Girish Batra

Obesity (well to do States are having more Obese populations-a phenomenon often referred to as the "nutrition transition") is indeed emerging as a new epidemic in India, with alarming rises in prevalence across all age groups. Recent data and expert reports highlight the following key points:- As of 2024-2025, around 24% of Indian women and 22.9% of men are classified as overweight or obese, marking a sharp increase over the past decade. About 44 million women and 26 million men over 20 years old are obese, with childhood obesity also rising significantly—5.2 million girls and 7.3 million boys affected. The obesity crisis is not limited to urban areas or adults; rural populations and children are increasingly affected, driven by factors like poor diet (high in processed foods, sugar, and fast foods), sedentary lifestyles, increased screen time, & lack of physical activity. Health risks linked to obesity are serious and growing, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. Indians are experiencing heart attacks and related cardiovascular problems at younger ages, sometimes as early as their 30s, influenced by obesity & genetic predisposition. The rise in obesity is partly attributable to urbanization, lifestyle changes, and economic development in India, which have led to energy intake exceeding expenditure consistently over time. Despite its magnitude, obesity management and treatment in India remain limited, with many patients facing stigma and lack of access to effective interventions. Government initiatives are increasingly focusing on public health strategies to address this crisis, including promoting healthy diets, physical activity, and regulatory measures on unhealthy foods. In summary, obesity in India has reached pandemic proportions with widespread implications for public health, necessitating immediate and comprehensive efforts to manage and prevent its further rise.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 (𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭) The startup ecosystem is booming, but securing funding from Venture Capital firms remains a challenge for most founders. In our latest episode, we sit down with Sriram Ganesh Sastrigal, Director - Venture Capital and Investments at Magnivia Ventures, who is on a mission to empower founders with the mindset and strategies that resonate with VCs. From understanding what VCs really look for in founders to identifying red flags that can kill your pitch, Sriram shares how to navigate the funding landscape with confidence and clarity. His vast experience across the US, India, EU, and APAC gives him a unique perspective on building high-impact startups. We talk about, -What VCs look for in founders and ideas -The mindset that sets successful entrepreneurs apart -Red flags that turn VCs away -Balancing long-term vision with short-term planning -The evolving startup culture in India -Leadership styles that command respect It's a must-watch for any entrepreneur serious about turning their startup dreams into reality. Link is in the comments.

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I had the privilege of chairing a panel at this year's Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM Expo) on Strength in Diversity: Building Sector Attractiveness   Joined by Emelia Peters, Bonni Jee and Veena Deepak Munganahalli we explored how we can bring in diverse talent to the sector.   A few key insights that stood out: Inclusion comes first - to achieve diversity, we must create environments where people feel safe to be themselves, valued, and heard. A multi-generational workforce is an asset - with five generations now working side by side, we have an incredible opportunity to learn from each other - whether it’s fresh thinking from early careers or the wisdom of experience. Younger voices are reshaping the sector - their passion for climate action, enthusiasm for sustainability, and vision of the world they want to live in must be nurtured and channelled. Practical initiatives matter - early careers ambassadors, return-to-work programmes, internships, employee networks, and volunteering opportunities are all tools that help us bring in diverse talent. However, we also highlighted the importance of having an inclusive workforce to retain that talent. Trust and agility are key - building sector attractiveness is about listening to people, understanding what they value, and providing flexible career paths that allow growth and opportunity. Above all, the conversation reinforced this truth: if we commit to inclusion, listen to our people, and live our values, our sector will not only be resilient, but diverse and truly attractive for generations to come.   A huge thank you to my fellow panellists and to everyone who contributed to the discussion. The future of our sector looks brighter when we build it together.

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Returnee entrepreneurs are reshaping India's future. By me in The Economic Times on how America's loss is India's gain. https://ecoti.in/FvDjYb Many years ago, in what now feels like a galaxy far, far away, I was an academic researching and fiercely debating U.S. immigration policy. I testified several times before both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, wrote extensively, and took plenty of fire from anti-immigration advocates. My research became some of the most widely cited on immigration, referenced even by the White House. Among my findings, I warned that restrictive immigration policies—such as the over one-million-person backlog for green cards—would lead to a reverse brain drain, with skilled immigrants returning to their home countries. I predicted that China would emerge as a fierce technological competitor and that India would give rise to thousands of startups that could have otherwise fueled Silicon Valley’s growth. I was right. China is now outpacing the U.S. in critical technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and India has become a global innovation hub, driven by the energy of returnee entrepreneurs. Ironically, a decade after sounding these alarms in my book Immigrant Exodus—which was named Book of the Year by The Economist—I’ve been invited by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore—one of India’s most prestigious universities—to share insights about immigration and its impact on innovation. I’ll be there this weekend for what promises to be a fascinating discussion. This journey has also inspired me to propose a collaborative research project on returnees with Prof M H Bala Subrahmanya at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which AnnaLee Saxenian of University of California, Berkeley has enthusiastically joined. Together, we aim to explore how returnee entrepreneurs are reshaping India’s innovation ecosystem and driving economic growth. My U.S. colleagues are particularly excited about the impact this research could have on the increasingly contentious debates around H-1B visas, especially in the polarized debates that Elon Musk and Donald Trump have joined. 

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