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By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Festive Surge

India’s bazaars have glittered this Diwali with the unmistakable glow of consumer confidence. The country’s festive sales crossed a staggering Rs. 6 lakh crore with goods alone accounting for Rs. 5.4 lakh crore and services contributing Rs. 65,000 crore. More remarkable still, the bulk of this spending flowed through India’s traditional markets rather than e-commerce platforms. After years of economic caution and digital dominance, Indians are once again shopping in person and buying local....

Festive Surge

India’s bazaars have glittered this Diwali with the unmistakable glow of consumer confidence. The country’s festive sales crossed a staggering Rs. 6 lakh crore with goods alone accounting for Rs. 5.4 lakh crore and services contributing Rs. 65,000 crore. More remarkable still, the bulk of this spending flowed through India’s traditional markets rather than e-commerce platforms. After years of economic caution and digital dominance, Indians are once again shopping in person and buying local. This reversal owes much to policy. The recent rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which trimmed rates across categories from garments to home furnishings, has given consumption a timely push. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s September rate cuts, combined with income tax relief and easing interest rates, have strengthened household budgets just as inflation softened. The middle class, long squeezed between rising costs and stagnant wages, has found reason to spend again. Retailers report that shoppers filled their bags with everything from lab-grown diamonds and casual wear to consumer durables and décor, blurring the line between necessity and indulgence. The effect has been broad-based. According to Crisil Ratings, 40 organised apparel retailers, who together generate roughly a third of the sector’s revenue, could see growth of 13–14 percent this financial year, aided by a 200-basis-point bump from GST cuts alone. Small traders too have flourished. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that 85 percent of total festive trade came from non-corporate and traditional markets, a robust comeback for brick-and-mortar retail that had been under siege from online rivals. This surge signals a subtle but significant cultural shift. The “Vocal for Local” and “Swadeshi Diwali” campaigns struck a patriotic chord, with consumers reportedly preferring Indian-made products to imported ones. Demand for Chinese goods fell sharply, while sales of Indian-manufactured products rose by a quarter over last year. For the first time in years, “buying Indian” has become both an act of economic participation and of national pride. The sectoral spread of this boom underlines its breadth. Groceries and fast-moving consumer goods accounted for 12 percent of the total, gold and jewellery 10 percent, and electronics 8 percent. Even traditionally modest categories like home furnishings, décor and confectionery recorded double-digit growth. In the smaller towns that anchor India’s consumption story, traders say stable prices and improved affordability kept registers ringing late into the festive weekend. Yet, much of this buoyancy rests on a fragile equilibrium. Inflation remains contained, and interest rates have been eased, but both could tighten again. Sustaining this spurt will require continued fiscal prudence and regulatory clarity, especially as digital commerce continues to expand its reach. Yet for now, the signs are auspicious. After years of subdued demand and inflationary unease, India’s shoppers appear to have rediscovered their appetite for consumption and their faith in domestic enterprise. The result is not only a record-breaking Diwali, but a reaffirmation of the local marketplace as the heartbeat of India’s economy.

Breaking Barriers, One Dive at A Time

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Janhavi Deodhar becomes India and UAE’s youngest female PADI course director

Breaking Barriers, One Dive at A Time
Breaking Barriers, One Dive at A Time

Mumbai: In a groundbreaking achievement that challenges societal norms and paves the way for future generations, Janhavi Deodhar, 23 years old from Mumbai has become India and UAE’s youngest female scuba diving PADI Course Director (professional association of diving instructors)


This remarkable feat not only showcases her exceptional skills and passion for the underwater world but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring female divers and educators.


Janhavi's journey to becoming a PADI Course Director began at a young age when she first discovered her love for the ocean at the age of 16 in Malvan, Sindhudurg her native town.


Driven by her curiosity and a desire to explore the depths, she embarked on a rigorous training program to obtain her scuba diving certifications and marking her first milestone as "One of the youngest PADI female specialty instructor from India in PADI" at the age of 20.


Her dedication and talent quickly set her apart, and she rapidly progressed through the ranks of diving education and diving industry.


As a youngest and first female Indian PADI Course Director, Deodhar is responsible for training and certifying other individuals in scuba diving.


Her role involves teaching a wide range of diving Instructors , from beginner to advanced levels, and ensuring the safety and well-being of her students. Her expertise and enthusiasm have made her a highly sought-after instructor, and she has mentored countless pro level candidates and individuals in their underwater adventures and professional career.


Janhavi's achievement is particularly significant, given the underrepresentation of women in the field of scuba diving.


By breaking this glass ceiling, she is not only inspiring other young women to pursue their dreams but also contributing to a more diverse and inclusive diving community.


Her accomplishment is a testament to her hard work, perseverance, and unwavering belief in herself.

It is a reminder that with passion, dedication, and a willingness to take risks, anything is possible.

"The ocean has always called to me. Its vastness, its mysteries, its silent beauty – it was an allure I couldn’t resist,” says Deodhar.


She started diving young, captivated by the underwater world and its incredible inhabitants. What began as a passion quickly morphed into a desire to share this experience, to guide others on their own underwater journeys.


The training was rigorous, demanding, but she thrived on the challenge.


“I loved teaching, sharing the knowledge I had acquired, and seeing the joy in others' eyes as they discovered the magic of scuba diving. But my ambitions were deeper and wider reaching far beyond the confines of my instructor certification. I wanted to be a PADI Course Director, the highest level of instruction in the diving world,” she says.


However, the journey to becoming a Course Director is long and arduous. It requires extensive training, and a commitment that borders on obsession. For a young woman, the challenges were even greater. The diving world, for too long, has been a male-dominated field.


“I faced skepticism, doubt, and the weight of expectations. But I was determined to prove that age and gender were no barriers to my dreams. I dedicated myself to the training, pouring every ounce of energy into honing my skills,” she says.


Days bled into nights, filled with studying, practicing, and immersing myself in the intricacies of diving theory and practice. The financial strain was considerable, demanding careful budgeting and sacrifices. But the fire within her burned brighter than any obstacle. The pressure was immense, but her dedication, commitment and passion had prepared her for this moment.


“When the results were announced, and I learned I had become the youngest Indian female PADI Course Director it felt like a culmination of unwavering dedication, passion, and hard work. It was more than just an achievement – it was a victory for all women who dare to dream big and push boundaries. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade a single moment. It was a journey that shaped me, forged my character, and taught me the true meaning of perseverance.”


Now, as Deodhar stands before my students, eager to learn and embark on their own diving journeys, she carries the weight of their aspirations and the responsibility to guide them with the same passion and dedication that fueled my own journey.


“My hope is that my story will inspire other young women, showing them that anything is possible if they dare to dream big and dive deep into their passions," she says.

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