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Safe in India Foundation released its third annual report in its CRUSHED series with evidence from 2,500+ workers injured in the auto component factories in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan

– ‘CRUSHED 2021 edition’: Thousands of workers continue to lose their hands/fingers every year in the Indian auto sector manufacturing – not only a human tragedy but a loss to Indian worker productivity.
GURUGRAM, India, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The report was released at a unique online event, where the report findings were discussed with 100+injured workers who have lost their hands or fingers in auto component factories.
The report was released by Mr. Anil Swarup, IAS (Retd) Former Secretary Coal, GOI; Mr Dunu Roy, well-known nation builder and Mr Kamal Jaswal, IAS (Retd), Former Secretary, DIT, GOI, who also discussed the issue with the workers online. 
Executive Summary is part of the Report. Link to full report: Accident Prevention Report Crushed2021 | safeinindia
Some background of the report released:
The report is based on the real experience of 2,500+ injured workers from the auto-sector in Gurgaon and Faridabad in Haryana, Rudrapur in Uttarakhand and Neemrana in Rajasthan. This Report is the third annual sequel after CRUSHED 2019 and CRUSHED 2020, which were released at the Ministry of Labor, at IIM Ahmedabad, with injured workers in Gurgaon in August 2019 and with auto-industry associations, SIAM and ACMA in 2020.  Past Press coverage of Safe in India’s CRUSHED and SafetyNiti reports here. Their findings have been accepted by the auto-industry and the government.A few highlights of CRUSHED 2021 (details in attached report and executive summary)
Who are these injured workers? More than 2,500 accidents seriously injuring workers in auto-component manufacturing factories in last five years. Vast majority (92%) of them were migrant workers – they also suffered the most during Covid-19 lockdowns. Close to 70% of them were contract workers even though many have been working in the same business for several years. More than half (60%) young, below 30 years.
What kind of injuries are these? About 70% lost their hands/fingers. In a typical crush injury, a worker lost an average of 1.97 fingers. About 70% received their ESIC Identity Card only after the accident and not on the date of joining.
Which machines are causing these crush injuries? Power Press continued to be the most dangerous machine where 50%+ of these accidents happen. This machine is doubly as dangerous as other machines reported by injured workers. Rampant legal violations exist causing these accidents.
What do government records show? Accident under-reporting has continued for a long time. Haryana state therefore reports numbers that are not even 5% of those reported by workers to Safe in India Foundation.
Is this a national problem? The problem plagues the entire auto-sector nationally as same supply chain practices exist in all Indian auto hubs. The report will include new survey data on Rudrapur and Neemrana auto sector accidents, in addition to Gurugram and Faridabad.
Who are the auto sector brand owners buying parts from these factories? Suppliers of Maruti-Suzuki, Hero, and Honda remain the largest contributors to accidents in Gurugram (93%) and Faridabad (75%). The supply chains of Bajaj, Eicher, JCB, Tata Motors, TVS, and Yamaha, are also significant contributors to accidents in Gurugram, Faridabad, Rudrapur, and Neemrana.
Is this only a small factory problem? With about 20% of these accidents in ACMA members (some of the largest factories/suppliers and mostly Tier 1 suppliers to the auto sector brands) in Gurugram, this is clearly not just a small MSME problem although the remaining about 80% are in smaller Tier 2/3/4 suppliers.
What actions are the auto sector brands taking to prevent these accidents since the launch of CRUSHED series of reports? These reports have started resulting in a few actions by many of the top 10 auto-sector brands (Maruti-Suzuki, Hero Motors, Honda, Eicher TVS, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai, Ashok Leyland, Bajaj), apex auto industry bodies SIAM and ACMA, and central and state governments. More details in the report.
What actions is the government taking? Since these reports, central government and Haryana state government started working groups. In 2021, ISH Gurugram started a working platform with Maruti-Hero-Honda-SII. Concrete results of these actions are to be seen.
Who is Safe in India? Safe in India Foundation (SII), a civil society organization started by three alumni of IIMA, has now assisted 3,000+ workers in accessing ESIC healthcare, compensations and facilitating their ESIC claims of the value of Rs 25+ cr. 
Quotes:
Mr Anil Swarup, IAS (retd.), Former Secretary of Education, Former Coal Secretary, Government of India, said, “All CRUSHED 2021 recommendations are doable and can be implemented. Emotionally relatable, financially viable, politically acceptable, technologically feasible and administratively doable. SII needs to continue intensive dialogue with stakeholders. I am sure that the auto industry and government will respond positively to the recommendations.”
Mr Dunu Roy, Director, Hazards Centre (IITD), said, “A new parampara akin to that of the learning through heritage needs to be adapted and evolved for the current age of technology and ever-changing nature of machines. We could teach use of a 5 kg hammer in a family. The same cannot work for a 50-ton power press.”
“In 1929, the National Commission on Labour published a similar report about the industry. The report reflects the systemic problems that have existed for decades. If we heed the recommendations from the report, then hopefully the past 100 years will not be replicated in the next 100”.
Mr Kamal Jaswal, IAS (retd.), Former Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of India, said, “Just as the diamond trade has resolved to reject blood diamonds, which are extracted in countries with a record of civil strife and human rights violation, the automotive industry helmed by OEMs should spurn the blood-stained auto parts produced by factories having a poor safety record.”
Mr Sandeep Sachdeva, Co-Founder&CEO, Safe in India Foundation, said, “We hope that the auto industry and the government listens to the hundred workers who joined us today to discuss their experiences of poor working practices that result in thousands of them losing their hands or fingers every year. We all know what needs to be done. It’s neither too difficult nor too expensive.”
“All we need is the boards of the auto industry’s top 10 brands boards to think harder about the workers who are contributing immensely to their profits, and their productivity once a quarter. They should come together to form a joint action group with SIAM and ACMA.”
“Our country is not going to improve in its worker productivity from its lowly rank of 115th or our industry become world-class without professionalizing and improving such poor factories.”
Ms Chitra Khanna, Head – Safety Initiative, Safe in India Foundation, said, “Training machine operators for safe operation and proper maintenance of machines can reduce accidents and is good for business.”
Ms Poonam, an injured worker, said, “Auditors never come to us. They don’t ask us. They have coffee and take leave.”
Ms Santoshi Srivastav, another injured worker, said, “Machines are presented along with safety equipments only during audits. Checklist. Gloves etc. After that, it is taken back.”
Another injured worker from Bawal, said, “Even after I complained about the machine, I was forced to work. My company did not help me after my accident. No reply from ESIC. Compensation only given to cover the 2 months of my healthcare expenses.”
Mr Prashant Khurana, Assistant General Manager, said, “Workers expressed a real scenario!! Voice and message of workers very clear.”
Look forward to having you joining us and 100+ workers.
Join hands to save handsteam@safeinindia.org
About Safe in India Foundation:
Since 2015, Safe in India Foundation (SII) has worked to improve the post-accident life of injured workers, to prevent these accidents, and to thereby improve labour productivity in manufacturing, which is currently among the lowest in the world. To achieve this, SII engages constructively with the industry and the government stakeholders to advance the OSH agenda and educates workers on safe working practices and their Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) entitlements. We have provided free-of-cost assistance to 2,500+ injured workers in distress,by helping them obtain better ESIC healthcare. We also helped 900+ obtain INR 200m+ in ESIC compensation; 250+ of them now receive life time disability pension.

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IIT Delhi Spinout DeepLase Raises ₹6 Crore Seed Round co-led by Kavachh and Yali Capital

NEW DELHI, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DeepLase Technologies, an IIT Delhi–incubated deep-tech photonics startup developing advanced optical fiber platforms, high-performance fiber lasers, and integrated photonics systems, has raised ₹6 crore in seed funding in a round co-led by Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh and Yali Capital.

The company will use the capital to expand its engineering and manufacturing capabilities, accelerate product commercialization, and scale deployments across high-impact sectors including precision industrial automation, optical communications, advanced sensing, quantum technologies, and healthcare instrumentation.DeepLase was founded by Dr. Deepak Jain, a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, whose research focuses on advanced optical fiber technologies and laser systems. The company is focused on designing next-generation specialty optical fibers and fiber-laser platforms engineered for applications requiring exceptional stability, energy efficiency, spectral precision, and long-term operational reliability.As global data consumption accelerates and artificial intelligence infrastructure expands, optical technologies have become the backbone of modern digital systems. Data centers, telecommunications networks, and emerging AI hardware platforms increasingly depend on advanced photonic components capable of delivering higher bandwidth, lower latency, and improved energy efficiency. DeepLase is developing specialty optical fiber platforms designed to address these rapidly evolving performance requirements.Lasers today are foundational tools across precision manufacturing, sensing, optical communications, semiconductor fabrication, medical diagnostics, and emerging quantum systems. However, many existing laser platforms remain complex to integrate and are optimized primarily for laboratory environments. DeepLase aims to bridge the gap between scientific-grade optical performance and scalable, deployable industrial systems by developing robust laser architectures engineered for real-world applications. “Our goal is to build laser platforms that combine advanced optical fiber design, novel materials engineering, and robust system-level reliability,” said Dr. Jain, Founder and Director of DeepLase. “As industries and research domains become increasingly dependent on controlled light sources, the demand for stable, scalable, and application-ready laser systems is growing rapidly. We are developing technologies that deliver high performance while remaining practical for deployment in demanding industrial environments.”Investors believe DeepLase reflects a broader shift toward deep-technology innovation emerging from India’s academic research ecosystem, particularly in critical areas such as photonics and advanced manufacturing. “Photonics technologies are becoming foundational infrastructure for modern industry, powering everything from advanced manufacturing and telecommunications to sensing and next-generation computing systems,” said Raj Sethia, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Mounttech Growth Fund – Kavachh. “DeepLase is building core intellectual property in a strategic technology domain where global demand continues to grow rapidly. We are excited to support Dr. Deepak Jain and his team as they work to build globally competitive photonics technologies from India.””Photonic technologies hold enormous potential, and many of their most transformative applications are still emerging,” said Ganapathy Subramaniam, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Yali Capital. “DeepLase approaches photonics design from first principles, combining deep scientific expertise with a clear pathway toward commercialization. The team brings together strong research capability with an understanding of real-world deployment challenges, positioning them well to translate advanced photonics into scalable industrial platforms. We believe Dr. Deepak Jain and his team have the potential to deliver photonics technologies at a global scale.”Prior to this round, DeepLase received support through multiple government innovation and deep-tech commercialization programs, reinforcing its mission to develop indigenous, high-value photonics technologies with global relevance. The company’s long-term vision is to build globally competitive photonics infrastructure from India, enabling next-generation optical systems that power advanced computing, communications, industrial manufacturing, and scientific discovery.About DeepLaseDeepLase Technologies is a photonics startup incubated at the FITT, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi focused on developing next-generation specialty optical fibers and high-performance fiber-laser systems. Its technologies target applications in industrial manufacturing, optical communications, sensing, healthcare instrumentation, and emerging quantum technologies. DeepLase aims to translate cutting-edge photonics research into scalable industrial platforms that can power the next generation of optical systems worldwide.Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937859/DeepLase_Founders.jpg 

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Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia’s book ‘The Power of Doing Good’ coming out this Vaisakhi, from HarperCollins India

The book talks about seva, rooted in Sikhism and relevant for all, which can lead everyone to a life of happiness and purpose.GURUGRAM, India, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Right ahead of Vaisakhi this year, HarperCollins India is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia’s debut book, The Power of Doing Good: How Seva Can Change Your Life. Taking the reader through the inspiring journey of Hemkunt Foundation and foregrounding seva as a universal life philosophy — rooted in Sikh tradition but relevant to every reader seeking purpose — this book is one for these times where amidst all the chaos, people need something like this to anchor themselves in meaning and connect to shared humanity.

Talking about the book, Harteerath says, “Writing The Power of Doing Good has been a deeply transformative journey — one shaped not just by events, but by years of observing, participating in, and reflecting upon what it truly means to serve. Through the story of Hemkunt Foundation, I have attempted to capture something more enduring than action alone: the quiet discipline of seva, rooted in Sikh principles and guided by the timeless wisdom of our Gurus — ‘Sarbat da Bhala’, well-being for all, and ‘Chardi Kala’, to remain in a state of rising spirit. This book is not merely a record of what has been done; it is an offering, an archive of goodwill shaped with intention and care. It invites the reader to look inward, and to reconsider the nature of purpose — not as something to be found in grand gestures, but in consistent, conscious acts of compassion. I have come to believe, through lived experience, that doing good is a way of being that quietly reshapes both the giver, and simultaneously the world around them. This book serves as a reminder that even the smallest act, when done with sincerity, carries within it the power to transform lives — often beginning with our own.”Trisha Bora, Executive Editor – HarperCollins India, says, “There are very few people/organizations who are as inspiring as Harteerath Singh and Hemkunt Foundation. This is a story about how impactful selfless community service can be, especially in our troubled times. Anyone who reads this book will find their lives changed for the better.”About the book –In April 2020, as a sudden nationwide lockdown left thousands of migrant workers stranded and desperate, the Singhs, a Sikh family in Gurgaon, rose to the crisis. They began preparing rotis at home and distributing them along highways to those making the arduous journey back to their villages. Their compassion sparked a movement, and through the Hemkunt Foundation, thousands across Delhi-NCR and Haryana joined in.In The Power of Doing Good, Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia shares the inspiring story of why Sikhs are born to serve — through the legacy of their eleven Gurus, and the remarkable journey of Hemkunt Foundation. This book is a timely reminder of how practicing seva can lead all to a life of deeper happiness and purpose.About the author –Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia is one of India’s most influential young humanitarians and the driving force behind Hemkunt Foundation’s modern seva movement. Recognized across the country for his fearless on-ground work — from COVID relief to the Punjab floods as well as in farmer support, animal welfare, women’s dignity initiatives and nationwide emergency responses — he embodies the rare blend of leadership, service and storytelling.A founding team member of Hemkunt Foundation, Harteerath helped scale the organization into one of India’s fastest-growing grassroots NGOs. His work includes designing high-impact relief missions, building long-term rehabilitation models, crafting donor-ready MIS systems and mobilizing lakhs of people online and offline to participate in seva. Over the years, he has led some of the largest relief efforts in India: oxygen cylinder drives during COVID, twenty-one Mobile Medical Vans serving multiple states, large-scale flood rehabilitation in Punjab, and Gurukul-based education and livelihood programs in Khandwa.Beyond humanitarian operations, Harteerath is a widely followed content creator with over 500,000 supporters across platforms. Known for his raw honesty, clarity and emotional depth, he uses his voice to champion Sikh values, inspire youth to serve, and highlight real stories from the ground.His work and impact have earned him a place in the Forbes 30 Under 30, HT City 30 Under 30, World Economic Forum’s Top 50 Social Entrepreneurs of India, Femina’s Men We Love, and MensXP’s High Impact Men lists as well as recognition as Grazia’s Social Activist of the Year.About Harpercollins Publishers IndiaHarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian Subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live! Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India has won the Publisher of the Year Award four times at Tata Literature Live! in 2022, 2021, 2018 and 2016, and at Publishing Next in 2021 & 2015. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers.For more information, please write to – shabnam.srivastava@harpercollins.co.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937802/The_Power_of_Doing_Good_HarperCollins.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/5820633/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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Casio India launches music education CSR initiative in partnership with Manzil Mystics to empower young musicians and students from underserved communities

PATNA, India, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Japan, has announced the launch of a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative focused on music education and livelihood creation. In partnership with Delhi-based non-profit organisation Manzil Mystics, the initiative aims to promote skill-based musical training and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for children and musicians from underserved communities.

As a company deeply rooted in the music industry through its Electronic Musical Instruments portfolio, Casio India has consistently championed the role of music in education and creativity. Building on this legacy, the newly launched initiative seeks to integrate structured music learning into community spaces and schools while enabling aspiring musicians to develop professional skills in the performing arts and media ecosystem.Under this collaboration, the program will focus on providing structured musical training through Casio electronic keyboards, alongside curriculum-based modules designed to develop practical skills that can translate into future music education. The initiative will particularly target underprivileged students studying in government schools and young musicians from low-income communities, enabling them to access high-quality music education and professional development opportunities.Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Takuto Kimura, Managing Director, Casio India, said, “At Casio, we believe that music has the power to inspire creativity, build confidence, and transform lives. Through this CSR initiative, we aim to make music education more accessible to children and young artists from underserved communities. By partnering with Manzil Mystics, we hope to nurture musical talent while creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to build sustainable careers in the creative industry.”The event commenced with a welcome address for the Casio India leadership team and representatives from Manzil Mystics, followed by a felicitation ceremony recognising key contributors and educators associated with the initiative. The program highlighted the role of music as a powerful tool for learning and creative development among young students. As part of the event, Casio India also facilitated the students with instruments from its range of electronic musical keyboards, enabling them to begin their training and supporting the broader objective of promoting skill-based music education among children from underserved communities.Through this initiative, Casio India aims to equip young learners with vocational skills in music, encourage creative expression, and support aspiring artists in pursuing sustainable careers as educators, performers, and creative professionals. The program also seeks to foster an inclusive ecosystem that celebrates India’s diverse musical traditions while preparing artists for opportunities in the country’s rapidly expanding media and entertainment industry.About Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd:Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd. (CIC) is the Indian subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Casio India has established a dynamic presence in the Indian market since 1996, emerging as a leading and cherished consumer goods manufacturer. Casio India’s range of products include sales and marketing of Timepieces, Electronic Musical Instruments, Desktop Calculators and Scientific Calculators.Setting the benchmark for excellence, Casio India is dedicated to embodying the spirit of innovation and quality that defines the Casio legacy. With a strong commitment to its corporate creed of ‘creativity and contribution,’ Casio has consistently translated this ethos into the creation of innovative products making a positive impact on society.For more information, visit https://www.casio.com/in/Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2937791/CSR_Event_Casio_India.jpg 

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