Rasna founder Areez Khambatta passes away
New Delhi, Nov 21: Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta, the founding chairman of the popular drink Rasna, passed away in Ahmedabad due to a cardiac arrest, the company said on Monday.
The 85-year-old industrialist, who was suffering from a prolonged illness, passed away on November 19.
He is survived by his wife Persis, and children Piruz, Delna, and Ruzan, his daughter-in-law Binaisha, and grandkids Arzeen, Arzad, Avan, Areez, Firoza and Arnavaz.
Decades back, his father Phiroja Khambatta started a modest business which Areez took to being the largest concentrate manufacturer in the world, with a presence in over 60 countries.
He created affordable soft drink packs of Rasna in the 1970s as an alternative to soft drink products sold at high costs. It is sold at 1.8 million retail outlets in the country.
Rasna, which is now the world's largest gentle drink focus producer, still enjoys a high recall and the brand's "I love you Rasna" campaign of the 80s and 90s still resonates in the minds of people.
A pack of Rasna of Rs 5 can be converted into 32 glasses of soft drinks, costing a mere 15 paise per glass.
Rasna has nine manufacturing plants and a strong distribution network with 26 depots across India, 200 super stockists, 5,000 stockists, 900 salesforce covering 1.6 million outlets.
Over the years, Rasna won various awards including the prestigious Superior Taste Award 2008 instituted by The International Taste and Quality Institute, Belgium Cannes Lions London, Monde Selection Award, Master Brand The World Brand Congress Award and ITQI superior taste and quality award.
A few years back, Areez Khambatta passed on the baton of the unlisted business to his son Piruz Khambatta, who is now the Group chairman.
"Areez Khambatta has contributed immensely to Indian industry, business, and most importantly societal development through social service," the Rasna Group said in the statement.
A statement issued by the Rasna Group read: "With profound sorrow and grief, we announce the sad passing away of Areez Khambatta - the founder chairman of Rasna Group, chairman of Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust and Rasna Foundation - to his heavenly abode on November 19, 2022." Khambatta was the former chairman of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthostis (WAPIZ). He also served as the past president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat and the vice president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India.
A recipient of the President of India's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal as well as the Paschimi Star, Samarseva and Sangram medals, Khambatta was also honoured with the National Citizen’s Award for outstanding contribution in the field of commerce.
"The family is committed to ensuring that his principles of duty to the country first, then our religion and duty to following his ideals be they in business or society, will be engraved in the family DNA for generations to come," the statement said.
The Trust and Foundations under his chairmanship have been involved in various projects to do with health care, education and scholarship.
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SC orders Delhi authorities to clear localities of stray dogs
Warns of action against obstruction to operation
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has instructed the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation to clear all localities of Delhi, especially the open localities and cities, of stray dogs, making no compromise in the operation.
Hearing a suo motu case initiated by the court over several incidents of rabies and deaths from stray dog bites, a two-judge bench consisting of Justice JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that the operation should also be undertaken at the earliest, reports Bar and Bench.
The judges directed the authorities to plan the operation, including forming a force for it. They further stressed that clearing the localities of stray dogs should be a priority for the authorities.
The Delhi government and the municipalities were directed to create dog shelters within eight weeks and equip them with staff members to sterilize and immunize the dogs. The dog shelters should also be provided with CCTV cameras, the judges have said.
The apex court has warned that strict action would be taken against individuals or organizations obstructing the operation. Referring to animal rights activists and criticizing them heavily, the bench asked if the activists could bring alive the victims of rabies.
The judges orally stated, "We are not doing this for us—it is for the public interest. so no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earlier. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far off places.”
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