Category: Social

Social

Zuno General Insurance Revives ‘Talking Zebra’ Road Safety Campaign as Goa Records 430 Accidents in 2025

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Goa, February 2026: Amid rising road accident concerns, Zuno General Insurance (formerly Edelweiss General Insurance) has revived its road safety awareness initiative with an updated campaign titled “Talking Zebra Returns.” The activation comes as Goa recorded 430 road accidents in 2025, underscoring the need for sustained public awareness and behavioural change on roads.


Aligned with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Road Safety Awareness Month and IRDAI’s directive encouraging insurers to promote road safety, the campaign aims to make safe driving practices more engaging, visible, and memorable. This year’s edition adds a creative dimension by pairing the Talking Zebra with a mime artist, who visually demonstrates everyday road safety practices such as stopping at zebra crossings, wearing helmets, waiting for traffic signals, and yielding to pedestrians.

Unlike conventional awareness drives, the initiative adopts a positive reinforcement approach, acknowledging and appreciating commuters who follow traffic rules. The campaign is being rolled out at high-footfall traffic signals across eight cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa and Guntur.

Speaking on the initiative, Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO, Zuno General Insurance, said the company believes road safety is a shared responsibility and that positive nudges can play a powerful role in improving driving behaviour. She added that initiatives like Talking Zebra complement Zuno’s broader efforts, including its telematics-led SmartDrive motor insurance that rewards safe driving and offers crash-detection support through smartphone technology.

Highlighting the urgency of such initiatives, national data continues to place India among the countries with the highest road accident and fatality rates globally. Reports indicate that India witnesses an average of 53 crashes and 92 deaths every hour, with Goa alone recording over 1,000 accident-related deaths between 2019 and 2023.

Ketan Mankikar, Head of Marketing & Communications at Zuno General Insurance, noted that Talking Zebra has evolved into a platform that keeps road safety part of everyday public conversation. By recognising good driving behaviour through humour and human interaction, the campaign seeks to make responsible road use aspirational and visible.

With Talking Zebra Returns, Zuno General Insurance continues its efforts to move beyond awareness, encouraging safer roads through behavioural change, community engagement, and technology-led support systems.

Social

JCI Vasco Organises Blood Donation Camp at St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim

Tanisha Cardozo

A Blood Donation Camp was organised by JCI Vasco in collaboration with GMC Blood Bank, St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, the Red Ribbon Club, and the Microbiology Faculty on 5th February 2026 at the college premises. The initiative aimed to create awareness about voluntary blood donation and encourage students and staff to actively contribute towards saving lives.

The camp received an encouraging response, with 31 donors registering for the initiative. After medical screening, 20 units of blood were successfully collected, reinforcing the impact of community participation in addressing critical healthcare needs.

With the dedicated support of the organising team, medical professionals from GMC Blood Bank, faculty members, and student volunteers, the event was conducted smoothly and efficiently. Beyond blood collection, the camp also served as an awareness drive, highlighting how a small act of donation can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

The initiative reflected JCI Vasco’s continued commitment to social responsibility and community welfare, inspiring young individuals to step forward and participate in life-saving causes.

Social

IREDA Wins Silver at Green Urja Awards for Excellence in Women in Green Energy

Tanisha Cardozo

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has been awarded the Silver Award under the category “Excellence Award for Women in Green Energy and Energy Efficiency” at the 6th Green Urja and Energy Efficiency Awards organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi on February 4, 2026. The award recognises IREDA’s sustained commitment towards promoting gender inclusivity and empowering women professionals within India’s renewable energy sector.

The award was presented by Shri Anil Razdan, Former Secretary (Power), along with other dignitaries, and was received on behalf of IREDA by Mrs. Mala Ghosh Choudhury, General Manager (HR); Ms. Durre Shahwar, General Manager (HR); and Mrs. Punnu Grover, Chief Compliance Officer, along with other women officers of the organisation.

Congratulating the team on the achievement, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director of IREDA, stated that the recognition reflects the organisation’s consistent efforts to create a supportive and inclusive workplace. He emphasised that women professionals at IREDA are encouraged to grow, lead and contribute meaningfully to India’s clean energy journey. With women constituting around 23 per cent of its workforce, among the highest in Central Public Sector Enterprises, IREDA believes that empowering women is crucial to building a strong, resilient and future-ready clean energy ecosystem.

The CMD also expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, the Hon’ble Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, the Secretary of MNRE, the Board of Directors and all stakeholders for their continued guidance and support. The recognition further reinforces IREDA’s role as a key enabler of India’s renewable energy ambitions while championing diversity, inclusion and sustainable development.

Social

Vedanta Sesa Goa Promotes Community Well-being at Mayem Marathon 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Vedanta Sesa Goa, a leading iron ore producer with a legacy of more than seven decades in Goa, partnered with the Shri Mahamaya High-School Ex-Students Association for the Mayem Marathon 2026, held in Bicholim. The marathon has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated community sporting events and witnessed an overwhelming response this year, with over 1,500 participants from across the state.

The event featured multiple race categories, including 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 3 km runs, along with dedicated races for school students across various age groups. The wide range of categories highlighted the inclusive nature of the marathon and encouraged participation from both seasoned runners and first-time participants.

Several dignitaries were present on the occasion, including Shri Premendra Shet, Hon’ble MLA for Mayem Constituency, and Guest of Honour Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager, Goa Tourism Development Corporation. Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish, Deputy CEO, Vedanta Iron Ore Goa, along with prominent community leaders, also attended the event. Vedanta Sesa Goa has been associated with all three editions of the Mayem Marathon under its ‘YouTheChange, YouThePower’ initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Premendra Shet said the Mayem Marathon 2026 reflected the strong spirit of fitness, inclusivity and togetherness within the community. He appreciated Vedanta Sesa Goa for partnering with the marathon for the third consecutive year and acknowledged the company’s wider CSR contributions in the region, including the restoration of the historic Maem Bandhara and the establishment of computer centres and modern laboratories aimed at empowering youth.

Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish said Vedanta remains committed to fostering a healthier and more sustainable future for the communities it serves. He added that the Mayem Marathon stands as a powerful example of collective action, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together on a common platform, and expressed gratitude to the organisers, dignitaries and the Bicholim community for making the event a success.

Vedanta Sesa Goa continues to promote community well-being through partnerships in initiatives such as the Republic Run and the Mayem Marathon. Through its flagship CSR programme, the Sesa Football Academy, the company also conducts football camps and tournaments including the Vedanta Women’s League, Vedanta Youth Cup and Vedanta Football Championship. These initiatives reflect Vedanta Sesa Goa’s ongoing efforts to foster a culture of health, fitness and holistic development across Goa.

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‘United by Unique’: Manipal Hospital Goa Celebrates World Cancer Day with Patients

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Panaji, 4 February 2026: Manipal Hospital Goa commemorated World Cancer Day 2026 with a heartfelt celebration for its cancer patients, reflecting the global theme, ‘United by Unique’. The occasion featured a simple yet meaningful cake-cutting ceremony, aimed at spreading positivity, hope, and emotional support among patients undergoing treatment.

Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and caregivers joined the patients during the celebration, reinforcing Manipal Hospital Goa’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centric care.

Representatives from the hospital emphasized that cancer care extends beyond medical treatment. “World Cancer Day reminds us that cancer care is not just about medicines and procedures. Empathy, encouragement, and emotional support are equally critical in a patient’s journey,” they said.

Observed globally on 4 February, World Cancer Day promotes awareness, early detection, prevention, and access to quality care for all. Initiatives like this underscore Manipal Hospital Goa’s focus on holistic healing and emotional support for patients and their families.

About Manipal Hospitals:
A leading healthcare provider in India, Manipal Hospitals serves over 8 million patients annually across 49 hospitals in 24 cities. With 12,600 licensed beds, a talented pool of 11,000+ doctors, and over 34,000 employees, the network provides comprehensive curative and preventive care. Manipal Hospitals is AAHRPP accredited, with most facilities recognized by NABH, NABL, and for Nursing Excellence.