up consuming the aquatic life which have been affected by the harmful chemicals. So it is indirectly affecting us.

They not only affect by indirect usage by us but also when being tested directly on animals that’s another topic of discussion.

What are the products that harm the environment??

Oxybenzone

Oxybenzone is predominantly found in sunscreens. Since sunscreen is widely used in tropical places they end up being present in the water harming aquatic life. They have an adverse effect on the coral reefs which ends up bleaching them. Hence always choose a safe sunscreen that doesn’t have oxybenzone.

Parabens

Parabens are mainly used as a preservative in cosmetics like primer. They end up being found on the tissues of aquatic life. They can damage coral reefs and introduce reproductive issues in aquatic life.

Triclosan

Mostly present in soaps and handwashes, triclosan also can be present in toothpastes in minimal quantities. They end up killing the algae which is food for majority of aquatic life. Also cause hormonal problems in dolphins and disturbs ecological balance.

Silicone in whitening creams

High levels of siloxane, a derivative of silicone was found deposited in skin of fish and other marine life denoting the fact that it fails to leave the skin.

Microbeads contains polyethylene and propylene

Face washes, shower gels, detergents all have variants which have plastic microbeads. Aquatic life predominantly fishes misunderstand the beads to be fish food and end up confusion them. It takes hundreds of years for them to break down to simpler substances.

Wet wipes having plastic fibres

The wet wipes we use for convenience has plastic fibres which does not disintegrated instead binds to fats from the sewer and clogs drains. They cannot be recycled and hence end up polluting the environment and drains. So avoid sheet masks and wipe pads too.

Here is a video explaining the same

https://youtube.com/shorts/Cb7emTiAVQQ?feature=share

In addition to all these a major contributor is the packaging which the products come in. Mainly packed with plastic and cardboard though their main purpose served is safe transportation and for usage purposes. These packing materials also contribute to keeping the environment polluted.

The beauty industry has been named to be contributing to the environment degradation because they pollute the landfill and end up in pollution.

The cardboard is made from tree pulp which also indicates harm to trees used for packaging materials. On top of this, companies also use mixed materials like polyethylene which are non biodegradable and end up in the aquatic life adding more fuel to the already existing pollution problem.

Almost all products have chemicals in them which cannot be broken down to the lowest levels. These products cannot be destroyed either. A

As consumers we cannot abstain from buying products but the choices we make can bring in a lot for difference.

Next time before buying make sure to check labels and help conserve the environment by embracing brands that are eco friendly and contribute our part to preserving the mother earth.

Inspiration from consumers who opposed using such chemicals has made brands adopt green strategies. This also proves that in the end the consumer has the power to change the strategies for businesses and help them undertake sustainable practices.

Responsible purchasing choices should be practiced and proper education what should be avoided citing the adverse effects, consumers will definitely have an impact on reducing the harmful effects.

This post is part of blogchatter cause a chatter.

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Must know benefits of azelaic acid

Azelaic acid is naturally derived from barley , wheat and rye. It is widely know for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it the best choice when it comes to treating acne and rosacea.

Azelaic acid clears out the bacteria from the pores present in skin that cause acne and also helps in preventing future outbreak.

Azelaic acid can be applied topically to skin in the for of cream, gel and foam. But all the forms have the same way of application in terms of the products that are used in skincare routine.

Azelaic acid is getting increasingly popular and is most often the ingredient that is looked down upon and under the radar.

When the ingredient is suggested through prescriptions from dermatologists it would be about 15-20% concentration. But the ones that are sold over the counters are usually lesser in concentration. But usually it is safer to incorporate upto a concentration os 20%.

Azelaic acid takes a lot of time to show results so patience is needed when using this ingredient. The variants that are given through prescriptions take about a month or two and those available over the counter take up to three to four months to visibly see an improvement. The difference in the vast time gap is the strength of concentration that is present in the product.

Azelaic acid acts as an anti-inflammmatory for the acne and as an anti-pigment because of is ability to block tyrosinase. Azelaic acid is a tyrosinase inhibitor since it blocks melanin production.

Who can use?

Azelaic acid is great for people who have combination and oily skin. While those with sensitive skin might experience a mild redness when applying the product.

It is a safer ingredient that can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women. But it is always advised to consult your doctor before incorporating a new ingredient into skincare routine especially if you are pregnant or a breastfeeding mother.

BENEFITS:

ACNE TREATMENT:

Azelaic acid has been best known for treating acne for a longer period of time. It is an antibacterial as it fights to kill the acne causing bacteria. It is not like the other acid counterparts which fight acne , its an OTC that is quite strong to treat the condition.


It works by reducing the free fatty acid content deep down the pores in your skin. This makes the environment less adaptable to the bacteria. It also disrupts the normal cell functioning of bacteria thereby fighting from within.

GOOD EXFOLIANT

It works to increase the turnover rate of dead skin cells so that the pores are clean. So when you have clean and clearer pores it prevents future formation of acne.

LIGHTENS SCARS AND HYPERPIGMENTATION

Melanin in reduced in hyperactive areas which are the dark spots on skin when azelaic acid is applied.Since it is a tyrosinase inhibitor, it reduces melanin production. Simply put, it doesn’t let tyrosinase do its work and henace melanin production is stalled. Melasma and acne scars are lightened to a greater extent when azelaic acid is used.

ANTI INFLAMMATORY

Azelaic acid reduces pain,redness and swelling due to rosacea and acne. It calms the breaksouts and further inhibits the formation of new acne. For skin that has rosacea it helps to alleviate the redness and soothes the inflammation. Azelaic acid beeing mild than the other counterparts used for treating acne, it exfoliates and clears out the pores in a gentle way

How to use?

Can be used in forms of gel or a cream.

The sequence in usage would be,

  • Cleanse
  • Exfoliate
  • Tone
  • Azelaic acid
  • Moisturizer
  • SUnscreen

Use it initially as a spot treatment. Always begin with a patch test. Can be done on forehead when skin is thickest. Gradually increase areas of application to pigmentation prone area or even entire face. Massage for two minutes to get the product absorbed by skin.

Follow up with moisturizer to keep skin hydrated. The azelaic acid must be dried up before appying moisturizer else it will not absorb into skin and do its job.

Azelaic acid makes skin susceptible to sunburn and UV radiation effects. Since azelaic acid works to inhibit melanin production the skin is delicate and can be damaged easily. So always make sure to use sunscreen when using azelaic acid.

 PRODUCTS IN INDIA

The Derma Co. 10% Azelaic Acid Face Serum For Uneven Skin Tone & Dark Spots


The formulation has ginger root oil along with bergamot oil along with azelaic acid. It is suited for all skin types and comes in a convenient spray bottle in a cream consistency.


Price: 449
Quantity: 30ml

Click here to buy:

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Gas and colic relieve in babies

A woman carries her baby for nine months inside the womb. But it doesn’t stop there. It continues until the child grows and she has to take one step at a time. Just after getting out of the delivery trauma and birthing experience, boom it’s the breastfeeding and making the baby sleep.

What is colic?

And when you say sleep it depends on a lot of factors. The baby should have been fed well and not have any issues in digestion. Quite often babies exhibit symptoms like crying for prolonged duration. Science terms this as ‘colic‘. The baby twists, turns and exhibits actions clearly denoting not being comfortable.

This could either be due to issues in digestion or difficulty in passing gas or poop. There is no clear cut reason mentioning why the baby experiences colic pain. But there are a lot of ways to ease it out and make baby calm. The behavior is repetitive and is mostly stressful for the parent especially the mother.

Ways to ease colic pain

  • Holding the baby in a certain position
  • giving tummy time
  • massaging the belly and naval
  • applying hing paste are few practices that are done to ease the pain.

But a trustworthy aid across centuries has been woodwards gripe water. Primarily contains dill seed oil and sodium bicarbonate which helps ease the pain in tummy and neutralize the stomach acid.

Woodwards gripe water

The gripe water is alcohol and sugar free and has been a helping hand to most new mothers who struggle with babies having colic pain. The gripe water can also be used when baby is teething since that also takes a toll on the normal digestive cycles.

As much as the method of giving birth, care during pregnancy, feeding the child, their introduction to solids, sleep schedules have seen major changes the one thing that’s been the same across generations and time immemorial has been the usage of gripe water.

Woodwards has been a trustworthy brand across generations and ancestors swear by it. Handling a colicky baby can be overwhelming and kind of exhausting at times but over a period of time kids outgrow that phase .

Could also be termed as a product that helps new mothers relax and don’t take a toll on their mental health worrying about this. When you have this handy you are rest assured you have a happy baby.

Happy baby = happy mother.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE –
@Sindhu Vinod Narayan. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sindhu Vinod Narayan (Thatmadrasmom) with the right and specific direction to the original content.

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Going digital for your Business


If you’re thinking that the online space is only for big or mid-sized companies, you might need to rethink again before you are sure of it next time. A variable increase in the number of traditional, small businesses is now adopting the digital way to a varying extent and for good reason.


Going digital should not be seen as a way to build an image but has several other leveraging advantages.
In today’s world, you will find yourself in the online space on a beneficial need. No matter what sort of business you do, the type of customers you handle, the model that you follow or create for you, what category of Business it comes under, you make it a necessity to mark your presence in the online world.


Choosing to establish a digital presence sure does have value in it. A quick google search would land you any business sure does have a mark on the digital space or in simpler terms have an online footprint.


Today even if you are having a hardware or a supplies business, you could say that even if not a giant, you do have an identification on the online space. With a simple receipt of money from accepting cards, UPI, or e-wallets which are something like mobile application-based payment, congratulations you have made good progress.


There is always scope for improvement similarly, if you are already into the digital world, there is still a possibility to expand the digital footprint to magnify your presence.


Digital trends impacting MSME


Increased number of small businesses moving online.


A recent study that was conducted indicated that 63% of MSMEs wanted to go digital but only 5% went in the real digital world. A majority of MSMEs reported positive responses to post moving into the digital world. One more study mentioned that businesses that opted for the digital way doubled their growth in a quicker span than their offline counterparts which is a seemingly big achievement. SO on the whole considering both the case study above it is evident that small businesses are continually moving towards digitization.


Adopting cloud technology


Several small businesses adopted cloud technology to improvise their way of working. This included solutions that help in password management, mailing lists, and handling customer relationships. This helps organizations achieve productivity and make a competitive achievement. This was agreed by a majority of MSMEs where the results were proven to be positive. The cloud-based technology solutions that were opted for by the organizations are affordable and could be tailored to suit any business scenario.


Encouragement from the Government to adopt a cloud strategy


To raise the contribution of MSMEs GDP to 50% in the next 5 years the Government has placed the adoption of cloud-based solutions as one of the priorities. !8 tool rooms have been set up to assist the MSMEs in the cloud-based solution adoption which is expected to be increased to over 150 training centers.


Understanding and adjusting to the millennials


In terms of the sheer number and purchase power, the millennials rule the online world. So to get your business on their radar the small businesses must adapt video content for promotion, influencer marketing, and usage of social media.


Power of social media and its dominance


In terms of reach, impact, and conversion to sales social media dominate the marketing strategy. Facebook and Instagram in particular are the key players to focus on.


Chatbots for customer service


Better customer service is the key to financial growth. Given limited resources, automating customer service and response to customer queries help in streamlining the process. The quicker the turnaround for a customer query the more you get to score in terms of valuable service and definitely, that paves way for word of mouth growth, which in turn means more number of customers and could be possible conversion to sales.

How can it serve to be a springboard to success?


Adopting digital methods or digitization is served to be a springboard and bring in exponential growth


A representative of business transformation


Adopting cloud-based solutions helps to streamline the operating process and helps in improving growth and productivity. The most powerful effect on Business would be from adopting digitization.


Versatile and dominant medium of business


High impact branding and communication in the form of text, audio, and video is possible and thereby bringing in unprecedented reach. Helps enable real-time two-way communication through dedicated brand platforms that help in driving interaction and engagement.


The ultimate path for sales


With e-commerce raising the curtain for the show of online shopping from the comfort of homes and at suitable times, the products are available at ease, and payments are also made hassle-free.


A deeper insight into above-sighted advantages is below.


Triggering business transformation


These cloud-based solutions are plug and play which in other words mean they can be tailored to suit your business needs. With Big- data analytics-enabled it helps access patterns and insights and enabled to choose business decisions accordingly. From manufacturing to supply chain to CRMs they are tailored accordingly.
Mailing Management – MS Outlook ,Gmail
Storage management – One drive and Google Drive,
Accounting software – Intuit QuickBooks Online,
CRM software – Apptivo
Though it requires time and effort to choose the best that suits your needs, the return on investment is exponential.


Versatile cost-effective medium


To reach out to prospects nationwide and worldwide is the best means. Another added advantage being the ability to effectively narrow down the target prospects based on purchase power, demography, and many such factors.
Online videos on Youtube, are a great way to capture the eyeballs and register your brand to the target audience.
A key performance metric is an engagement that decides the success rate. The prospects’ progress journey that lands on sales are the result every business looks out for. This can be achieved by content creating that is compelling and interactive enough to initiate engagement.


Sales enablement


An eCommerce platform could either be your own or can be chosen to be a part of eCommerce aggregator platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, snapdeal, and Shopclues.


The deeper you go into digital, the number of benefits it would reap you. But the ultimate choice of what solutions you select should take your business to the next level. This should be the ultimate goal. The digital space has a lot of aspects to offer so choose wisely. If done appropriately, it can propel growth to greater heights. But bad customer experiences could get blown out of proportion so that needs to be taken care of.


Double or triple check before you dive into a digital initiative. So make wise choices and keep testing for loopholes that need attention. Investments into these solutions could be counted as risks, but if you have everything in place and confident about what lies ahead then definitely the results would overshadow the risks that you take.

Written as part of Blogchatter’s campaign #ECommerceInnovation. Read more posts in the campaign here.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE –
@Sindhu Vinod Narayan. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sindhu Vinod Narayan (Thatmadrasmom) with the right and specific direction to the original content.

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Role of MSME in Indian economy

The Government of India introduced Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in agreement with the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises development act of 2006. Predominantly these enterprises engage in producing, manufacturing, processing, and preserving goods and commodities.


Also referred to as the backbone of the country next to agriculture. They play a dominant role in contributing to the country’s GDP, manufacturing output, and the country’s exports.


The enterprises generate a lot of employment opportunities thereby helping bridge the gap between unemployment and poverty; also paving the way for the development of the rural areas in the country.

They have helped industrialization in these areas with low capital cost compared to large industries. In complementary to the large business sectors, MSMEs have a major part in the country’s economy, thereby helping in the socio-economic development of the nation.


They produce and manufacture both for domestic and international markets. So much advancement and product improvement has been seen in the khadi and coir industries. The upbringing of rural areas has been one of the major outcomes of the MSMEs collaboration with the various ministries and State Governments.
To be precise the 6.3 crore MSMEs are not only contributing one-third to the nation’s GDP but also help in the employment of the population in the non-formal sector.


The MSMEs play a major role in the transformation of India from an emergent power to a reputable financial center. Not wrong in saying that the MSMEs will be the gear in the wheel for this journey.


Importance of MSME for the economy


Throughout the world, the MSMEs have been accepted to be a major means of economic growth and for the promotion of justifiable development. The rate of growth in the highest rate is from the MSMEs.

Requiring Low investment for setting up, flexible operation, and the ability to develop the native technology accordingly are few major reasons that MSMEs have for having taken India to greater heights.
The second-largest employment generating sector next to agriculture, employing about approximately 120 million people.


MSME ministry targets to increase the GDP to 50% due to their contribution by the year 2025, as India moves ahead to become a $5 trillion economy.


At present, they contribute about one-third of the GDP which is 6.11% from manufacturing, and about 24.63 from the MSME service activities of the 45 lac units across the nation.


MSMEs contribute about 45% of the overall exports.
By specifically employing the people in weaker sections of the rural society, the MSMEs promote all-round development through the provision of employment opportunities.


Opportunities to utilize banking services and products are encouraged to be used by MSMEs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities thereby an additional way wherein the amount can be used in the inclusion of the final economy contribution.


MSMEs encourage innovation in budding entrepreneurs to build new products thereby boosting the growth and help in fueling the economy.


COVID-19 and its impact


MSME’s play a crucial role in realizing the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar’ or self-reliant India. It was also one of the hardest-hit sectors due to the COVID -19 pandemic as the supply chains in world trade took a major jolt and came to a standstill. The government has been lending helping hands to regain the momentum in these sectors, knowing that prioritizing the development of these sectors is critical to the overall development of the Nation. As much as the Government provides support to these sectors, the benefits can be utilized only if the Business is registered as MSME under the MSME act.
An economic package was proposed to regain the momentum, about 20 lac crores almost 10% of the GDP was brought in to help all sectors including the farmers, middle-class people, industrial units, and MSMEs.


LOAN TO MSME

  • Around two lakh MSMEs would be benefited from the 20,000 crore subordinated debts announced for MSMEs.
  • A collateral loan of three lac was provided with a tenure of four years.
  • The definition of MSMEs was changed which now included turnover as one of the parameters in addition to investment. Micro units can have a 5 crore turnover, with no global tender for up to 200 crores and any pending payment to the MSMEs to be made in 45 days.
  • A 12month moratorium on the loans and a 100% credit guarantee cover to be provided as well. These loans were provided until October 31st this year. Close to 45 lac MSMEs were supposed to be benefitted from this.
  • Global tenders up to 200 crores were banned in any Government venture, as foreign companies are bright competitors and use unfair practices to procure the opportunities. The result of which Indian MSMEs falling prey to such international giants. Banning these will help enhance the vision of a self-reliant India and also enable ‘make in India’ to come true sooner.

As the Government now highlights the role of MSMEs in enhancing exports and thereby making our country self-reliant, the need to import from China will stop. These were the Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari’s thoughts that echoed in his meeting .

Being self-reliant already being implemented in industries such as automobile and agriculture, solutions have been seemingly found and the need to import from China has certainly not been seen as a necessity. The results of which were seen sooner as India was now observed to export a lot than importing.


He also said that as far as Indian policies are concerned, our way of technology acceptance, reducing the production cost and providing products of good quality, the young talented manpower in the country is no doubt the strength behind the achievement of self-reliant India.


With the majority of countries not interested to be dealing with China currently, rather providing an advantageous situation for us; as they are rather interested in doing business with India. A great opportunity for the manufacturing sectors to scale up capabilities to boost exports and thereby contributing to the increase in the economy.


With positive trends showing lesser imports from China and greater exports, the minister added that MSMEs are doing a great job despite facing an economic crisis. He also added that the Government had sanction 93 schemes and over 100 schemes are in pipeline would be cleared sooner to pave the way development of MSMEs.


Certain areas that could boost the development of MSMEs at a quicker rate would be below

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Robotics
  • Using the waste to make something useful (in short waste to wealth)
  • Sustainability
  • Virtual reality-based solutions
  • E-mobility
  • Development of smart villages.


If we see notable developments in the above areas that could be an added advantage for us.


A lot of collaborative projects like centers of excellence are being set up across the nation. These projects are being set up across the IITs and NIITS which are one of the premier educational and research institutes. This would help ignite younger minds and also pave way for numerous budding entrepreneurs.

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Must know benefits of Arbutin

Arbutin is the newest name that rides the bandwagon of active skincare ingredients. Extracted from plants like pear,blueberry and cranberry , the ingredient is mainly used in skin brightening. Treating blemishes and uneven pigmentation are major benefits of using alpha arbutin.

Dermatologists trust this ingredient much more than other active ingredients to treat blemishes than other active ingredient counterparts.

Termed as one of the safest ingredients to provide skin brightening and helping in fading out scars left by acne and breakouts.

It is termed safe than the counterpart hydro uinone but has the same skin brightening benfits without the process of bleaching that could be harmful. Hydroquinone is banned in Europe and Australia which paved way for arbutin to replace it in the shelves.

Arbutin works to suppress the enzymes which produce melanin thereby reducing pigmentation. A slow down happens in process by which the UV rays cause pigmentation. As a result arbutin works to prevent as well as treat pigmentation.

Post blemish redness, dark spots and age spots denote pigmentation in various stages. Arbutin works to treating thse conditions by reducing the redness and making the skin tone even. People with sensitive skin can best chose arbutin over harsher counterparts like retinol and lactic acid.
BENEFITS:

Treatment of hyperpigmentation

A cosmeceutical that helps to fade out scars, age spots and melasma.Arbutin also works to prevent future freckles and hyperpigmentation even after sunburn.

Arbutin stops any extra production of melanin. Melanin production involves a chain of processes. Simply put arbutin stops the chain to treat pigmentation.

BRIGHTER SKIN

Arbutin aids in making skin tone even and to brighten the skin. This makes skin glow and appear healthy. It is a skincare beauty blender that is naturally blending the skin instead of using a foundation.

SAFER AND POWERFUL ALTERNATIVE TO HYDROQUINONE

Traditionally hydroquinone has been used in treating melasma and pigementation because of its ability to clear out scars. But the synthetic hydroquinone thats been used in products is aggressive in nature causing skin damage if not used in proper application methods. Results show that improper usage can lead to blue or grey patches on skin, When compared arbutin is much safer for topical application and it also being a natural derivative makes it a better choice. Arbutin has been proven to work even on the toughest pigmentation conditions and extreme cases of melasma.

What should you keep in mind?


One thing to keep in mind is that alpha arbutin is safe when used in 2% concentration and beta arbutin concentration can go upto 7% for safer limits.

Arbutin is great on all skin types and tones.But few suggestions to improvise the application benefits would be to include vitamin C alongside to boost the brightening benefits or to exfoliate using an AHA and then follow up with arbutin.

Do not use beyond three months and the improvements take at least 1-2 months to show up.
Patience and perseverence are two most important things to keep in mind when treating skin conditions. No product is magical to just make your skincare concerns disappear in a day. Make sure to give time for the product to work and to trust your body.

How to use?

Can be used in forms of gel,cream or a serum.

The sequence in usage would be,

  • Cleanse
  • Exfoliate
  • Tone
  • Arbutin
  • Moisturizer
  • Sunscreen

Use it initially as a spot treatment. Always begin with a patch test. Can be done on forehead when skin is thickest. Gradually increase areas of application to pigmentation prone area or even entire face. Massage for two minutes to get the product absorbed by skin.

Follwo up with moisturizer to keep skin hydrated. The arbutin must be dried up before appying moisturizer else it will not absorb into skin and do its job.

Arbutin makes skin susceptible to sunburn and UV radiation effects. Since arbutin works to inhibit melanin production the skin is delicate and can be damaged easily. So always make sure to use sunscreen when using arbutin.

ARBUTIN PRODUCTS

Minimalist 2% Alpha Arbutin Face Serum for Pigmentation, Dark Spots & Tan Removal with HA

The formulation is made up of 2% alpha arbutin with a combination of hyaluronic acid. Proven to be nine times more effective than beta arbutin. Can be used daily. Promises even tone in 5 weeks.
Suited for both AM and PM routine . To be followed up with sunscreen.

Price: 549 quantity : 30ml
Click here to buy:

The Derma Co. 2% Alpha Arbutin Face Serum For Dark Spots & Uneven Skin Tone

The formulation contains 2% alpha arbutin in combination with hyaluronic acid and tartaric acid to reduce pigmentation and stop melanin production. Hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant and also boosts collagen productions whereas tartaric acid on the other hand is naturally derived from grapes to work on lessening pigmentation and spots.

Suited for both AM and PM routine . To be followed up with sunscreen.

Price: 449 quantity : 30 ml
Click here to buy:

Dot & Key Alpha Arbutin + Azelaic Biphasic Serum Radiance Concentrate


It is india’s first two phase serum that combines oil and water. Natural oils are infused with active ingredients to provide skin brightening benefits.
Formulation has alpha arbutin in combination with azelaic acid , peony flower rich in antioxidants, mulberry and rosehip oil.

Advised to be used in AM and PM routine.

Price: 491 quantity: 20ml