MAM
ASCIonline gets 15% complaints registrations via new mobile app
MUMBAI: The ASCIonline mobile app, in just two months of launch, has seen a boost in the number of complaints received. Complaints through the mobile app, now contribute to almost 15 per cent of the total number of complaints received by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
The app has surpassed 1000 downloads within just two months since its launch on 17 June, 2015.
ASCIonline mobile app facilitates convenient filing of complaints against misleading advertisements. The app has received a 4.0 /5 star rating by users and some positive feedback.
ASCI chairman Narendra Ambwani said, “ASCI’s priority for the year was improving its reach to provide a super-fast and convenient access for consumers to lodge complaints and to increase ASCI’s reach across India trickling down to smaller towns.”
While the web-based online complaint registration system has been functional for over three years, the mobile app has broken the “reach” barrier. With the dramatic and ever growing increase in smartphone penetration and its use for various transactions, the mobile app has been a great enabler for end consumers. Analysis of complaints received via mobile app is the real “proof of the pudding.”
“We have received complaints from more than 15 different states and cities like Darjeeling, Thiruwallur, Almora, Bikaner, Jalandhar, Hingoli etc. Not only that, consumers have complained against advertisements from a wide range of sectors such as education, FMCG, healthcare, telecom, e-commerce, durables, automotive, food and beverages, and across media beyond print and TV, such as website, radio, SMS, emailers, promotional materials, product packaging and app ads,” informed Ambwani.
For promoting the mobile app, ASCI coined the “SnapItandAppIt” tagline as the app allows one to take a picture of the objectionable ad and send it through the app to ASCI. Social media is being leveraged to create awareness. Prasar Bharati also took note of this mobile app and actively supported this by tweeting about the app. Even industry stalwarts and twitteratis like Google MD Rajan Anandan, RK Swamy BBDO MD SK Swamy, Intradia head catalyst Sanjeev Kotnala, Provacateur director Paritosh Joshi created a buzz, causing a ripple effect.
With ASCIonline app, the body has engaged thousands of ASCI ambassadors who are ASCI’s eyes and ears and would put a check on erring advertisers and push for “Responsible Advertising.”
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.
