MAM
Abbott launches grow right campaign to help parents achieve healthy growth in toddlers
MUMBAI: Parents across the country agree that raising a toddler is no child’s play. Childhood is a period of rapid growth and development and is a critical phase which lays the foundation for markers of a healthy adult life4. Recognizing the continual concerns parents have when it comes to the growth of their children, Abbott has launched Grow Right – a new initiative in India focused on supporting parents and helping children grow to their full potential.
As a part of the Grow Right initiative, Abbott partnered with leading parenting content platform, Momspresso to understand moms’ concerns and establish a guild of experts to create a comprehensive set of guidelines for right growth – the Grow Right Charter. The Grow Right guild is comprised of experts in child care pediatrics, nutrition and behavioural science including noted paediatrician Dr. Samir Dalwai, renowned nutritionists Dr. Eileen Canday and Dr. Dharini Krishnan, and child specialist Dr. Mukesh Sanklecha.
Helping Moms Win at Nutrition and Toddler Growth
The Survey revealed a staggering nine out of 10 toddler moms across India have concerns about raising their child. While more than 60% of moms cited nutritional intake and physical growth as their top concerns, more than 50% moms are also expressing their concerns over mental growth and social skills development of their toddlers.
Addressing parental concerns around toddler growth, the Grow Right Charter defines Right Growth as a combination of physical, cognitive and mental progress that should be observed carefully and holistically during the foundational years of childhood. While science offers solutions and rational routes to growth, the Charter guidelines recognise that a child’s growth journey is an emotional one, and it can be tough for parents.
Grow Right Charter Guidelines
· Right Nutrition guidelines will help parents better manage mealtimes and ensure a complete and balanced diet for their toddlers.
· Right Play addresses the growing concern among parents about unchecked screen-time and inadequate playtime by defining appropriate ways to creatively engage with toddlers.
· Right Nurture guidelines are designed to assist evolving behavioral trends in response to increasingly dynamic influences a toddler faces in today’s digitized world.
· Right Impact guidelines will help toddler parents identify and manage red flags in key growth and development markers.
“Abbott is committed to solving nutrition problems across all age groups”, Vikash Prasad, Managing Director & General Manager at Abbott’s nutrition business in India at today’s unveiling of the Grow Right initiative. “By bringing together this guild of experts, we aim to connect parents and caregivers to a multidisciplinary group who can support them in their goals to provide healthy growth for their children. We recognize that ensuring the health and growth of the next generation is truly a challenge that healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers must come together to address.”
“During early childhood, the brain develops rapidly and is particularly sensitive to the external environment”, said Dr. Dharini Krishnan. It is alarming to see that most Indian children are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. Through the charter, our aim is to help parents find effective and creative ways to engage with their toddlers.”
“Problems with feeding may lead to significant negative nutritional, developmental and psychological issues in toddlers”, said Dr. Mukesh Sanklecha. Early recognition and management is the key to addressing this concern. Our core aim is to ease the burden off moms’ shoulder and empower her with the right information.”
Speaking on importance of right nurture, noted paediatrician Dr. Samir Dalwai, added, “Children often tend to face psychological difficulties including behavioral problems
“During their foundational years, children may face behavioural problems, which may be overlooked due to a general lack of awareness on identifying and tackling issues”, said Dr. Samir Dalwai. “If unaddressed, this can have a negative effect on the overall growth and long term feeding habits of children. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with my esteemed colleagues to help ease parents’ anxieties about providing the right nurture and care as their child grows.”
“Parents are often inundated with information on growth and development for their kids and it is important to understand global benchmarks such as WHO’s growth charts to assess children’s growth”, said Lara Dutta who was at the Grow Right launch event today in Mumbai. “I am confident that the Grow Right charter, curated by an expert guild, is a valuable parenting resource and I am glad to be a part of the initiative.”
“Momspresso has always been committed to supporting Indian mothers in their journey as a parent,'' said Vishal Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO of Momspresso ''We are happy to have partnered with Abbott’s nutrition business in India to gain insight into mothers’ challenges which showed the need to address the evolving concerns around the holistic growth of their toddlers.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
