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Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cos tighten digital leash on staff to block data leaks
Ahmedabad: A wave of companies in Gujarat has begun imposing strict digital controls on employees, deploying multi-layered surveillance systems to protect trade secrets and customer data from corporate espionage and cyber threats. Firms across banking, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and FMCG sectors are implementing several restrictions that include location-based email blocks, smartphone bans in production areas, screenshot-disabled devices and automated alerts triggered when sensitive information is shared externally. The security crackdown has intensified over the past two years as companies scramble to safeguard intellectual property, manufacturing processes and strategic business information from competitors and hackers. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad "Most chemical companies are taking necessary measures to maintain confidentiality. Smartphones are not allowed on the floor to protect process integrity. Similarly, pen drives are restricted on office systems, and data is stored on the cloud rather than locally. Such is the focus on data security that code names are given to everything, right from raw material to process inputs," said Manish Kiri, former president of the Gujarat Dyestuffs Manufacturers' Association (GDMA). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Co-operative banks have also begun adopting similar cybersecurity protocols. The Rajkot Nagarik Sahakari Bank Limited has deployed a multi-layered system to protect its digital infrastructure. "Accessing official email via the internet is limited to senior employees, while others can access official email only on their office desktops," said Dinesh Pathak, chairman of the bank. "We've restricted USB access, implemented mobile device management (MDM) systems to block screenshots and file sharing, and added alerts that notify us if an employee attempts to email a customer's name, phone number, PAN or Aadhaar details outside the bank's network. We've also taken steps to mitigate ransomware risks," he adds. Pramod Sharda, CEO of a global corporate email and collaboration solutions provider, said there has been a marked increase in demand for such controls in the past two years. "In Gujarat, companies in banking and financial services, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles and FMCG are increasingly deploying tools that limit employee activity on enterprise platforms. Most follow a bring your own device (BYOD) policy but restrict functions such as email access when employees are out of state, taking screenshots and sharing attachments. These measures help ensure that sensitive data is not leaked to competitors or misused," Sharda explained. "We even use code names for products to conceal manufacturing processes. Digital data protection is vital, and we have implemented multiple restrictions on employee access accordingly," said a pharma company's director, requesting anonymity. Munjal Patel, director of a leading pharma company said, "We are active in a very competitive market where data, process and product security are a must. For the last three years, we have decided not to allow smartphones at our plants. Only the plant head and department head can use them." "Our email has several data security features. Only the top 5% of employees can forward any email to someone outside the company. Pharma companies need to protect information related to new packaging, molecular formula and drug master files (DMF) and therefore, such precautions are required," he added. Nirav Shah, former president, GESIA IT association said that these measures were already being implemented in the IT sector. "Now, all the other sectors have become cautious about sharing sensitive information. Therefore, many non-IT companies have also begun measures such as location- and device-specific online access."
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gadchiroli mining body shielded form legal suits, challenges
MUMBAI: The government has given legal immunity to the Gadchiroli District Mining Authority (GDMA) formed to develop the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district as the new steel hub of the country. The GDMA will be protected from all suits, prosecutions and other legal proceedings against it. The body has also been accorded powers to frame rules and regulations that it may deem necessary to exercise its powers and discharge its duties. The powers were granted through legislation for which the state government promulgated an ordinance on June 2. The state government is looking to develop Gadchiroli as the next steel city of the country. The top private players in the steel sector have committed to investing ₹50,000 crore in the district, and one company has already started mining high-quality iron ore, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state legislature in December last year. Accordingly, a mining authority for the district was approved in the state cabinet meeting held in the first week of April. Now the government has further decided to give protective cover to GDMA by enacting a law. 'No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any member of the authority or the executive committee constituted under this ordinance for anything done or any action taken in good faith under this ordinance,' states the ordinance promulgated by the state mining department, which will be converted into legislation by tabling a bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature. The 16-member GDMA will be headed by the chief minister. The ordinance has also allowed the formation of an executive committee, headed by the chief secretary, that will finalise the terms and conditions of the tender and approve the tenders for appointing a mine developer-cum-operator (MDO) for the operationalisation of the mineral blocks. The protection from legal proceedings has been extended to the nine-member executive committee as well. The GDMA will have all the power to make rules and regulations that it believes are necessary for discharging its duties. 'The authority may, with the prior approval of the government, from time to time, make regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance and the rules made thereunder, for all or any of the matters to be provided under this ordinance by regulations and generally for all other matters for which the provision is, in the opinion of the authority, necessary for the exercise of its powers and the discharge of its functions under this ordinance,' the ordinance noted. The state mining department was of the view that the absence of an integrated administrative mechanism was hampering swift execution of the mining project, and thus the formation of a unified authority to expedite mining approvals was proposed. 'It will foster the growth of mineral-based industries and accelerate the holistic development of Gadchiroli district,' said a senior mining official, adding, 'The GDMA will act as a catalyst in speeding up the process of operationalisation of approved mining leases. It will also generate employment in the said area and boost the state's revenue.' I S Chahal, additional chief secretary of the state mining department said that the government did not intend to give any such protection to GDMA. 'The provision has been incorporated only to protect the government resolutions to be issued in this regard. In the absence of legislation, people often challenge the government resolution, saying that there is no such provision in any of the existing acts,' he told Hindustan Times. Currently, Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd operates iron ore mines in Gadchiroli's Surjagarh, which were awarded on lease in 2007. The operation of the mines could be started only in 2021 owing to the Maoist insurgency. Surjagad Ispat has now proposed a ₹10,000-crore steel plant in Wadlapeth village while JSW Steel too has announced a plan to set up the world's largest steel plant in Gadchiroli district.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘QCO will hurt Gujarat's dye makers'
1 2 3 Ahmedabad: Gujarat's micro, small, and medium-scale dyes manufacturers have opposed the Centre's move to implement a quality control order (QCO) for three intermediate chemicals — H-acid, K-acid and vinyl sulphone — widely used for various dyes manufacturing. They say the move will lead to an artificial price increase in the domestic market. Gujarat Dyestuffs Manufacturers' Association (GDMA) has raised the issue. Its secretary, Nilesh Damani, said, "The QCO is expected to be implemented next month. We did a survey among our members, and the majority are opposing it. QCO will lead to cartelisation and an artificial increase in price, leading to Indian dyestuff manufacturers losing out to the Chinese in the international market. This, in turn, will lead to Chinese dyestuff being imported into India. It is against the principle of ease of doing business." Once the QCO is implemented, local and foreign manufacturers must adhere to the Indian standard and display the Standard Mark, obtained through a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). GDMA president Dipak Patel said, "In most cases, the quality of imported goods (Chinese) is better than the Indian goods. In some high-quality and high-value dyestuff, it is critical to have only Chinese material. Our industry has a majority of SMEs who will be at the mercy of a few composite manufacturers. This will result in unfair trade practices. The implementation of QCO would be the beginning of the slow death of MSME dyestuff manufacturers ."
