Report: “7 companies with over-average rural exposure fare better in stock market”

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According to a report appearing the Economic Times (Mumbai, Oct. 4, 2013), “India Inc’s rural champions have probably never had it so good.” A good monsoon is seen as having “kindled hopes of a turnaround in demand for key products”.

A Hero SPLENDOR-NXG

A Hero SPLENDOR-NXG. Photo courtsey: Hero Motocorp

The ET report citing an unnamed study by the Deutsche Bank says: “At a time when the rest of India Inc is either groaning under heavy debt or struggling to sell in a sluggish market, companies with heavy rural focus are literally licking their lips in anticipation of a surge in demand in India’s villages and towns. Already, two-wheeler sales are inching up, tractor sales are booming and banks are hiring employees in far-flung regions, hoping to benefit from a monsoon that has increased the kharif area by 5% and water reservoir levels by 15%.”

The 7 firms examined in the study are Hero Motocorp, Emami, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, M&M Fin Services, and ITC. All of these companies can be regarded as champions in having mastered the “frugal challenge“.

Symposium Announcement: “Mastering the Frugal Challenge”

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Center for Frugal Innovation @ TIM/TUHHWe at the Center for Frugal Innovation are organizing a symposium on the feasibility and implementation of frugal innovations in firms. The symposium with the title “Mastering the Frugal Challenge: Innovating for Global Growth through Affordable Solutions” will take place on 19th November 2013 in Hamburg. A detailed programme agenda and the registration modalities can be found here. The symposium will be preceded by a research seminar with invited guests from universities and research institutions on the 18th November in Hamburg.

In the meantime for any enquiry please contact: frugal.innovation@tuhh.de, and/or our team.

Telephone contact:
Dr. Stephan Buse (+49 40 42878 3829)
Dr. Rajnish Tiwari (+49 40 42878 3776)

BBC report: “A novel use for mosquito nets”

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In this report BBC reporter Anna Lacey looks into how “the most low-tech methods can produce good medical results” and dwells on how mosquito nets are now being used to repair hernias.

According to the report, an Indian surgeon, Dr. Ravi Tongaonkar, came up with the idea of “using sterilised mosquito mesh as a low-cost substitute for the expensive commercial meshes currently in use.” “His mosquito meshes work out around 4,000 times cheaper than imported mesh and he has used them to fix 591 hernias”, says the report.

And, apparently, they are performing quite well. “The only difference is the polymer used to make them,” says Dr Sanders, “but it makes no difference clinically.”

Apparently, India too is performing quite well as a lead market for frugal innovations….

Read the full report at bbc.co.uk…..

“India can show the way on health”

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Teaser to an article in The Economist (21 Nov. 2012): “Innovative thinking can bring health care to the uninsured billions, argues Devi Shetty, founder and chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals”.

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