Volume 15 Issue 06 | September 2015 · came to our residence with a flower bouquet and wished us a happy and pleasant journey. We were very happy on his gesture. We reached Port Blair

Let Our Values Emergewww.uaeexchangeindia.com

For Private Circulation Only

Volume 15 Issue 06 | September 2015

3Xpressions - Septembert 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015 Volume 15

Issue 06

INSIDE

10 News Excerpts 12 Media

13 Economic News

14 HR Faccia

18 Customer Interviews

19 V G Nair Writes

22 Insight

25 She

26 Social Commitments

26 My Scribbles

27 Cook’s Arena

28 Matrimonio & Employee Engagement

30 Special Days

31 Fun Side

16

24 HEALTH CORNER

IN EVERY ISSUE

04 Editorial

05 MD’s Message

06 Responsium

08 Global Glimpses

FEATURE

20 EXPEDITION

A Visit to EnglAnd

I am scared of that!

Clock Theory for Human Organs

Cover photo by Sharath Shenoy KNew Bel Road Branch, Bangalore

This means that if one link in a chain is weak, the whole chain, despite all the other links being strong, will be weak. A chain is never complete without its links and its existence depends on the strength of the links.

If you have one part of something that is bad, the other parts will suffer due to the poor performance of the weak part. A chain can be strong only if its all links are equally strong. In other words, the true strength of the chain depends on how strong the weakest of the link is.

A chain is a row of links each connected to one another. But one weak link is enough to break the chain. A chain may have a hundred links, and except one, all the links could be extremely strong, but the one weak link makes the whole chain useless. The chain may break unexpectedly when used. In short, the strength and success of everything depend on the weakest factors.

The proverb mentioned above can be rightly used to assess the strength of the integrity of a family or an organisation. If a member in a group is weak and goes against the welfare of the group, the stance for which the group is formed goes invalid.

An organisation depends on the power of its boss and the strength of its employees, whereas a family depends on the head and the strength of its members. One can never live by oneself. There is a mutual bonding that leads to the ultimate success. It is important to think loud about making all the links equally strong. Of course, the vigour of the boss and the head of a family holds a vital place in the success ladder, but each and every bit of work, including that imparted by the weakest member, is also very important. Here it is up to the boss to recognise the greatest strength of the weakest member and extract the best. It is essential for every member to appreciate the potentials of the other members in their team. Here, the basic principles should be faith, hope, and love. A nod, an appreciation, or a smile will boost the weakest link, which may, at some point of time, turn out to be the strongest link.

Editor’s DeskEbby AbrahamEditor-in-Chief

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

Editorial TeamSheeba Johnson Ann Susan Paul

Feba Jacob

CorrespondentsRatheesh VR

Vishnu MBenny Joseph TX

September 2015 Volume 15

Issue 06Editorial Office

2nd Floor, Krishna Hospital Building, MG Road, Kochi - 682 011

Tel. No: 0484 3047092Email: [email protected]

Visit uswww.uaeexchangeindia.com

4 Xpressions - September 2015

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MD’s MessageV George AntonyManaging Director

Effective and quality time management is an essential element for unbeatable personal

life and successful career.To attain better productivity in our

daily life, it is always good to practise time management. We need to list down our daily routine tasks or assignments and prioritise each task according to its urgency and importance, such as urgent, important, less important, not urgent, and

CIO’s Message

Jos babuChief Information Officer

The world is moving ahead in an unimaginable pace. With this quotient in mind, the

Government of India has formulated “Digital India”, the dream of making India a super “Digital” power.

UAE Exchange India has started to contribute to this dream – to move to Digital. And this dream is getting materialised by way of conveniences like mobile application for customers, agents, and branches to engage in business from anywhere, anytime. The application helps branches to surge ahead in full force to realise the dreams of their customers even at their doorsteps.

Our customer application, XPay Wallet, now uses the innovative method of “scan and pay” so that customer can scan QR code through their mobile camera and pay for the products or services they avail. The app can be used for mobile recharge, merchant payments, school fee payment, movie tickets buying, and for many other uses; every transaction happens instantly.

Our mobile app for branches with reduced cost aspects and improved features enables mobility to better customer lead generation and also to a better turnaround time for making deals. It enables the availability of branch service from wherever the staff

is present. Be it accessing reports, MIS of branches, or serving the customer at a convenient time, we have the solutions just a single tap away in our mobile. The mobile application underway is robust, secure, and fast; it also has all the options to work on offline as well as online modes. Mobility will no longer be a problem for our branch operations, but a solution.

The Information Technology Department of the company is now venturing itself into new technologies and methodologies. Forty per cent of our staffs’ portfolios has already been migrated to “Mobile-based Development” from Java-based

The digital way ahead

Time Management and Multi-Taskingnot important. Allocate time for each task and review before the closing of the day. We can skip or deviate the list on holidays, but checking and making amendments lead to the success of our schedule. It is challenging, but a definite route to success.

Often, we take too much time for certain tasks and all other tasks left behind get the tag of “lack of time”, which is just an excuse for our own lapse.

Practising time management has bags of benefits. It enables us to have control on time utilisation, helps us stay focused on the task at hand, improves work efficiency, helps us gain the ability to attain additional skills, and also increases our know-how faster. Thus, setting targets and goals and working regularly under proper time management will help us

automatically start correcting ourselves, bringing quality to our work and discipline to our lives. This will help us multi-task with perfection, which is the need of the hour. Regular practice with proper time management will gradually become a habit. Good habits will eventually develop our character.

Productive working hours will result in work satisfaction, which will lead to a happy and enjoyable personal life. We should spend more time on areas that add quality and value to both our personal and professional life.

Always be more focused, disciplined, and perfect through time management. Do the best and never waste time for insignificant matters.


RESPONSIUM

ToThe Manager,UAE Exchange, Vedaranyam

Sir,

We availed a group tour package to Andaman for our friends and families (20 members) from your good office and started the journey on 23rd June 2015. Branch Manager Mr Sundar S came to our residence with a flower bouquet and wished us a happy and pleasant journey. We were very happy on his gesture.

We reached Port Blair Airport on 24th June 2015 morning and Mr Rakesh from Zest India Tours received us with warm welcome and arranged necessary travel vehicles to reach Hotel Silver Spring on time. The drivers assisted

ApprEcIAtIoN lEttEr for Team Vedaranyam

us well in visiting all the tourist places and the room arrangements were also too good. In Hotel Sliver Spring and Holiday Beach Resort, the A/C rooms were fine and breakfast & dinner we enjoyed the most.

All the 20 members were happy and praised about the Air India flight booked by UAE Exchange, the A/C vehicle facility, hotel facilities and the assistance provided by Coastal Cruise Guides. I too felt happy on hearing the satisfied words from my friends and family as all of them told that the entire trip was a memorable one and we really enjoyed it much. All credits go to UAE Exchange staffs on arranging such a wonderful trip.

We really enjoyed all the sightseeing during the wonderful trip: Corbyn’s

We thank UAE Exchange manager and staffs for giving a wonderful opportunity to see the Cellular Jail with historic views showing how hard our leaders fought against the British government and their sufferings.

Cove Beach, Coconut Palm Beach, 54 sea miles Havelock Island, Cruise Journey, World Famous Radha Nagar Beach, Kalapatthar Beach, Northbay Island, Rose Island, and especially the historical place of Cellular Jail. While watching the light & music show about the freedom fighters and their struggle, we felt really sad and realised how we got freedom and our responsibility to maintain it. We thank UAE Exchange manager and staffs for giving a wonderful opportunity to see the Cellular Jail with historic views showing how hard our leaders fought against the British government and their sufferings. Our hearty thanks to all the members of UAE Exchange, Vedaranyam branch.

Development. Remaining others will be migrated to this portfolio in the near future. We have migrated some of the infrastructures to cloud to make better use of its resources. Right from stakeholders to our customers, we are planning to move to a fully digital platform, right from the use of digital locker to digital verification of customer KYC using Aadhar number and fingerprint. In the same way, centralised customer information

database access using big data with minimal retrieval time is also being implemented. The entire customer details in social media and websites will get sync with our database for our branches to know the taste and interest of customers to cross-sell.

The future is digital. Let this be a huge leap forward for our organisation. The success of all these digital initiatives depends on how

the branches use these and how these digital tools are used by our customers. Let these initiatives from Information Technology Department be a major contributor in the future growth of our company.

Wishing you all a happy month ahead!

CIO’s Message


ToThe Branch HeadUAE ExchangeKrishnanagar NadiaPIN - 741101

Dear

I, Gourpada Sarkar, took a service from UAE Exchange (Kolkata to Chennai return ticket for my family) and it was a very nice and great experience with your staff Mr Sudipta Bairagya.

He delivered excellent service and information and I am very much pleased with him.

I am very much happy and am looking forward to taking another service

ApprEcIAtIoN lEttEr for mr SudipTa Bairagya from mr gourpada Sarkar

from UAE Exchange only because of Sudipta.

The service was possible only because Sudipta was the only one who provided that service to me during that crisis period when I was helpless because I could not manage the tickets from anywhere.

This is to inform you that Mr Nirmalya Das, your employee, has given me good and satisfactory service. And I am very happy for the service.

Thanking you,Parimal Kumar

ApprEcIAtIoN lEttEr for mr nirmalya daS from mr parimal kumar roy

Note: The transcripts of these letters are slightly edited.

ToThe Country Head, Zonal Head, Regional HeadUAE Exchange and Financial Services LtdIndia

Sub: Letter of appreciation to Mr Amit Verma, Branch Head, Garhshankar, Punjab

Respected Sirs,

It is a matter of proud and delight for me in giving this letter of appreciation to one of the able leaders of your organisation, Mr Amit Verma, for providing me the “bestest” ever service, support, and guidance.

I, Manjit Singh, a resident of UK, visited India with my family recently. We met Mr Verma in a bank. It was

ApprEcIAtIoN lEttEr for mr amiT Verma from mr manjiT Singh

our first interaction. Just after five minutes of interaction, due to the way he presented himself, we were talking like old friends. We felt so comfortable with him that we talked to him as if he was our own family member. It was his pleasing and helpful nature, awesome knowledge, understanding, and co-operation that won our hearts in moments. He not only knew what we wanted and how we could get that but also went a step further and assisted us in solving our bank-related issues, and our work got easily resolved due to his personal involvement. I am enclosing all my services with him and we are delighted. We appreciate Mr Amit Verma for providing us the best service and support. We will cherish this relationship for years to come and I will tell all my friends about the

service.

I also thank UAE Exchange for having such wonderful leaders working for the organisation.

Warm RegardsManjit Singh


GLOBAL GlIMpSES

JEbEl AlI MEtro StAtIoN rENAMED AS uae exchange meTro STaTion

The Jebel Ali Metro station has been renamed as UAE Exchange Metro Station. Rail Agency CEO Mr Abdullah Yousef signed the agreement with UAE Exchange President Mr Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty. Mr Yousef commended the decision of UAE

Exchange in joining the Metro Naming Rights project, entitling the company to place its name on the station. “Having UAE Exchange on board is a further testament to the success of the naming rights which has evolved into a source of attraction to mega businesses in the UAE. It also reflects the rising awareness of the community of national and international branding and the need to work on the investment opportunities opened for those brands, which will contribute to uplifting the services of the metro project in a creative and distinctive style,” Mr Yousef said.

“The UAE Exchange Station has a host of geographical features highlighted by its strategic location in Jebel Ali Zone, one of the key Free Zones in the Middle East hosting a variety of sectors in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, finance, business, gold and jewellery, and medical care, to name a few,” he added. In response, Mr Shetty expressed his delight on the partnership with the Rail Transport Authority on this project which echoes the vision of the leadership of the UAE Rulers and the importance attached to cooperation between public and private entities towards serving the best interest of the community and individuals. “The Metro has shaped into a creditable icon of the success of mass transit systems in the emirate, and we take the pride in renaming Jebel Ali station as UAE Exchange station,” he said

UAE ExchANGE wINS deuTSche Bank STp excellence award

UAE Exchange has won the Deutsche Bank STP Excellence Award for the ninth consecutive

year in the UAE. The prestigious award is in recognition of the operational excellence in the field of Euro and USD payments processing. The remittance major has achieved an outstanding rating of 99.95 per cent STP (Straight through Processing) rate in Euro and 99.92 per cent STP for US Dollar payments. Speaking on the recent accomplishment, CEO Mr Promoth Manghat said, “We are truly honoured to receive the Deutsche Bank STP Excellence Award. This award is an acknowledgement of our continued efforts towards our compliance architecture to ensure that every payment transaction a customer makes is successful. This award will always be treasured as it comes at a time when we are further strengthening our compliance architecture to empower the citizens of UAE by providing them easy access to financial services.” The Deutsche Bank STP Excellence Award recognises those institutions in the world that have achieved an exceptionally high percentage rating in processing error-free payment instructions in US Dollar and Euro currencies.

XPRESS MoNEY

Electronic gadgets were raining for the customers of UAE Exchange as the winners for the first draw of MoneyGram’s Grand Getaway promotional campaign was announced. Five winners were announced in the first weekly draw conducted on 16th July 2015. Mr

Desire Baranyizigiye, a Ugandan national and a customer of UAE Exchange-Kampala Road Branch, won a Samsung Flat TV as the first prize while Mr Gerald Ssekirime, a Uganda national and customer of UAE Exchange -Amber House Branch, won a Techno Tablet as the second prize. Mr Francis Nyeko, the third winner from the La-Cedri Grand Imperial (Sub-Agent), was also presented with a Techno Tablet. The fourth and fifth winners, M/s Ndagire – Dollar House (sub-agent) and Mr Joseph Wasswa from the La-Cedri Entebbe Road (Sub-Agent), were conferred with Samsung Galaxy mobile phone each. MoneyGram’s Grand Getaway promotional campaign concluded on 25th August 2015. Apart from the weekly prizes of electronic gadgets like TV, tablets, and mobile phones, customers could also win a Grand Prize of a two-night stay at Chobe Safari Lodge.

uae exchange cuSTomer winS MoNEYGrAM’S GrAND GEtAwAY fIrSt wEEklY DrAw

cUStoMErS to SAvE wIth NEw xpreSS money programmeXpress Money has launched the Xpress Money Rewards Programme with the aim to reduce remittance costs and add more customers. “We believe that this is an industry-first, what we have done is to combine a rewards programme with the cause of reducing remittance costs for the customer,” Xpress Money Chief Operating Officer Mr Sudhesh Giriyan said. Mr Giriyan said that the reward programme will help remittances grow up to 15 per cent in the first year of the launch and around 35 per cent growth in four years.

Mr Giriyan also said that majority of regular remitters are blue-collar workers as they send money every month and they will benefit with this new reward programme. White-collar workers send money once in three months, he added. The UAE was the

XPRESS MoNEY

Xpressions - September 2015 9

third-largest remittance-sending country in 2014, according to the World Bank Report. Expats in the UAE sent home $29.5 billion last year. India ranked top in 2014 as the largest remittance-receiving country at $70 billion. It received $12.5 billion in remittances from the UAE in 2014.

Customers have always been a priority for Xpress Money; therefore it comes as no surprise that the brand has launched this unique programme that will widely benefit customers. Through this programme, Xpress Money is also contributing to the remittance industry’s objective of reducing transaction costs, by ensuring that remitters pay less to send money to their loved ones back home. Customers who enrol for the programme get an instant advantage of Dh5 cashback on their very first transaction and will continue to get Dh2 cash-back for all subsequent transactions. “Customer benefit has always been our priority and this rewards programme has been conceived to thank customers for their constant support, by

offering them more with every transaction,” Mr Giriyan said.

In addition to the cash-back, the programme also has a referral scheme wherein enrolled customers can refer their friends and gain Dh1 cash-back each time the friend makes a transaction; the more friends referred the more rewards the customers get. They also have double the chance of winning promotions and contests hosted by Xpress Money. Customers can redeem the cashback once Dh10 is accumulated on the rewards card with no maximum limit for redemption.

UAE Exchange is on a technology up-gradation spree to match its fast-paced growth plans. The

company has tied up with SunGard, one of the world’s leading financial software companies, to fully automate its treasury operations and thereby, drive its operational growth globally. The new software will aid UAE Exchange with reduced manual treasury tasks, quick transfer of funds, securing the database, timely and accurate management reports, optimal treasury payment process, and centralising payments - all with just a click of the mouse. In addition, the new automated treasury management system (TMS) automatically indexes and archives all documents in the customer’s electronic folder thereby, increasing customer privacy and security and eventually reducing online frauds. Another major advantage of this process is that since the information is electronic, it enhances the reconciliation statements and helps the bank personnel, auditors, and even regulators to carry out their compliance work smoothly.

Speaking on the association, UAE Exchange CEO Mr Promoth Manghat said, “Being the pioneers in the industry and forging ahead with the changing environment, we wanted to augment our treasury management

uae exchange parTnerS Sungard to AUtoMAtE trEASUrY AND DrIvE Growth

system. Our decision to partner with SunGard goes beyond business as the company reflects the innate values of our brand. With the integration of the new software, the risk of price variation associated with various currencies and their interest rates reduces substantially as with just a click, the team is empowered to choose the best deal and close the transaction, thereby, improving operational efficiency. Moreover, the new automated treasury management system will decrease frauds, enhance customer privacy and security as well as ensure compliance with the company and regulatory policies and procedures. Further, due to reduced manual intervention, automation will not only save time but will also enable more effective cash flow forecasting, reduce risk and associated costs, boost liquidity, and provide a superior degree of confidence to our partners.”

Speaking about the partnership, Wissam Khoury, Managing Director - Middle East and Africa, SunGard Financial Systems, said, “We are glad to associate with UAE Exchange for this innovative initiative in the remittance industry. We are confident that our industry-leading infrastructure and software will help to further strengthen the treasury structure of the company leading to process optimisation, greater secured transactions, lower operational risk and accessibility from

anywhere. We look forward to continuing our efforts to help bring about systemic improvement and automate the many detailed processes associated within the remittance industry.”

UAE Exchange, in order to improve its technological edge, better manage their growing cross-border challenges and minimise the risk of untimely and inaccurate processes, has embarked on integrating Quantum, the new software, with its current Treasury Management System (TMS). Critical to the company’s strategic objectives, the fully automated system will aid the treasury wing of UAE Exchange to further streamline their administrative processes, provide 24/7 online access, obtain cash position information anytime from anywhere and centralised transactions will be a great enabler for the department. Moreover, the integration of the new software provides the opportunity to increase the organisation’s own scale and take on a greater range of services. With better automated processing, security and transparency across varied areas as well as deploying cloud services, it not only reduces error but reduces operative costs too. It is no wonder then that UAE Exchange is all set to compete in an operationally demanding yet cost-conscious market.


A S Rao Nagar branch of UAE Exchange India on 23rd August 2015 sponsored the Onam Celebration by Maithri on the occasion of their 20th-anniversary function in Jaya Lakshmi Gardens, Trimulgheery, Secunderabad. About 1,000 people attended the function including film actors and famous personalities. Maithri, established in the year 1995 by a group of Keralites to spread the message of friendship, has members from all parts of Kerala State. Malayalees, who are into business, service, studies etc., are all a part of this family. Maithri members meet

quite frequently and exchange their views on various topics. Occasions like Vishu and Onam brings in a lot of life and activity into the members and their families. Maithri invites various personalities from Kerala to visit Hyderabad and perform their masterpieces. Lectures, medical camps, awareness programmes, and spiritual discourses are all a part of Maithri. At the function, UAE Exchange team took the opportunity to explain the services of the company and also distributed Get Xtra booklets and visiting cards.

Anniversary Celebrations

Onam Celebration Maithri

NEWS ExcErptS

Anniversary celebrations are reminders that the company is on the right track towards delivering the best services available in the industry. UAE Exchange India could celebrate anniversaries of three of its branches recently, reminding itself of the valuable trust and confidence the public has

on the financial solutions provider. Customers and local residents visited the branches on the occasion, congratulating its employees for providing excellent financial services. The satisfaction of the people is evident from the growth witnessed by the branches during the past years.

Nizamabad Quila Road BranchOn 11th August 2015, UAE Exchange India’s Quila Road branch in Nizamabad celebrated their first anniversary in the presence of chief guests from India Medical Association, members of Bar Association, and other important personalities from the locality. The media people were also present at the grand celebration.

Vijayawada BranchOn 10th August 2015, Vijayawada branch of UAE Exchange India completed 10 years. As part of the celebrations, the branch invited ICEJ Director-India, Mr Sampath Kumar as the chief guest to grace the occasion.

Nandyal BranchOn 1st August 2015, Nandyal branch of Vijayawada region of the company celebrated its first anniversary. Eminent personalities of local Rotary Club graced the occasion. As part of the celebration, the branch distributed tree saplings among the guests and customers who were present at the function.

Warangal Mandi Bazar BranchOn 27th July 2015, Warangal Mandi Bazar branch celebrated its 4th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the branch invited LIC Chairman and its customers as special guests.

MD attends “Nidhi Aapke Nikat” programme

UAE Exchange India MD Mr V George Antony participated in the “Nidhi Aapke Nikat” (PF near you) programme conducted by the PF Sub-Regional Office, Kochi, on 10th August 2015. The programme

was an endeavour of Employees Provident Fund organisation to be more accessible to its different stakeholders and subscribers. The programme aimed at enabling employers vent their grievances, inviting their suggestions and making awareness about the new initiatives. MD Mr V George Antony shared his views on the necessity and benefits of PF digitalisation. He urged the representatives of the employers, present there, to give complete support to the PF department for easy implementation of the new initiatives brought by them.

Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Mr Gopala Krishnan and Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner Mr C Vijay Kumar were present at the function. Representatives from various companies also attended the programme. Mr Gopalakrishnan had briefed about the new initiatives brought by the PF Department, including wage ceiling enhancement, minimum pension increase, UAN allotment to all contributing members, new grievance portal in EPFO website, online registration of establishments, and incentives to employers for engaging employees with disabilities. The programme winded up with an interactive session by the PF officials and the participants.

MD attends CEO Conclave Kerala 2015

UAE Exchange India MD Mr V George Antony attended the Emerging Kerala, Money Indices CEO Conclave Kerala 2015 conducted by DC Media on 7th August

2015. The conference saw CEOs of Kerala’s NextGen400 companies brainstorm on how to scale-up their organisations and thought process. An array of speakers from India’s fortune 500 companies and experts were the major attraction of the conclave. Designed with a healthy mission and commitment to promoting Kerala’s CXO level leaders and Intrapreneurs, the conclave was a unique platform which Kerala’s growing new generation entrepreneurs, professionals, and thought leaders were eagerly waiting for. The event also served as a rare networking platform for Kerala’s corporate leaders, top-level professionals, and innovative organisations.

Kumbakonam branch attends Rotary Club meeting

Kumbakonam branch of UAE Exchange India attended a meeting organised by the Rotary Club of Kumbakonam. Branch Head Rtn. R Saravanan was

invited to the meeting as the special speaker of the day. About 65 members were present for the meeting. The opportunity was well utilised to explain the products and services of the company among the eminent personalities. The team briefed the members about the various offers, schemes, and services that can be easily availed from the branch. They also presented the company’s International Tour Booklet to the Club’s president Rtn. Sowmiya Narayanan, secretary, and treasurer as an honour for providing their precious time for UAE Exchange India.

UAE Exchange India has been in the forefront in training its employees to make them the perfect hands to provide the company’s various services to its valuable customers. With the

aim to improve performance and evaluate the outputs of its employees, the company constantly conducts training and review programmes for its employees at all levels. The programmes are excellent platforms for discussing the company’s various strategic policies and changes and implementing plans for better and enhanced services. New employees of the company are also provided regular training to groom and motivate them and to explain about the company, its functions, products and services, and policies to the new hands. The meetings evaluate the performance of the employees, redefine goals, and prepared new members for quality service deliverance and productive output.

Training and review programmes

Bangalore region of UAE Exchange India arranged weekly training and review meets for 8 weeks for its new employees.

Trichy region of UAE Exchange India conducted a training programme for its branch heads.

Branch Blossoms

5 new branches in Gujarat

2 new branches in Rajasthan

UAE Exchange India inaugurated 5 new branches in its Gujarat region – Prahladnagar, Gandhidham, Karelibaugh, Bharuch, and Navsari. The new branches were inaugurated on 27th July 2015 by Zonal Head Mr Aravind P at an inauguration function arranged at Hotel Nalanda, Ahmedabad, in the presence of Regional Head Mr Ajith Kumar S, branch heads of the new branches, and other staffs of the company.

UAE Exchange India inaugurated 2 new branches in its Rajasthan region – Vaishali Nagar and Raja Park. The new branches were inaugurated on 10th August 2015 by Zonal Head Mr Shery Dass in the presence of Regional Head Mr Ashwani Kumar, branch heads Mr Amnindar Pal Kaur and Mr Vijay, and the new team members of the branches.

Raja Park Vaishali Nagar

Civil Service camp for IAS aspirants

UAE Exchange India, in association with YMCA, Ernakulam, organised civil service awareness camp for IAS aspirants. The sessions were conducted by Mr TK Jos IAS, Chairman, Coconut Development Board, and Mr TP Senkumar

IPS, DGP, Kerala. Almost two hundred people attended the workshop. PT Usha Road branch of UAE Exchange India participated in the programme and took the opportunity to connect the public to promote the brand and its products and services. The team from the company also distributed flyers and booklets, explained to the participants about the various schemes and offers running in the company and interacted with the civil service aspirants at the venue.

Jet Airways offer for UAE Exchange Patrons. Daily Tribune, 16th August 2015.

NEWS ExcErptS

UAE Exchange India MD Mr V George Antony participated in the IATA Heads’ Meet conducted at Hotel Grand, Kochi.

12 Xpressions - September 2015UAE Exchange - Chiranthana Media awards presented. Chandrika, 9th August 2015.

Easy foreign exchange through mobile app. The Hindu, 28th August 2015.

MEDIA clIpS


MEDIA clIpS

OSCB begins ‘Banks on Wheels’ service in remote areas

To reach the farmers and other people in remote areas of the state, the Odisha State

Cooperative Bank Limited (OSCB) launched ‘Banks of Wheels’ scheme in 20 backward-blocks covering 16 districts. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off the facility with 20 ‘Banks on Wheels’ vehicles starting their journey to remote and tribal dominated blocks of the state. The ‘Banks on Wheels’ by the OSCBL is the first of its kind facility in the country, the state cooperation minister Damodar Rout said. “The state government would like to see all the 314 blocks of Odisha get the Banks on Wheels facility. We will chalk out a plan for the purpose after assessing the impact of the OSCBL’s success,” Patnaik said.

The Bank on Wheels units would go to the blocks where there have been no banking facilities, the minister said. They would have facilities like ATM, information kiosk and full-fledged branch for providing financial inclusion services to the farmers in the tribal areas of the state, OSCB Managing Director T K Panda said. Patnaik also inaugurated the Core Banking Data Management Centre here to provide connectivity to all branches of OSCB and District Central Cooperative Banks for providing core banking service (CBS). The OSCB has also become a member of the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) and has issued RuPay ATM Debit Cards that are accessible at 1.88 lakh ATMs of all the banks across the country.

Gionee to invest $50 mn to make handsets in India

Chinese smartphone maker Gionee will invest USD 50 million (about Rs. 330 crore)

over the next three years to make handsets in India, joining peers like Xiaomi and Motorola. The company has partnered global manufacturers Foxconn and Dixon to begin India production. Gionee will be investing USD 50 million in the next three years on manufacturing in India. Gionee’s ‘Make In India’ will happen at the facilities of Dixon Technologies and Foxconn which are based at Delhi-NCR and Andhra Pradesh respectively. Foxconn will start this association by manufacturing F Series and P Series phones from the existing Gionee portfolio. Dixon will be making feature phones and other smartphones for Gionee. Both the partners will start production in October. They have a capacity of more than 1.2 million handsets per month between them. Gionee is also said to increase investment in its R&D team in India which will work on software to give a better consumer experience. This team will work on the Gionee UI, named Amigo, to make it much more customised for Indian consumers.

“Make in India as an initiative that gives an opportunity to not only take Gionee as a brand ahead but also to be actively able to participate in the growth of our economy through various touch points,” Gionee India Country CEO and MD Arvind R Vohra said. He added that this step will prove to be instrumental in the brand’s future. “Indian market is the second home market to Gionee after China, and the investment in Indian manufacturing is just another step in a line up of much more to come for the Indian market and customers,” Gionee President William Lu said.

EPFO panel approves raising insurance cover to Rs 5.5 lakh

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s Pension and EDLI Implementation

Committee has approved the proposal to raise the maximum insurance benefit to Rs 5.5 lakh for its over six crore members under its Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme. The EDLI scheme will be amended by a notification of the ministry. At present, in the case of demise of a subscriber after a continuous service of one year in the same organisation, the nominee gets 20 times of average wage drawn during the past 12 months with 20 per cent bonus on it. With the wage ceiling of Rs 15,000 per month, the maximum amount assured works out to be Rs 3.6 lakh.

The proposal provides the maximum benefit should be raised to 30 times of the average pay drawn during preceding 12 months in addition to 50 per cent of the average balance of the EPF account subject to a ceiling of Rs 1 lakh. Once approved, the maximum sum assured will increase to Rs 5.5 lakh. In the existing scheme, the subscribers with less than 12 months of service are entitled to a maximum sum of Rs 1.2 lakh. This category of subscribers is entitled to a sum assured which is equivalent to their average balance in the PF account if it is less than Rs 50,000. In case the PF balance is more than Rs 50,000, they are entitled to the same amount and in addition 40 per cent of the amount above Rs 50,000 subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs 1 lakh. They are also entitled to 20 per cent bonus overdue amount. Under the EDLI scheme, 0.5 per cent of the basic wages of workers are contributed as insurance premium every month.

ECONOMIC NEwS


HR fAccIA

True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. They help us advocate for ourselves and take a leadership position on the issues that we believe in.

We often don’t recognise true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. Thus, if you are asking the question, it may mean you are well along the road to being that role model already. Don’t stop now.

“Bet on the jockey, not the horse.” Like it or not, everyone looks to the entrepreneur as the jockey of a new business. Typically, this energises rookie start-up founders, but some struggle trying to live up to their own – as well as everyone else’s – expectations.

We certainly wouldn’t expect superhuman behaviour from the people looking to us for guidance, nor would we want them to expect flawless behaviour from themselves. If not flawless behaviour, what characteristics and actions do they look for? Here are some frequently mentioned ones:

1. Demonstrate confidence and leadership. A good role model is someone who is always positive, calm, and confident in themselves. You don’t want someone who is down or tries to bring you down. Everyone likes a person who is happy with how far they have come but continues to strive for bigger and better objectives.

2. Don’t be afraid to be unique. Whatever you choose to do with your life, be proud of the person you’ve become, even

if that means accepting some ridicule. You want role models who won’t pretend to be someone they are not, and won’t be a fake just to suit other people.

3. Communicate and interact with everyone. Good communication means listening as well as talking. People are energised by leaders who explain why and where they are going. Great role models know they have to have a consistent message, and repeat it over and over again until everyone understands.

4. Show respect and concern for others. You may be driven, successful, and smart, but whether you choose to show respect or not speak volumes about how other people see you. Everyone notices if you are taking people for granted, not showing gratitude, or stepping on others to get ahead.

5. Be knowledgeable and well rounded. Great role models aren’t just “teachers”. They are constant learners, challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zones, and surround themselves with smarter people. When team members see that their role model can be many things, they will learn to stretch themselves in order to be successful.

6. Have humility and willingness to admit mistakes. Nobody is perfect. When you make a bad choice, let those who are watching and learning from you know that you made a mistake and how you plan to correct it. By apologising, admitting your mistake, and accepting accountability, you will be demonstrating an often overlooked part of being a role model.

Johnee Praveen RChief People Officer

Did You KnowEngagement Credit Points (ECP) - It is an initiative taken to engage all levels of employees. Employees taking part in various activities or programmes will be awarded certain points which can be redeemed against certain gifts or paid holiday. Kindly refer HRMS>>Gallery for further information.

Lucky Redeemers of ECP

Dear Colleagues,

Be a Role Model for Others at Your Workplace

Ajaydev S Prabhu - AO Audit & Compliance

Amrutha P - Calicut Travel Division Vinu James - AO IT


The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-MasteryBy Robin S. Sharma (Author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”)

• A contented mind is a continual feast. Greed and material desires must be curbed to achieve lasting happiness and serenity. Be happy with what you have. Do you really need all of those material possessions? One can develop contentment just as one develops patience, courage, and concentration - with daily practice and sincere desire.

• Make a new friend or acquaintance every day. Keep an updated list of all contacts close at hand. Rich relationships are the DNA of a rich, rewarding life.

• Remember this ancient Indian proverb: “if you conquer your mind, you conquer the world”.

• Place greater importance on staying happy than amassing material possessions. A zest for life is developed and carefully nurtured through thoughtful activities and pursuits.

• Contrary to popular opinion, stress is not a bad thing. It allows us to perform at peak levels and can assist us through the flood of chemicals it releases within our bodies. What is harmful is too much stress, or more particularly, a lack of relief from stress. The times of stress must be balanced nicely with times of pure relaxation and leisure for us to be healthy and at our best. Many of the great leaders of our time were exposed to crushing workloads and the burdens of high office. But they prospered by developing strategies to balance the challenging times with fun and calming times. President Kennedy would have regular naps in his White House office. Winston Churchill had the same practice and slept for one hour every afternoon to stay alert, focused and calm. Not only is it essential to be physically relaxed to maintain optimal health but one must couple this trait with mental serenity. Too often people think that vigorous exercise, good nutrition, and pleasant leisure activities will be the panacea for all ills. These pursuits must be combined with positive thinking and peace of mind for true happiness and longevity.

(cont.)

HR PuzzlE 31

Upcoming Events & Competition Are you a writer? How creative can you get with your writing skills? We are happy to announce that we are hosting a “Writing contest” for all employees.

Participation points - 10 ECP

Winning points - 20 ECP

Topic: “My Life Inspired Role Model”

“If you can’t find a good Role Model, then be ONE”

Deadline: 15th November 2015

1. What loses its head in the morning and gets it back at night?

2. What is so delicate that even mentioning it breaks it?

3. I have eighty-eight keys, yet cannot open a single door, why?

Please send in your answers to [email protected] with HRPZL 31 as the subject line mentioning your employee code. From the first 50 answers, one lucky employee will get a surprise gift from HR.

HuRRY uP! Continued on page 28

A

FEATURE


I am scared of that!

the common symptoms of phobia are dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, sense of unreality, and fear of dying. In some cases, the situation can even escalate to panic attacks”

phobia is different from fear. The American Psychiatric Association defines phobia as an irrational and excessive fear of an object or situation. In most cases, the phobia involves a sense of endangerment or a fear of harm. The key to distinguishing fear from phobia is that while most people get the jitters if a spider crawls on their arm, people suffering from arachnophobia – the fear of spiders – are physically and/or psychologically impaired by it. The common symptoms of phobia are dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, sense of unreality, and fear of dying. In some cases, the situation can even escalate to panic attacks. But the good news is that most phobias can be treated with cognitive and behavioural therapy techniques.

Types of Phobias• Social phobias: fear of social situations• Agoraphobia: fear of being trapped in an inescapable place or situation• Specific phobias: fear of a specific objectThere are four major types of specific phobias:

• The natural environment: fear of lightening, water, storms, etc.• Animal: fear of snakes, rodents, spiders, etc.• Medical: fear of seeing blood, receiving injections, visiting a doctor, etc.• Situational: fear of bridges, leaving the home, driving, etc.

Here are ten common phobias.

1. Arachnophobia: The fear of spidersPeople with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbour spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also trigger fear.

2. Ophidiophobia: The fear of snakesFear of snakes is sometimes called by a more general term, herpetophobia, fear of reptiles and/or amphibians. An ophidiophobe would not only fear snakes when in live contact but also dreads to think about them or even see them in pictures.

17Xpressions - September 2015

3. Acrophobia: The fear of heightsMost people experience a degree of natural fear when exposed to heights, known as the fear of falling. Acrophobia sufferers can experience a panic attack in high places and become too agitated to get themselves down safely.

4. Cynophobia: The fear of dogsMost people who fear dogs are likely to encounter them in their day to day lives. This makes the phobic avoid all kinds of situations involving dogs. As a result, a person’s social, familial, or occupational activities can be negatively impacted.

5. Astraphobia: The fear of thunder and lighteningA person with astraphobia will often feel anxious during a thunderstorm even when they understand that the threat to them is minimal. Efforts are usually made to smother the sound of the thunder; the person may cover their ears or curtain the windows.

6. Pteromerhanophobia: The fear of flyingFear of flying may be a distinct phobia in itself, or it may be an indirect combination of one or more other disorders, such as claustrophobia (a phobia of being restricted, confined, or unable to escape) or acrophobia (anxiety or dread of being at a great height).

7. Aquaphobia: The fear of waterIt involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient’s control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realise the water in an ocean, a river, or even a bathtub poses no imminent threat.

8. Haemophobia: The fear of bloodSevere cases of this fear can cause physical reactions that are uncommon in most other fears, specifically fainting. Blood phobia is often caused by direct or vicarious trauma in childhood or adolescence. A study of twins suggests that social learning and traumatic events, rather than genetics, is of greater significance.

9. Theophobia: The fear of God Theophobes may avoid religious texts, houses of worship, and people who believe in deities. Theophobia may be expressed as fear, anger, or other negative emotion toward religious practitioners. Theophobic representation may categorise the deity as being not worthy of worship.

10. Nyctophobia: The fear of darknessIt is triggered by the brain’s disfigured perception of what would, or could, happen when in a dark environment. It can also be temporarily triggered if the mind is unsteady or scared about recent events or ideas, or a partaking in content the brain considers a threat.

TreatmentCognitive behavioural therapy involves exposure combined with other techniques to learn ways to view and cope with the feared object or situation differently. You learn alternative beliefs about your fears and the impact they have on your life. There’s special emphasis on learning to develop a sense of mastery and control of your thoughts and feelings.

Desensitisation or exposure therapy focuses on changing your response to the object or situation that you fear. Gradual, repeated exposure to the cause of your phobia may help you learn to conquer your anxiety. For example, if you’re afraid of elevators, your therapy may progress from simply thinking about getting into an elevator, to looking at pictures of elevators, to going near an elevator, to stepping into an elevator. Next, you may take a one-floor ride, then ride several floors, and then ride in a crowded elevator.

Relaxation therapy involves relaxation techniques such as breathing, retraining and exercise. This can help individuals cope effectively with the stresses and physical reactions related to their specific phobias.

Hypnotherapy can be sometimes

useful for relieving the symptoms of phobias. This helps patients go into a deep state of relaxation, in a state of enhanced awareness. While in this state, the conscious mind is less active, and the therapist is able to directly suggest ideas, concepts, and lifestyle changes to the patient’s subconscious mind. The goal of hypnotherapy in phobia treatment is to re-programme the patterns of negative behaviour.

Energy Psychology is a new approach to therapy that dramatically reduces emotional distress and restores emotional well-being by clearing the flow of the body’s “energy system”. Energy Psychology is also known as “energy-based psychotherapy,” or simply “energy therapy”. In this, the patient plays an active part in his/her own treatment and has complete control over the process.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is yet another treatment method developed by the American psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1987. The patient is told to focus on the image, negative thought, and body sensations related to the phobia while simultaneously moving their eyes back and forth. After the therapy, patients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated or greatly decreased, usually resulting in spontaneous behavioural change.

Medication is the last resort when therapies don’t work for curing phobias. There is little research on the use of medication and specific phobias. However, some people with situational-type phobias (i.e. flying) do note some benefit in taking anti-anxiety medications before confronting the feared situation.

Source: The Internet


CUSTOMER INtErvIEwS

Swami Atmachaithanya

Q: How did you reach this level?I reached this level through my hard work and inspiration for my achievement.

Q: What is your aim in life?My aim in life is to bring happiness and freedom for the mankind to lead each and everyone towards righteousness and unity.

Q: How should we live our life in your opinion?Each person should practise what he or she preaches. They should work to alleviate suffering from the society and they should be role models for others to follow. Always be kind and never be rude at all.

Dr. Vijayasardhi Q: How did you reach this level?At first, when I started my clinic with my wife, who also runs a clinic, I had only Rs. 100. I focused on providing service rather than chasing money. My friends discouraged me with many questions: “why did your buy land in Ambattur for your clinic? It is full of thieves”. But my dream and passion

towards my work helped me deliver my service at the doorsteps of my clients, spending sleepless nights. I didn’t know Tamil to properly commu-nicate with my patients. For learning the language, I decided to work in GH for free, doing dressing, stitching, and cleaning. I have been successfully run-ning Teja Hospital, which is now 30 years old. I understand the feelings of my patients, accept whatever they give me as a fee. They will refer my services to other people. I have been here till now only because of the people’s bless-ings for the services I provide.

Q: What is your success mantra?My success mantra is constant work, be it a Sunday, a birth anniversary of my dear ones, or a festival. We have to take rest only in two places. One is in a mother’s womb, and the other is in our tomb (where our souls rest in peace). Do your job without giving any reason.

Q: How did you feel when you did your first operation, fear or excite-ment?Of course, I felt a kind of excitement. Moreover, I wanted to prove to those who discouraged me by showing them

that I achieved what they told me I can’t. I will get a sense of relief when I do my job with full satisfaction. Fifteen years back I gave training, food, and shelter to 10 medical students in a year for free. I got nothing from doing that, but when those students tell me that they are in high positions because of me, I feel like flying in the air. There are certain things in the world that money can’t buy.

Q: What is your advice to our younger generation?The only constant thing in the world is change. They have to act accordingly with new technologies. They have to respect parents, and not leave them in ashrams. They have to keep running in order to stay wherever they are. Keep chasing life with confidence. Don’t waste your brain in foreign compa-nies. How much effort should we put to get our freedom? Will the souls of Gandhiji and Nehruji rest in peace when the younger generations are working for the British or for a foreign country? Make India clean. Since you are abroad, only you are clean. Work for your country.


VG NAIR wrItES

The Negative DisciplineThis is a simple Grandma

story, but an effective trigger, when given a

positive thought, but a bit sarcastic.A group of students from a remote

village walked to school regularly as the public transport facility was not frequent. On their way, they used to pray at the ‘Stone Turned Worship Place’ especially when there was a test, an inspection, or an anticipated punishment in class. Students used to offer valuable items, such as pencil bits, broken erasers, or flowers picked up on their way, as an advance bail from any possible punishments in the classroom.

One among the boys was a bit cheeky, threw stones at the idol whenever possible and teased all the others for their devotion to God. He continued his nasty behaviour despite warnings from his classmates about God’s punishments. Without fail, the boy continued his behaviour with a scornful look.

Surprisingly, one day, God appeared to them but they were all shocked to see that God spoke only to the impertinent boy. God was ready to give him anything he wished and asked as the boon. The others

were bewildered and pleaded with God for an explanation to such an ‘unethical’ act by their most dearly worshiped God.

God smiled to all and said in a very calm voice. “All your offerings to me have been accepted with thanks, but they were all for a selfish cause, often during a problem. This boy never had wished anything from me, but his selfless offerings of stones were perfect and regular. The fragrance and softness of the stones systematically delivered were unforgettable. His bold belief and behaviour which was very strong couldn’t be resisted, despite the negative attitude.”

Hearing this, the boy fell on His feet and prayed pardon to God as the boon for his misbehaviour, belief, and boldness. God blessed him with the boon of his wish.

God advised, “As youngsters you must possess all the qualities of discipline, consistency, and boldness to showcase your strength, but of course for a Good cause”.

Many a times we become slaves of selfishness and masters of indiscipline for opportunism. Let us clean the filth of sin from our minds and refresh ourselves.

Only when one is disciplined one will become perfect. Only when one is perfect it reflects in one’s personal life. One’s professional life is nothing but the mirror of one’s personal life. One’s productivity in one’s job is directly proportional to one’s personal or professional life.

“With faith, discipline, and selfless

devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve”. Mohamad Ali Jinnah


EXPEDITION

At last the long awaited day had come. I was about to fly to England with all the

excitement to experience another culture and lifestyle. I was one among the 20 students and 2 teachers selected to visit England as a part of the student exchange programme with the Cranbrook English Grammar School, Kent, UK.

As instructed by our teachers, we had all reported by 6 am at the Cochin International Airport. As soon as our teachers reported, we said bye to our families and checked in. Every minute was thrilling, taking ‘selfies’, with full of excitement while we were waiting in the lounge. An interesting movement caught our attention and we realised it was Miya, a movie artist who was also travelling. More photographs and interactions followed, and it was time to board our flight to Mumbai. We had already started imagining ourselves in the UK, meeting our host families.

We travelled by Jet Airways scheduled for 9 am and arrived at Mumbai airport by 11.30 am. We were taken to the International Airport by bus. Soon, we checked into the international flight and we were off to England. A long 9-hour flight…

eating, playing games, watching movies, etc. For some of my friends, it was their first experience on an international flight. It was all fun. We landed at the Heathrow Airport by 5.30 pm. We checked out soon after emigration formalities.

We were received by Mr Terry Davis at the Heathrow Airport. A tourist coach was waiting and immediately as we boarded, we were asked to fasten our seat belts (something we have never done for a bus journey). Served with some biscuits we all went for a short nap as tiredness and jetlag made us drowsy.

On arrival at the Cranbrook School, we were welcomed by our host families and teachers who were also eagerly waiting for us. I was very pleased to meet my host family, especially my friend Jess. Cheerfully, we all proceeded to our respective homes. On our way, my host family introduced their place to me which was very fascinating. I was getting prepared to live in a forest area of this beautiful countryside. Their lifestyle was so interesting.

I got an opportunity to visit the British Museum which is one of the

world’s most visited museums and covers an astonishing range of cultures, ages, and types of materials. Today, the museum reflects many moments of past history. It has a collection of graphic art from the East and the West and paintings from Asia. The museum was too crowded and too large to be covered in a day.

The next interesting visit was to the ‘Cutty Sark’. This is a British clipper ship (“clipper” means “the fastest ship”) that used to carry tea leaf from China to Europe. The Cutty Sark’s unusual name was derived from a poem by Robert Burns called ‘Tam o’ Shanter’. The Cutty Sark was a masterpiece, the pinnacle of sailing ship design. Her fastest journey to china was to shanghai in 89 days, and her fastest journey home was 109 days from Hankou. Cutty Sark usually spends at least a month in china and the whole voyage from London and back again could be 10 months or more.

The Greenwich meridian line separating the Eastern and the Western hemispheres is marked with stainless steel since 16th December 1999. This has been marked by a powerful green laser shining across the London night sky. This is yet another place of


tourist interest. The meridian reminds us of the equator which separates the Northern and the Southern hemispheres.

We were taken for a cruise along the longest river in England - River Thames. Moving through the river we saw the most attractive places in London. We passed through the famous London Bridge, London Eye, the giant Ferris Wheel, House of Parliament, and Big Ben. We reached Big Ben by 12:00 noon and had a chance to hear the chiming of that huge clock. The clock tower which is situated at the north end of the Parliament was completed in 1858. Places in London have a wonderful collection of images from United Kingdom’s most famous sights.

On reaching ‘Westminster’, we took a walk through the House of Parliament. We proceeded to the St. James Park and enjoyed our packed lunch feeding the ducks and swans alongside. From there we moved to ‘The Buckingham Palace’ which was the Queen’s palace. The British flag flying high marked the presence of the Queen in the palace even though we could not see her.

We could also visit a few other places during the short stay of 10 days. Cranbrook, Canterbury, Rye, Camber Sands, Bodiam Castle, and Brighton were some of the most marvellous

and incredible places. Needless to say, London city was the most sorted out but I could just cover one-fifth of London city for its vastness and our lack of time. I just got a day with the school and two other days with my host family to visit London. Three days were just insufficient. Given a chance, I wish to make it later.

The trip was amazing and a memorable one. I would like to thank God almighty for protecting me all through this trip, my parents, who supported me, and the teachers who guided us throughout our way.

Minu GerogeDaughter of MD Mr V George Antony


Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE is a historic

railway station designed by Frederick William Stevens, built in the area of Bori Bunder in 1887. Architecture is a blend revived from Victorian, Italian, Gothic, and traditional Mughal art. CST serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. It was built to remember the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. Today, the CST is one of the busiest railway stations in India, providing a platform for both long-distance trains and commuter trains connecting Mumbai Suburban Railway.

Mumbai being a busy trading centre also had many storehouses for goods imported and exported. Bori Bunder was one such region of storage. “Bori” means sack and “bunder” means port. So Bori Bunder literally means a place where sacks are stored. In the 1850s, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway

built its railway terminus in this area and the station was named Bori Bunder. On 16th April 1853 the Great Indian Peninsula Railway operated the historic first passenger train in India from Bori Bunder to Thane covering a distance of 34 km, formally heralding the birth of the Indian Railways. The train between Bori Bunder and Thane took 57 minutes to cover a distance of 35 km.

The Bori Bunder station was eventually rebuilt as the Victoria Terminus, named after then reigning Queen. It was renamed later as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in honour of the Great King Chhatrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Kingdom. This was a step taken by Suresh Kalmadi who was the Minister of Railways in 1996. In 2008, the station was featured prominently in the Academy Award winning film, Slumdog Millionaire.

The station took ten years to

INSIGHT

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

complete, the longest for any building of that era in Bombay. This famous architectural landmark in a Gothic-revival style was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Since then, the station came to be known as Bombay VT (railway code-BBVT). Even the ancillary buildings which were added at a later stage had been designed to harmonise with the main structure. A new station to handle mainline traffic was erected in 1929. The original building is still in use to handle suburban traffic and is used by over three million commuters daily.

Being designed in the High Victorian Gothic style of architecture, the building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture. The skyline, turrets, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture.


Externally, the wood carving, tiles, ornamental iron and brass railings, grills for the ticket offices, the balustrades for the grand staircases and other ornaments were the work of students at the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art. This building stands as an architectural marvel of the 19th century.

Considered to be one of the finest products of railway and civil engineering, it was also the first construction where industrial revolution technology merged with Gothic revival style in India. CST’s dome of dovetailed ribs, built without centering, was considered as a novel achievement of the era. The interior consisted of high ceilings and a series of large rooms which was a utilitarian building which required on and off changes as suggested by users. It has a

C-shaped plan which is symmetrical on an east-west axis. It is crowned by a high central dome, which acts as the focal point. The dome is an octagonal ribbed structure with a colossal female figure symbolizing progress, holding a torch pointing upwards in her right hand and a spiked wheel in her left hand. The columns of the entrance gates are crowned by figures of a lion (representing Great Britain) and a tiger (representing India). The main structure is built with a mixture of Indian sandstone and limestone. The key decorative areas are built with high-quality Italian marbles. The Star Chamber used as the booking office has a merge of Italian marble and polished Indian blue stone.

The interior was painted in multicolour with strong blue, red, and gold, also using glazed tiles. Outside

statues representing Commerce, Engineering, Agriculture, and Science were also depicted.There is a statue on behalf of Progress on the Central dome.

The CST has 18 platforms from which the first 14 open directly into the central hall. Plans are gradually taking shape to upgrade Mumbai CST by means of a public-private partnership. The local trains are instrumental in keeping this station busy. Ultimately seven out of the 18 platforms are for local trains while the rest are for long distance trains.

It is not a surprise for CST to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We Indians need to preserve such treasured sites with respect and awe along with the pride of owning it.

the bori bunder station was eventually rebuilt as the victoria terminus, named after then reigning Queen. It was renamed later as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus”


Green tea, native to China and India, has been consumed and hailed for its health

benefits for centuries globally, but has only recently gained popularity in the US. Green tea was used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health, and regulate body temperature. Recent studies have shown green tea can potentially have positive effects on everything from weight loss to liver disorders to type 2 diabetes. All types of tea except herbal tea are brewed from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. The level of oxidation of the leaves determines the type of tea. Green tea is made from un-oxidised leaves and is one of the less processed types of tea (with white tea the least) and, therefore, contains one of the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.It gifts a healthy heart: Regular consumption of green tea has been known to reduce overall cholesterol levels, especially the bad LDL cholesterol which ultimately reduces the risk of heart attacks and heart diseases. Green tea also dramatically increases the antioxidant capability of the blood, which protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, which is one part of the pathway towards heart disease.

It combats allergies: Green tea may need to be added to your allergy season arsenal. Drinking the green liquid may provide some relief, as it’s been proven to be anti-allergenic; a specific compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), appears to be the most

potent. A 2007-study published in the journal Cytotechnology found the tea polyphenol can reduce pollen allergies. This is the first time a methylated form of EGCG can block the IgE receptor — the key receptor involved in an allergic response. It can elicit a stronger anti-allergenic response than normal EGCG, which makes it the strongest anti-allergen compound found in tea. Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonol in tea, can also alleviate a histamine response.

It leads you back to your skinny pants: Green tea increases metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories. Several studies (including research at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences) show that green tea leads to decrease in body fat, especially in the abdominal area. One of these studies was a randomised controlled trial in 240 men and women that went on for 12 weeks. In this study, the green tea group had a significant decrease in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference and abdominal fat. However, some studies don’t show statistically significant increase in weight loss with green tea, so this needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Some studies show that green tea leads to increased weight loss. It is particularly effective at reducing the dangerous abdominal fat.

It soothes arthritis: To cut down on aches and pains, try to sip four cups of green tea a day. The tea contains quercetin, a chemical compound that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory

and antioxidant. In a recent study conducted at Case Western Reserve University, researchers gave mice the equivalent of four cups of green tea a day, and then gave them a substance that would normally produce rheumatoid arthritis. The tea-drinking mice were far less likely to develop arthritis than mice that drank water. According to the Iowa Women’s Health Study, women who drank more than three cups of tea a day were 60 per cent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than non-tea drinkers. Another research has found that tea’s polyphenols—antioxidant properties—are also anti-inflammatory and improve arthritis-related immune responses.

It makes you more intelligent: Drink tea and be smarter! According to a study from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Switzerland, sipping on green tea enhances memory. Until last year, the effects of green tea on cognitive function were speculative, but with the improvements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Dr. Stefan Borgwardt could view the increased connectivity in the cortices of the brain after consumption of green tea. Specifically, green tea drinkers showed increased connectivity in key parts of the brain associated with memory. The study used healthy male volunteers and found that when given a soft drink containing green tea extract, those consuming green tea extract not only showed increased connectivity in parts of the brain but also improved performance on working memory tasks as well.

HEALTH corNEr

thE SIMplE woNDEr cAllED

gREEn tEA


The 12 organs in our body own 2 hours each in a day according to the relevant time of the

organ clock. In traditional Chinese medicine, diagnosis and treatment are based on the dynamic theory of energy flow. This energy flow is continuous in our body in a definite path. This vital energy is termed as `Qi’, which has three levels - superficial, deep, and intermediate. Human body’s mechanism is a miracle and it always sticks to nature. The peak time for each organ is 2 hours. Of course, this theory surprises anyone at the first sight but seen deeply, the practical bio-rhythmic activity can be identified. Lungs (3 am - 5 am): The Lungs govern the voice, respiratory system, sweat, skin health, and immune system. So, recharging the lungs with sleep is particularly important if you have issues in any of these areas. Ayurvedic physicians, siddhars, rishis, and naturopaths of the earlier times used to wake up at 3.00 am, which is defined as Brahmamuhuratha time. This particular time is probably good for breathing exercises.

Large intestine or colon (5 am - 7 am): The next is large intestine’s time from 5 am to 7 am when the bowel is emptied. Proper evacuation is needed. If failed, particular large intestine points are needed to take care of the problem.

Stomach (7 am - 9 am): As this is the peak stomach time, the digestive function is optimal at this time. So,

SHE

Clock Theory for Human Organs

this is the perfect time of the day to eat your breakfast.

Spleen (9 am - 11 am): It carries out the digestion of your breakfast at this time. So, if you’re running a bit late and having breakfast at these hours, it’s still an approved time to eat. Feel tired and sleepy at this time is an indication to diabetic symptoms in later life.

Heart (11 am - 1 pm): The emotions of the heart are happiness, enthusiasm, and restfulness. Any physical problem at this time, such as aches or pains, or energy dips, may be linked with blockages in feeling your heart’s full joy, which may lead to cardiac problems. Usually, cardiac patients sweat a lot and feel suffocation.

Small intestines (1 pm - 3 pm): The small intestine time is a brilliant time to eat lunch. A complete digestion is supposed to be done to maintain the whole body health. Those who skip or don’t fulfil the food intake may suffer from insufficient food energy.

Bladder (3 pm - 5 pm): Salty foods strengthen the bladder. So, drinking a cup of savoury miso soup would be beneficial at this time for urinary bladder, which looks after spine, sense organs, internal organs, kidney, and urinary bladder disorders.

Kidneys (5 pm - 7 pm): Avoid things like watching horror movies at this time because it can weaken your kidneys. The kidney is also closely linked with willpower, security, feelings of aloofness and isolation. The kidney is also strengthened by salty foods.

Pancreas (7 pm - 9 pm): Likewise, 7 pm to 9 pm is for pericardium, where the psychiatric and cardiac patients are treated. Some sources associate this

time with good circulation and peak reproductive function.

Blood vessels and arteries (9 pm - 11 pm): This time controls the endocrine system, reproductive organs, and temperature in our body.

Gallbladder (11 pm -1 am): This is a special organ for insomnia and muscular pain.

Liver (1 am - 3 am): Liver is the store room of our body. If this is disturbed, the body is terribly tired, eyes burn, leading to total weakness. The liver is also important in detoxifying body toxins. It’s a good idea to be asleep at these hours to allow maximal energy to be diverted for detoxification. This explains why an early night’s sleep is congruent with a healthy body and mind.

Again, the day starts with the cyclic flow to complete 24 hours for 12 organs. We have to stick to nature’s time for a better living. Biological clocks govern every living, in motion, rest, sleep, chemical composition, excretion, and regulation of tissue fluids and organs. The circulation is repeated for every twenty-four hour, which is called a circadian rhythm.

(Inspired from books read about Acupuncture Treatment)

N Vidhya, RO – Trichy


The drop of SunshineIn the dawn of springtime,Rises from the frozen winter,With hope.

There’s somethingLeft in us to share-The hope for serene,And the love to care.

It’s a journey

MY ScrIbblES

St. Mary’s High SchoolUAE Exchange India conducted CSR activity of sponsoring sports equipment for the students of St. Mary’s High School, Vallarpadam. The function was held along with the school’s Onam celebrations in the presence of Church Patron Headmistress Ms Rani, PTA president, staffs, and students. A total of 10 footballs, 10 hockey sticks, and 5 volleyballs were handed over to the students.

Hidayathul Islam High SchoolUAE Exchange India, as part of its corporate social responsibility, conducted CSR activity at Hidayathul Islam High School, Mulavukad, in the presence of Headmaster Mr Majeed, staff, and students. Banking Segment Head Mr Sibi Sebastian and Business Promotion Head Mr Hari were also present at the function representing the company. UAE Exchange India presented a cheque of Rs. 10,900 for the purchase of sports equipment for the school.

SOCIAL coMMItMENtS

HopeIn a bad weather;No song sounds sillyIf sung together.

We have been throughSo much in life;Hope not to leaveThings undone.

Everything will fallInto place on time;Hoping, dreaming

Harmony and peace.

The drop of SunshineIn the dawn of springtime,Rises from the frozen winter,With hope.

Someday the world,Will have springs alone;And it will be a Better place to live.

Sinoj ThoppilHO - Logistics & Monitoring

Model Residential SchoolUAE Exchange India Kodungallur branch sponsored trophies and medals for the winners of the sports meet conducted by Model Residential School, Keezhmad, Kodungallur. The MRS Sports Day 2015-16 conducted by the school was a grand success with a number of events and activities held.

uae exchange india SpoNSorS SportS EqUIpMENt


MAMbAZHA PACHADIMake your lunch extra tasty with the spicy Mambazha Pachadi.

IngredientsRipe mangoes (sweet) - 1 bigJaggery - 1 small pieceGrated coconut - ½ cupTurmeric powder - ¼ tspRed chili powder - 1 ¼ tspCumin / Jeera - ¼ tspMustard seeds - ½ tspGreen chili - 1 or 2Dry red chilies - 3 or 4Coconut oil - 2 tbspCurry leaves - A fewSalt - To taste

Let’s start to make the dish

1) Cut the mangoes in small pieces (no need to remove the skin).2) Put the cut pieces along with the mango seed in a vessel.3) Cook the mangoes by adding some water along with turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt.4) After it gets half-cooked, add grated jaggery and mix well.5) Grind the grated coconut with green chili, cumin seeds, half portion of mustard seeds.6) Add the coconut mix into the mangos. Do not add too much water. It should have a thick consistency.7) Heat another pan with oil and splutter mustard seeds with dry red chilies and curry leaves.8) Pour the seasoning to the curry.

Your sweet and spicy Mambazha Pachadi is ready!

HEALtHy VEGEtAbLE SOuPHave food not only for your taste buds but also for your health! You can take a vegetable health tonic daily at your dinner time. It’s very easy to prepare.

Ingredients (use all available vegetables)

Carrot - 1/2 cup gratedCabbage - ½ cup choppedSpinach - ½ cup choppedBeans - ¼ cup choppedCauliflower - 1/2 cup choppedPotato - 1 small cup choppedTomato - 1 choppedGaram masala - ½ tspOnion - 1 small choppedGarlic - 2 tbsp choppedPepper powder - 2 tbsp / as tasteSalt - as requiredOlive/coconut oil/Butter - 1 tbspWater - 4 cup

Method

1)Heat oil / butter in a pan.2)Add chopped garlic and onion to sauté.3)Sauté for a while and add all the chopped vegetables along with garam masala and sauté for 2 more minutes.4)Take a small portion of these vegetables and make it into a paste.5)Add 4 cups of water into the remaining vegetables in the pan and boil the same until the vegetables are cooked well.6)Add the vegetable paste into the mix and mix well.7)Remove the pan from fire and sprinkle pepper powder as per your taste.

Have your healthy soup hot!

Riya Mini Varma

THE COOK’S ArENA

Branch Name Date of JoiningZONAL OFFICE - KARNATAKA M GOPINATH 01-08-2000KASARAGOD (KAS) SURESH KUMAR.K 01-08-2000UPPALA(UPP) NITHIN.K 17-08-2000KOLLAM - PALLIMUKKU (KOP) ANNIE AMMA MALAKHI 17-08-2000RO - PALAKKAD K.A.JAYAN THOMAS 17-08-2000KOTTAYAM (KOT) MIKIE GEORGE 17-08-2000MANGALORE - BALMATA (MAN) MANJULA S RAO 28-08-2000KOTTAYAM (KOT) ANISH MANI THOMAS 27-08-2001AO - PRODUCT OPERATIONS A. PRABAKARAN 29-08-2001PUTTUR(PUT) SANGEETHA P M 02-08-2002RO - TRIVANDRUM SHAJAHAN S 02-08-2002BANGALORE - KORAMANGALA (BAK) VIJAYALAKSHMI RAI D 05-08-2002UPPALA(UPP) SATHISH KUMAR K 05-08-2002MANIPAL (MAI) RESHMA SHETTY 05-08-2002RO - PUNJAB I MANZOOR AHMED 07-08-2002AO - EXPORT (KOCHI) LEENA PHILIP 12-08-2002CORPORATE SALES - CHENNAI DHANALAXMI MARIYA 12-08-2002NEYYATTINKARA (NEY) SREEKALA S 26-08-2002

AO - TRAVEL SUJITH KUMAR M 01-08-2003IRINJALAKUDA (IRI) BISTO K T 01-08-2003AO - ACCOUNTS SHYJO JOSE 02-08-2004GURGAON (GUR) KRISHNA KANT PANDEY 02-08-2004ERNAKULAM - PT USHA ROAD (ERA) ANOOJ KRISHNAN 02-08-2004MATTANUR (MAT) GEORGE SAMUEL 02-08-2004ORATHANADU (OTD) L RAMESH 02-08-2004AO - IT DIVISION SANDEEP RAVINDRANATH 01-08-2005PATNA (PAA) JYOTI PRAKASH PATEL 01-08-2005PATNA (PAA) MANOJ KUMAR 01-08-2005SIWAN (SIW) SATYA PRAKASH 01-08-2005

IATA OFFICE - DELHI DEVENDER SINGH BISHT 08-08-2005

VISAKHAPATNAM (VIS) AKULA SRINIVAS KUMAR 08-08-2005

MUMBAI - ANDHERI(MUM) DHARMESH R KAMBLI 16-08-2005

AO - TRAVEL SREEJITH M K 22-08-2005

MYSORE (MYS) B SRIDHAR 22-08-2005

KALIKAPUR (HOW) GOBINDA SAHA 22-08-2005

MANNARKKAD (MKD) RADHAKRISHNAN M.V 22-08-2005


Congratulations to those who joined in the month of August and have completed 10

and more years in the company!

Continued from page 15, HR Faccia

Answers to HR Puzzle 30

Winner of HR Puzzle 30 is Ms B. Srilatha, Sircilla Auto Nagar branch, Nizamabad region.

MATRIMONIO BELLS

Mr Raghuraj Poovatta and Mr JijinaPayangadi branch

Mr Deepak R and Mr AkhilaKayamkulam branch

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENtOnAM CELEbRAtIOn Onam is a festival of colours and flowers. The words from the poem Onam by Mr Murukan Kattakkada, a well-known poet of the era, that comes to one’s mind are: “Ormmaykku peraanithonam, poorva nerinte ninavaanithonam...” The line continues and our memories too. As far as a Malayalee is concerned, Onam is a festival that is celebrated by everyone, irrespective of caste and religion. It connects us with the memories of our old days when we plucked and gathered flowers and made pookkalam (flower carpet). This festival is directly linked with nature: it is celebrated with flowers. Onam depicts our unity through the unity of flowers in the pookkalam. A good pookkalam comes from proper unity among the flowers used in it; a good pookkalam is a sign of a good society that is united.

This year, Onam was celebrated in all the branches in Kerala. Kasaragod branch of UAE Exchange India came together to decorate the branch with flower carpet and shared happiness with each other to make the day special and memorable.

29Xpressions - September 2015

InfosysAs part of connecting corporates, Hyderabad region of UAE Exchange India conducted brand awareness campaign at Infosys, Pocharam, Hyderabad, on 14th August 2015. Regional Head Mr T Rajendrakumar took a special session on stress management for the employees. About 80 persons participated in the session.

BAR AssociationUAE Exchange India’s Hyderabad region, along with Hyderabad Liberty branch, conducted brand awareness campaign in Metropolitan Criminal Courts BAR Association, Hyderabad. About 80 advocates, along with BAR Association President Mr Kondareddy, were present at the meeting. Special session on stress management was conducted by regional Head Mr T Rajendrakumar.

bRAnD AwAREnESS PROGRAMMEUAE Exchange India Hyderabad region conducted brand awareness programmes among professionals of the locality. The programme included stress management session conducted by Regional Head Mr T Rajendrakumar, who is a black belt and Taekwondo champion.


SPECIAL DAYS

FAMILY DAYSEPTEMBER 28

As the name suggests, Family Day is an event that is intended to allow loved ones to take a respite from their daily

lives and spend quality time together. One of the best things about this occasion is that there is no single “requirement” for the activities to be celebrated; Family Day is as flexible as it is relaxing. Unsurprisingly, this day is held at different times of the year within different parts of the world. Still, the overall intention is the same. As all of us are leading increasingly hectic schedules, this day is intended to give us a bit of leisure time outside of the “hustle and bustle” of our routines. Some may choose to have a festive meal together while others may instead attend a religious best-known event or simply take a picnic. Either way, this day is one of the best ways to remind us of the importance of family in our lives.

WORLD HEART DAYSEPTEMBER 29

The World Heart Day was founded in 2000 to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death. World Heart Day

is an annual event which takes place on 29th September every year. Each year’s celebrations have a different theme, reflecting key issues and topics relating to heart health. This year, the theme is “creating heart-healthy environments”. The places in which we live, work, and play should not increase our risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But individuals frequently cannot make heart-healthy choices due to environmental factors, such as the availability of healthy food or smoke-free zones. Together with World Heart Federation members, World Heart Day spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from CVD could be avoided if four main risk factors – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol – are controlled. The success of World Heart Day depends on the proactivity of organisations from around the world to help us spread awareness of CVD, the world’s number one killer.

The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival, founded in 1932, is the oldest film festival in the world. The film festival is part of the

Venice Biennale which was founded by the Venetian City Council in 1895. The Biennale consists today of a range of separate events including the International Art Exhibition, the International Festival of Contemporary Music, the International Theatre Festival, the International Architecture Exhibition, the International Festival of Contemporary Dance, the International Kids’ Carnival, and the annual Venice Film Festival, which is probably the best known event. The first edition of the Venice Film Festival was carried out from the 6 to the 21 of August

in 1932. The festival was considered the first international event of its type, receiving strong support from authorities. Initially, there was no actual jury. Instead, the awards were assigned by the President of the Biennale, after listening to the opinions of both experts and audiences, and in accordance with the “National Institute for Educational Cinema”. Another award was the “Great Gold Medals of the National Fascist Association for Entertainment” to best actor and actress. Since its inception, the Film Festival has become the most prestigious international film festival in the world.

VENICE FILM FESTIVALFROM 6 TO 21 AUGUST

THE FUN SIDE

Employee: Sir, I want to go early today to attend the funeral of my uncle.Manager: OK

Manager: Well there is now. After you left early yesterday to go to your uncle’s funeral, he came here looking for you.

Manager: Do you believe in life after death?Employee: No sir, there is no proof of it.

Ann Susan PaulAO Digital Marketing

Serene Abraham

Documents

Volume 15 Issue 06 | September 2015 · came to our residence with a flower bouquet and wished us a happy and pleasant journey. We were very happy on his gesture. We reached Port Blair