MAM
Hansa Research wins IRS contract until 2012
MUMBAI: Continuing its long-standing relationship with MRUC (Media Research Users Council), Hansa Research has won the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) contract for the third time in a row for the three-year period running through to 2012.
Hansa Research has been conducting the IRS on behalf of the MRUC since 2003. Says Hansa Research managing director Ashok Das, “We are happy to be awarded with the IRS contract for the next three years. It allows us the opportunity to innovate and in turn raise the benefits for those utilising the research.” MRUC intends to release the IRS on a quarterly basis beginning 2010 on a half-yearly format. Says MRUC general secretary Sabina Solomon, “MRUC has always believed in continuous product improvement. Sensing this need, we have decided to go for quarterly reporting from 2010.” With an annual sample size exceeding 250,000 household interviews, IRS‘ prime objective is to collect readership information from a cross-section of individuals. It also captures information on television and cinema viewing habits, radio listening habits, internet usage and FMCG products – usage, consumption and durable ownership amongst households. The Indian Readership Survey (IRS) and the National Readership Survey (NRS) have decided to merge, according to the two organisations that used to conduct these research studies independently.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
