Author: tucson

IamHere brings people with similar interests and hobbies together and provides an easier search for professionals in your area.

IamHere is a Bengaluru-based hyperlocal community network centered around the idea of collaboration and hyperlocal discovery. Its founders, BITs alumni, have decided to utilize their skills to make your neighbourhood feel more connected.

This app currently works for Bengaluru only, and here one can tag themselves as dancer, foodie, doctor, fitness trainer, etc. These people will then show up on the map and will be able to connect with others through chats, events, and stories.

The Origin of IamHere

Naren, Deepa, and Rajesh all three had exemplar careers following their engineering. Naren worked for Cisco and Schneider Electric, Rajesh for startups, and also in Oracle and Juniper. Meanwhile, Deepa in Amazon and Redbus had gained profound product management experience. 

In the last year, they have put together a brilliant team of people from Flipkart, Micromax, and other such companies. Their friends from companies like Nokia, Deloitte, and Myntra also helped in setting up the prototype. They started off with an investment of 10 lakh and now have over 20,000 users.

The USP of IamHere is its top-notch user experience, ensuring a better way of connecting with people in a couple of minutes. It also protects privacy and maintains the anonymity of its users. There are other apps aimed to bring people together, but they either deal with very specific hobbies, or apps like Whatsapp, which limits itself to those on your contact list. 

While Google can map places, but you can’t find people on it. And Facebook wouldn’t get you those who are nearby. These are doing great work on their own, in their spaces.

But unlike these, IamHere delivers a hyperlocal alternative by putting people on a map with their interests and hobbies. Iamhere provides a one-stop shop for all of your hyperlocal needs. 

The Backers

The first 1,000 users were friends, acquaintances, and such, after which people of Bengaluru were free to join. Partnerships with organizations like World Bank, Sunday Soul Sante, and Ramaiah helped in bringing a much-needed user base to the platform. Small businesses were also brought on to better help them in finding clients and distributors. 

By signing an MoU with Guidestar India, IamHere is going to conduct the biggest gathering of NGOs in India. This will aid people in finding them and know about their mission, campaigns, and how they can donate to them. The idea of this is to create a service akin to Uber and Google Maps but with NGOs.

There are already several success stories of businesses growing their sales, and one such example is Nitin Kora. The leading distributor of Seeds2Oil has admitted that IamHere has helped him hire sales executives and raised the profits.

The Business Model

IamHere’s business model is to raise revenue through hyperlocal ads or promotions both on the platform and through external platforms. For example, a guitar teacher can offer a discount of 15 percent for music enthusiasts. A gym can run a campaign and give membership discounts to users.

The technology used by IamHere is one of the latest in the industry. They have secured partnerships with Google and Amazon for the Maps and the Cloud services. The front end of the app is designed using industry-popular languages like Python and Java. The infrastructure is in AWS, and the technology used is a software stack.

Though in this same sector of hyperlocal discovery, a couple of other businesses have started off. MagicPin and Klozest are the most popular of these, but they are yet to break even.

The Future

Going pan-India is one of the biggest goals of IamHere, and Daan Utsav is a step towards this direction. They are also helping with the Goonj Campaign on their platform across 10 cities. People will be able to find the collection centers closest to them and donate easily.

And they are also planning to include a total of 10,000 NGOs across the country on the platform. And will be running donation drives, events, and campaigns on their app through the partnership with Guidestar India.

An MoU has been signed with iNurture, an education company that aids students in getting employable skills. This will build up a great collaboration with students from over 100 colleges iNurture is partnered with. Expanding to major cities in India is a goal for the next year by raising angel investments and perfecting their model.

Hyperlocal discovery is not a new venture in India. Loquery, and LocalOye, and many other hyperlocal startups have died out due to paper-thin margins and scarce revenue streams. V Ganapathy of Axilor Ventures believes that scaling the idea of hyperlocal discovery could lead to great success.

So we can safely say that Hyperlocal discovery is one of the new ideas which holds tremendous potential. And can undoubtedly prove to be a game-changer for social and economic sectors. All we can do right now is hope that IamHere pioneers this field and its expansion on a country level.

For choosing the best available options, the situation must be assessed through unbiased perspectives. In the insurance market, the terms ‘brokers’ and ‘agents’ are interchangeable. The agents and the brokers – both should have the appropriate licenses. Both the agent and brokers also act as intermediaries between the insurance companies and the insurance policy buyers. For a better understanding, let’s dig deeper. 

What is the discrepancy between an Insurance Agent and Insurance Broker?

An insurance broker represents multiple insurance companies. The broker offers a selective and personalized option for their customer. There’s a hint of customization. An insurance company does not individually appoint them. 

On the other hand, an insurance agent is mainly a captive agent. These agents connect to only one parent company, and hence they sell products of that single company only. 

These two designations, although often confused and considered to be the same thing, have very different aspects. The approach is pretty diverse, and they are not the same thing. Both of them serve very varied purposes, and knowing the difference between these two becomes more critical for initiating and completing any insurance-related transaction.

Insurance Broker Vs. Agents: Which Should You Choose?

Different investors have different needs. There’s no definitive form of choice as opinions vary from person to person. But yes, specific points shall help one be sure of what they want to invest. Hence given below are some final points that shall help you choose from the two diverse options as per your convenience:

Knowing the difference in depth:

Insurance broker: An Insurance Broker holds an interest in selling, buying or negotiating various financial products. These products are best suited to the individual client’s needs for compensation. It also means that they are more invested in finding out what’s best for you and are ever ready to offer a list of options from across companies and organizations, as per one’s requirements.

Insurance agent: An Insurance Agent, on the other hand, sells, negotiates, or promotes financial products. They are keeping in mind the employer’s organization. The insurance agent mainly acts as the sales representative for the company and showcases its range of various products. An independent agent also sells multiple financial products ranging from property insurance to casualty insurance, life insurance, etc. Ideally, Insurance Agents are hired specifically by Insurance companies to reach out to the customers directly. They are mainly responsible for completing and processing the forms accurately and ensuring that premiums payments are made timely.

The difference between the two: 

The most significant difference between an Insurance broker and an Insurance Agent is their approach to representing the companies they have ties with. An insurance broker represents you as the client and has a good view of your benefits. In contrast, an Insurance Agent represents the company where they are appointed. You then become the customer.

Products Offered.

Insurance Agents are responsible for offering you products and services. These are mostly limited to the availability of the products in the employer’s company. Also, the insurance agents have the task for the accurate and flawless processing of documents, including forms, paperwork, premium payments, timely deposits and so on. 

Insurance Brokers, on the other hand, are responsible for providing you with information. This set of data can range across various suitable options and are curated as per your needs. It is in their interest that you are provided with the most suitable product as per your requirements. Your satisfaction becomes even more critical as their income depends on the compensation they earn after each deal made.

Variety of Products Offered. 

Insurance Agents have limited resources of policies or products to offer.  They generally can represent a maximum of one each of insurance. These insurances can cover general insurance, life insurance, and health insurance companies. They are also responsible for providing you with insightful information on these products or helping you get in touch with the said company.

Insurance Brokers, on the other hand, can provide you with information on a variety of financial products and also help you choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Aspects you must know before you purchase a life insurance policy

• Assistance Offered

An Insurance Agent is responsible for ensuring that you receive the entire coverage sum which was offered initially. They also provide in-depth and insightful information on the policies that are made available by the company. It is also to be kept in mind that these are the companies that the insurance agent represents. However, it is solely your responsibility to ensure that the insurance policy you select suits and fulfils all your financial needs and doesn’t deceive you. 

• Accountability

Insurance Brokers are issued a Broker’s license. Thus, in case of any discrepancies, one can directly report them to the authority. This shall prompt a swift action and result in their license being canceled. There are many Insurance Regulatory bodies and thus always consult and undertake the work under good guidance and supervision. In case of any discrepancy, you can always get in touch with the company that either of the two represents. 

• Conclusion

Trust and reliability should be the two main deciding factors that help in determining your investment choices. A good investment broker and an efficient Insurance agent is a choice. Consider all the above factors and settle for what you think suits you and your needs the best. 

A playschool is an appealing option for many families not only in India but also globally. Playschool not only provides childcare or babysitting for your child but also helps your kid attain the necessary skills to survive in the competitive world that follows. The playschools generally have a well-designed program for easy and early learning. Most of these schools for the kids aim to prepare the child for the upcoming school years. They help kids by teaching them social and academic skills. It is also to be kept in mind they vary in their aims, philosophies, teaching approaches, cultures, and more.

Playschools may be a point of contest and may not suit some while being a great fit for many others. It’s mostly a matter of personal preference. In deciding whether to place the child in one of these programs or not, one needs to know the concerning pros and cons.

Pros of Playschool

The playschool comes along with its fair share of benefits that place them above most of its disadvantages.  There’s no doubt that early education has its range of potential benefits. A proper playschool franchise can totally be a refreshing change for your kid. Given below some of the most well-loved pros of getting your child admitted to the playschool:

• Early learning: There are multiple windfalls of timely childhood schooling. This is known to help inspire the love of learning. With teachers who are dedicated and take time to teach the child every time that is needed, the child is engaged in a form of education that’s fun and not overbearing. Most teachers appointed in playschools are Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) and are very well aware of how to treat the child well and know the possible future status. The best playschool franchise have the finest tricks to help your kid prosper.
• Social interaction: Getting enrolled in a playschool simply means that the child will have lots of opportunities to interact with other kids of different ages. This helps them grow and communicate. This in turn helps them learn, grow, and mature.
• Be a part of exciting activities: Your child grabs the opportunity to get exposure to a wide range of activities, including art, music, dance, and sports which in turn helps them flourish and find out doing something that they love.
• Easier transitions: Exposure to a routine via the playschool programs helps your child to make a smoother transition to formal schooling later on in life.

Early learning is a pretty unique advantage of playschool. With the right set of programs, your child will learn plenty of academic and pre-academic skills. This can give them a steady start in school. The child goes on to learn a wide range of cognitive, social, and language skills. Some of the most appreciated skills areas listed below:

Cognitive and academic:

• Literacy: reading and writing
• Science: animals, nature, body parts, and more
• Learning through play and discovery.

Social and emotional:

• Cooperation
• Manners
• Independence and self-reliance
• Resolving conflict

Language and literacy:

• Vocabulary and identification of objects
• Communication through sentences
• Reading
• Writing

Cons of playschool

Though the advantages can be overwhelming, the playschools come with their own set of disadvantages. Here’s a list of cons with regards to playschool that one needs to keep in mind.

• Lack of one-on-one time: Some parents argue vehemently that it’s best to keep young children at home for most of the years before they begin their formal schooling.  Although preschools tend to have low teacher-to-student ratios, still it doesn’t sit well with some parents as it still isn’t a one-to-one engagement. This states that the teacher’s attention is often divided and there is a lack of individualized attention than what the kid receives at home.  On the contrary, most people take side with the fact that kids need lots of interaction with their age-peers. This helps them to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
• Forced to learn too early: Some may even claim that playschools force kids to learn too early. This has always been an age-old concern with academic programs. Learning subjects way beforehand can lead to frustration and interfere with a love of learning.
• Separation anxiety: Many children find it tough to segregate themselves from their parents. Some may need more intimate vigilance and aren’t just ready.

What are the must known articles of the Constitution and what makes them so essential?

Original Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in the year 1949. It had a total of 395 articles and 22 parts. With the course of time, as the demands increased, many other articles and three other parts were added to the Constitution through subsequent amendments. As of now, the Indian constitution has a total of about 450 articles divided in 25 parts.

The post below sheds light on the most important parts of the Indian Constitution that one must know.  

The idea behind the Must-Know Articles of Indian Constitution is not to have them by heart when one opts for competitive exams like UPSC . The main motif is to get them educated enough to have a fair share of the idea about the nature and salient features of the Indian Constitution like Federalism, Separation of Powers, Fundamental Rights and so on. 

• Article 12 –35

Specify the Fundamental Rights available

• Article 36-51

Specify the Directive Principles of state policy

• Article 51A

Specifies the Fundamental Duties of every citizen

• Article 80

Specifies the number of seats in the Rajya Sabha

• Article 81

Specifies the number of seats in the Lok Sabha

• Article 343

Hindi as official language

• Article 356

Imposition of President’s Rule in states

• Article 370

Special status to Kashmir

• Article 395

Repeals India Independence Act and Government of India Act,

Other Important Articles of the Indian Constitution

Special notes should be taken for the following articles :

Part 1 – Art. 1 to art. 4

• Article 1- Name and territory of the union.
• Article 2 – Admission and Establishment of the new state.
• Article 3 – Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and the name of existing states.

Part 2 – Art. 5 to art. 11

• Article 5 – Citizenship at the commencement of the constitution.
• Article 6- Rights of citizenship of a certain person who has migrated to India from Pakistan.
• Article 10- continuance of rights of citizenship.
• Article 11- Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law.

Part 3 – Art.12 to art.35

• Article 12- Definition of the state
• Article 13 Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the fundamental rights.

Originally, the constitution provided for 7 basic fundamental rights, now there are only six rights, one Right to property U/A 31 was deleted from the list of fundamental rights by 44th amendment act 1978. It made a legal right U/A 300-A in Part XII of the constitution.

Some important Fundamental Rights are:

RIGHT TO EQUALITY: ART. 14 TO ART. 18

Article 14- Equality before the law.

Article 15- Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex. Or place of birth.

Article 16- Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.

Article 17- Abolition of the untouchability.

Article 18- Abolition of titles

RIGHT TO FREEDOM: ART. 19 TO ART. 22

Art.19 guarantees to all the citizens the six rights

· (a) Right to freedom of speech and expression.

· (b) Right to assemble peacefully and without arms.

· (c) Right to form associations or unions.

· (d) Right to move freely throughout the territory of India.

· (e) Right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.

· (f) Right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, and business.

Article 20- Protection in respect of conviction for offences.

Article 21-Protection of life and personal liberty.

Article 21A –  Right to education

Article 22- Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.

RIGHT AGAINST EXPLOITATION: ART.23 & ART. 24

Article 23- Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.

Article 24- Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines under age of 14.

RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION: ART.25 TO ART. 28

Article 25- Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

Article 26- Freedom to manage religious affairs.

Article 27- Freedom as to pay taxes for promotion of any particular religion.

Article 28- Freedom from attending religious instruction.

Fundamental Duties: Part IV-A- Art 51A

• Part 5 – Union ( 52-151)

• Part 6 – States ( 152-237)

• Part 7 – 238 – Repealed
• Part 8 – 239-242 – Union Territories
• Part 9 – 243-243 O – Panchayats

• Part 9A – 243 P-243 ZG – Municipalities
• Part 9B – 243 ZH-243 ZT- Co-operative Societies
• Part 10: Scheduled and Tribal Areas -244
• Part 11: Center- State Relations 245 – 263
• Part 12: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits (264 – 300A)
• Part 13: Trade, Commerce and Intercourse within the territories of India (301-307)
• Part 14: Services Under Center and State (308-323)

• Part 15 : Elections (324 – 329)

• Part 16: Special Provisions to SC, ST, OBC, Minorities etc (330 -342)
• Part 17: Official Language (343- 351)
• Part 18: Emergency (352-360)

• Part 19: Miscellaneous (361-367)
• Part 20: Amendment of Constitution (368)
• Part 21: Special, Transitional and Temporary Provisions (369 – 392)
• Part 22: Short Text, Commencement, Authoritative Text in Hindi and Repeals (392 – 395)

As the world keeps raising more and more concern about the types of wasted that are being left behind harming the environment, it’s high time that we take individual steps to eliminate the basic wastes that can be avoided. For instance one of the smartest moves to protect nature begins with your choice of the eco-friendly diapers. Not only do they help conserve and make the earth a better place but also help give your baby a natural way of embracing life rather than being wrapped up in toxic, life-threatening chemicals. Given below are a list of reasons as to why one should opt for eco-friendly diapers:

• Environment friendly:

Eco-friendly diapers have been in the spotlight for quite some time now given the fact that they are highly environment friendly in comparison to their counterparts of generic diapers. Eco-friendly diapers take no time to decompose and leave behind nothing that is indestructible. Moreover, they can also be used again and again making it tough for any carbon footprint emissions in the first place. Whereas the generic diapers, mostly one-time usage ones are meant to be disposable. But the sad part is that it takes over five centuries for them to decompose, leaving behind mammoth amounts of carbon waste. Also given that one person produces so much waste, there are millions of disposable diapers that are dumped into landfills throughout the year.

• Economical:

It isn’t an unknown fact as to how costly generic disposable diapers can get. Moreover, they are often required in bulks. For instance, a single toddler may need up to forty diapers in a single week and that’s a huge amount. With eco-friendly diapers they are heavily beneficial for you as you can wash and reuse them, hence reducing the financial burden from your shoulders. Also, not only can you reuse them for your baby but you can also reuse them if you ever wish to have another child in the future.

• All about the safety of your toddler :

Generic disposable diapers are made with unsafe chemicals such as sodium polyacrylate, a toxin called dioxin, Phthalates, alcohols and so on. These chemicals may have immensely dangerous effects on individuals in the future as Dioxins have been considered highly toxic and are damaging to an individual’s immune system. Exposure to this chemical may also further result in the cause of reproductive problems, developmental complexities, and may even interfere with hormones which in turn may lead to cancer. Because of the mixture of these unwanted chemicals and toxins, more than half of all toddlers who employ disposable diapers shall experience skin rashes or allergies. Whereas on the other side eco-friendly diapers are completely free of any such chemicals or toxins and leave behind you toddler without any adverse effects or allergies.

• Lower forms of irritation:

Eco-friendly diaper rashes are known to have fewer forms of irritation or diaper rashes on toddlers as compared to the generic disposable diapers. Often natural fibres like cotton, bamboo, hemp and so on are used which are completely safe to be put next to your baby’s sensitive and tender skin. Soft, absorbent and chemical-free are what the eco-friendly diapers have to offer.

• Helps your kid learn the basics first.

Researches have it that kids who use eco-friendly diapers like cloth diapers are more prone to learn potty training than the ones who are into disposable diapers. The disposable diapers have slowed down the rate of kids wanting to be potty trained as a result making your kids take a normal year longer than the actual time taken to potty train. All the while draining your pockets as well as damaging the environment.