MAM
Canon India jumps into festive fray
KOLKATA: For any Bengali worth his rosogulla, there can be no greater festival than Durga Puja. And so, not just the people in the country’s east but also major companies located there are gearing up for the festivities.
In keeping with the celebratory mood, digital imaging company Canon India is going all out with a comprehensive ad campaign comprising print and radio as well as placement of point-of-sale material featuring brand icon Anushka Sharma at all Canon retail outlets.
The campaign, a mix of above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL), focuses on Canon’s digital compact and DSLR camera range. The company has kicked-off a new TV commercial featuring its digital SLR EOS 70D being rolled out from this month. New models too have been launched ahead of Durga Puja.
 |
|---|
But, it doesn’t end there. For Canon, it is more about strengthening its connect with consumers in the most effective way, a Kolkata-based brand analyst pointed out.
Speaking about business in the eastern region, Canon India executive vice president Alok Bharadwaj said that despite the economic slowdown, the company has achieved 27 per cent growth in the DSLR business in the eastern region and has maintained a steady growth rate of 10 per cent across India.
“The current DSLR India market with 2.5 lakh units is expected to grow to 5 lakh units in three years. By expanding offerings with variants of combos and discounts between 10 and 40 per cent, we are preparing for a strong foothold in this segment,” he said.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
