Developed by Keralites, ‘V-Consol’ to replace Zoom, Google Meet at central govt offices

News Network
August 21, 2020

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New Delhi/Alappuzha, Aug 21: A video conferencing software developed by a company led by a Malayali is ready for India.

The first place in the Innovation Challenge announced by the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT during the lockdown was bagged by the V-consol software developed by Techgentsia Software Technologies, which is led by Keralite Joy Sebastian.

Techgentsia, based at Infopark in Pallipuram, will get Rs 1 crore and also a three-year contract to set up video conferencing facilities in central government institutions as the prize for winning the competition.

This will be done by using the V-consol software through the National Informatics Center (NIC), says the agreement. An annual maintenance grant of Rs 10 lakh will also be provided.

Joy Sebastian, a native of Poonkavu, Alappuzha, is the managing director and chief executive officer of TechGenia. All but one of the five directors of the company are Malayalis.

V-Consol will replace the popular video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet in government offices. The software supports eight Indian vernacular languages, including Malayalam.

“It needs a large investment infrastructure to take the software to the common man. There is currently no possibility for that. I hope this award will lead to that,” said Joy Sebastian.

Selection process

Announcing the winner on Thursday, Union Minister for Electronics & IT Ravishankar Prasad said India has come up with world-class video conferencing solutions in just four months. "We are committed to developing India’s software product and mobile app economy in a big way and efforts like this will go a long way in that direction,” he said.

The ministry had announced the competition to develop a video conferencing solution on April 12, 2020, under the Digital India Initiative.

The three-stage competition was open for industries, start-ups and individual experts. The response was overwhelming. The 1,983 submissions were pruned to 12 and each applicant was given Rs 10 lakh to develop the prototype. The prototypes were then evaluated by a jury of senior government officers, academicians and members from the IT industry. They shortlistlisted five applicants for building a ready-to-market product. Three of the shortlisted applicants were given Rs 20 lakh and the remaining two were provided with Rs 15 lakh. In the end, the jury picked Vconsol as the winner.

The jury decided to offer Rs 25 lakh each to three companies - Sarv Wave (Jaipur), Insta VC (Hyderabad), HydraMeet (Chennai) - to fine-tune their products for three months.

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News Network
November 25,2024

Udupi: Six junior artists from the prequel of Kannada blockbuster film ‘Kantara’ were injured, when the bus they were travelling in overturned in the district, police said on Monday.

According to police, the accident occurred near Jadkal on Sunday night when the mini-bus carrying the crew of the film overturned.

“The incident happened while they were returning to Kollur after completing the shoot at Mudoor in Jadkal. The mini-bus was carrying 20 junior artistes when it met with the accident,” a police officer said.

The injured were rushed to hospitals in Jadkal and Kundapur for treatment, they said.

The Kollur police are investigating the matter.

"The news making rounds is completely false. The Kantara: Chapter 1 team began shooting at 06:00 AM today, and everything is proceeding as normal. A minor accident occurred 20 kilometres away from the shooting location, involving a local bus carrying some members of the Kantara team. However, no injuries were reported," a source close to the production said.

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News Network
November 15,2024

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Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has killed or captured 69 terrorists linked to the Israeli spy agency Mossad during a major counterterrorism drill in the country's southeast, its spokesman says.  

General Ahmad Shafaei, the spokesman for the “Martyrs of Security” drill, said Friday that a total of 23 terrorists have been killed and another 46 arrested in various clean-up operations ever since the IRGC Ground Force launched it in the Sistan and Baluchestan province on November 1.

Seven terrorists have also turned themselves in during the period.

“The undeniable fact about terrorists is that they rely on arrogant powers, particularly the intelligence service of the wicked and vicious Zionist regime," Shafaei said.

“Unfortunately, weapons and munitions at terrorists’ disposal are among the most sophisticated ones in the world. This accounts for their heavy dependence.” 

The official stated that several members of the disbanded terror teams were non-Iranian nationals, who had been hired by foreign intelligence agencies to carry out acts of sabotage and terror inside Iran.

In a most recent operation, six terrorists were arrested and four others were eliminated, three of whom were non-Iranians, he added. 

On October 26, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

In January, Iran launched a military operation during which the headquarters of the Pakistan-based terrorist group was targeted in missile strikes, destroying its infrastructure.

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News Network
November 21,2024

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Prominent NRI community leader SM Syed Khalilur Rehman, fondly known as CA Khalil, passed away in Dubai on Thursday at the age of 86 after a brief illness.

Khalil had been admitted to Aster Hospital in Mankhool on Tuesday after experiencing severe leg weakness. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he succumbed to a double heart attack that worsened his condition, his son Rais Ahmed confirmed.

The news of his passing has sent waves of grief across communities, particularly in his hometown of Bhatkal, Karnataka, where he was a celebrated figure. Tributes have been pouring in on social media, highlighting his significant contributions to international trade, social service, and education.

A Legacy of Leadership and Service

A chartered accountant by profession, Khalil was a founding member of the Dubai chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), where he served as chairman from 1987 to 1994. His illustrious career included key leadership roles, such as general manager of Khaleej Times, group executive director of the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group, and vice-chairman of the Jashanmal Group of Companies.

He also chaired Maadhyama Communications and Sahil Online, a web-based news platform, and was a director and trustee of several media companies and charitable organisations in Dubai and India.

A Champion for Education and Philanthropy

Khalil’s impact extended far beyond his professional achievements. As president and general secretary of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, he played a pivotal role in the development of educational institutions, including schools and colleges in Bhatkal and surrounding areas. His dedication to social upliftment earned him recognition from the Government of Karnataka, which honoured him with a prestigious award for his philanthropic contributions.

A Life Celebrated

The Bhatkal Muslim Khaleej Council (BMKC) recently released a documentary celebrating Khalil’s remarkable life and service to the community—a testament to his enduring legacy.

CA Khalil is survived by his family and countless admirers across the globe. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian expatriates in the UAE and beyond, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, generosity, and commitment to community service.

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