Latest news with #Kerala
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ESAF Small Finance Bank Selects SugarCRM to Power Customer Relationship Management and Digital Banking for Over 9 Million Indian Customers
Sugar will integrate with more than 15 different systems, serving as the unified customer experience engine for ESAF Bank's modernization of banking for the digital era THRISSUR, KERALA, India, July 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has selected SugarCRM as a key technology partner to support its digital transformation as part of ESAF Bank's multi-year StratoNeXt initiative. ESAF Bank will use the platform to deliver a more connected, modern banking experience to its more than 9 million customers. With 787 branches across India's 26 States, ESAF Bank is modernizing its core systems to enhance service delivery, ensure compliance with evolving regulations, and move toward fully digital, data-driven operations. Sugar will be the central engine for ESAF Bank's unified customer experience strategy, supporting real-time engagement, deep personalization and seamless service across all touchpoints – delivering a single source of truth across departments and systems for real-time visibility into every customer relationship. The platform will integrate with over 15 internal systems, including core banking, loan origination, digital onboarding, contact center, and marketing tools. By bringing together sales and service, ESAF Bank can better manage customer inquiries and leads – whether they come from a branch, website, call center, or mobile app – resulting in faster and more consistent customer responses. As part of ESAF Bank's regulated processes, Sugar will also support the creation of Customer Information Files (CIFs) directly within the system, giving each customer a unique ID that links all their accounts – a key part of ensuring data integrity across the bank. To further meet regulatory requirements, Sugar will be hosted locally at ESAF Bank's data centers in India, ensuring full compliance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data security regulations. "At ESAF Bank, our mission is to serve customers with care, precision, and speed – especially in communities where financial access is limited," said George K. John, Executive Director, ESAF Small Finance Bank. "SugarCRM will give our teams a full, real-time view of every customer and every interaction. It's a critical step toward building a digitally connected, customer-focused bank that's scalable, compliant, and ready for the future. Apart from efficiently catering to customer needs, this will help us strengthen customer experience and optimize our marketing spend." "Customer experience is a crucial strategic differentiator for banks by making interactions with customers faster and easier and more personalized," said SugarCRM's James Frampton, Chief Revenue Officer. "Sugar will help ESAF Bank bring together data from branches, online banking, mobile apps, and other systems. This will make it easier to resolve issues quickly, tailor service to each customer, and stay compliant with regulations. We're proud to play a central role in ESAF Bank's transformation." About SugarCRM SugarCRM software solutions help sales teams reach their highest potential. Designed to cut through complexity, prioritize opportunities, and increase upsell using the resources they already have, SugarCRM is ideal for complex, relationship-driven industries – such as manufacturing, wholesale and distribution – looking to accelerate growth and drive smarter decision-making. Thousands of companies in over 120 countries rely on SugarCRM to engage with clarity, sell with consistency and close with confidence. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, SugarCRM is backed by Accel-KKR. For more information about SugarCRM, visit: View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: Erin LutzLutz Public Relations and Marketing (for SugarCRM)erin@ 949.293.1055 Sarita KincaidVice President, Corporate Communications, 408.913.2090 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Indian woman found dead in Sharjah apartment laid to rest in Kerala
Athulya Shekar, the 30-year-old Indian woman who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment on July 19, was laid to rest in her hometown in Kollam district of Kerala on Wednesday afternoon, social workers from the Indian Association Sharjah confirmed to Khaleej Times. 'On the request of the family, a post-mortem was conducted, and the final rites were performed. Her body was repatriated to India on Monday night,' said the social worker. Athulya had been living in the UAE for the past few years with her husband, while her 10-year-old daughter was in India. Authorities had earlier confirmed that she died by suicide. Following her death, legal cases were registered against her husband in India, including charges under the Dowry Prohibition Act and domestic violence. A lookout notice has also been issued for his arrest. Athulya's death, along with a similar incident involving another Indian woman and her child days earlier, has prompted Sharjah authorities and the Indian Association to introduce confidential counselling sessions to support residents facing family-related challenges.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's execution cancelled in Yemen, cleric says
The execution of an Indian nurse convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner has been cancelled, a leading Muslim cleric involved in negotiations to spare her life has said. The office of the Indian cleric, Kanthapuram AP Aboobakr Musliyar, said on Monday Nimisha Priya's execution had been revoked after a delegation of Yemeni scholars and diplomats mediated with the Houthi administration. Priya, 38, from the southern state of Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2020 for murdering Talal Abdo Mehdi, the co-owner of her clinic in Sanaa. Her execution on 16 July was suspended to allow for negotiations led by Mr Musliyar. 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned," the cleric's office announced in a statement. 'A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence.' But unnamed Indian foreign ministry sources told ANI news agency that "information being shared by certain individuals on the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate". The Indian government told the Supreme Court earlier this month there was 'nothing much' it could do to prevent Priya's execution given the lack of formal diplomatic ties with Yemen. Priya has been held in a Sanaa prison since her arrest in 2017. The nurse was convicted of injecting Mehdi with sedatives in an attempt to retrieve her passport, which he had allegedly confiscated. The dose proved fatal. Her sentence was upheld by the Supreme Judicial Council in 2023. Yemeni law punishes murder by death, as it does drug trafficking, apostasy, adultery, and same-sex relations. The country, however, allows a murder convict to be pardoned by the victim's kin in exchange for diyat, or 'blood money'. Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 and eventually launched a clinic in partnership with Mehdi, in keeping with Yemeni law requiring foreign entrepreneurs to collaborate with citizens. Her family previously alleged that Priya faced mental, physical and financial abuse at his hands. She had even filed a police complaint against him in 2016, leading to his brief arrest. He allegedly resumed threatening her after getting out. The nurse's mother, Prema Kumari, a domestic worker in Kochi city, has been in Yemen for the past year trying to save her daughter. In December, she moved the Delhi High Court for exemption from an Indian travel advisory barring its citizens visiting the conflict-ridden Yemen. She has visited her daughter several times in prison. In an emotional appeal earlier this year, Ms Kumari said she was 'deeply grateful to the Indian and Kerala governments, as well as the committee formed to save her, for all the support provided so far'. 'But this is my final plea,' she added, 'please help us save her life. Time is running out.'
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Body of second Indian woman who died by suicide to be repatriated tonight
The mortal remains of Athulya Shekar, a 30-year-old Indian woman who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment on July 19, will be repatriated to her country tonight. The body will be flown to Kerala on an Air Arabia flight at 8.30pm, social workers from the Indian Association Sharjah confirmed to Khaleej Times. Her sister and brother-in-law will accompany the body on the flight. Social workers said all legal formalities have been completed, and the family is expected to receive the mortal remains soon. The final rites will be held tomorrow, July 30, in her hometown. The Keralite had been living in the UAE for the past few years with her husband, but her young daughter lives in India. She had recently celebrated her birthday and was preparing to start a new job when the incident took place. Authorities said Athulya was found hanging in her apartment, and the forensic report confirmed it was a case of suicide by hanging. Following her death, cases were registered against her husband in India. A lookout notice has been issued, and he will be taken into custody upon arrival in India, according to social workers familiar with the matter. Social workers said that the charges against the husband include intentionally inflicting serious injury using a dangerous object, unlawful confinement, and domestic cruelty by a husband or his kin. He has also been booked for the Dowry Prohibition Act, which criminalises the giving, receiving, or demanding of dowry. Previously, the husband had spoken to media outlets, claiming he was not present at the flat when the incident took place. The couple was reportedly facing personal and legal issues. Her family had raised concerns about her wellbeing in the past and is now pursuing legal action from India. They have also released videos alleging that Athulya was being tortured by her husband. The family also claimed that a case had been filed against the husband shortly after their marriage in 2014. Athulya moved to the UAE two years ago. Despite the reconciliation, there were reported instances after she arrived in Sharjah where she contacted the police. However, no official case was registered. Social workers from the Indian Association Sharjah, assisting the family, said her sudden death has left the community in shock. 'The family has been going through a lot. We have done our best to support them during this difficult time. Now that the repatriation is happening, we hope they can finally perform the last rites and find some peace,' said a representative from the Indian Association Sharjah. Over a week before Athulya's death, a 31-year-old Indian woman and her toddler were also found dead in her apartment, raising serious concerns about the well-being of residents facing family-related challenges. Taking into account these tragic incidents, Sharjah authorities, in collaboration with the Indian Association in Sharjah, initiated a support mechanism aimed at early intervention in domestic disputes and abuse cases. Starting the first week of August, IAS will launch weekly confidential counselling sessions every Saturday at its premises. These one-on-one sessions will be held in complete privacy, coordinated with the Indian Consulate and relevant Sharjah departments. Indian Association Sharjah president Nizar Thalangara told Khaleej Times that experienced counsellors from the two IAS-managed schools, along with former association members, will be part of the panel. 'There are people to listen to you. You can come to us,' he said, encouraging individuals to register through any IAS member or at the reception desk. Cases involving legal complications, such as refusal to issue or renew passports, domestic violence, job-related disputes, and custody battles, will be referred to the appropriate authorities, including the Indian Consulate and legal experts.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Indian woman found dead in Sharjah committed suicide by hanging, police confirm
The death of Athulya Sekhar, the woman who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment just a day after her 30th birthday, has been confirmed as suicide by hanging, according to a forensic report issued by Sharjah authorities, social worker Abdullah Kamampalam told Khaleej Times. Kamampalam, who has been supporting the family through the tragedy, said the report was shared by the authority. 'The official document confirms that the cause of death was suicide by hanging,' he said. Athulya, a native of Kerala, was found dead in her apartment in the Rolla area on the morning of July 19. A case has been registered against her husband in Kerala following a complaint from Athulya's parents, with charges including physical abuse, dowry harassment, and murder. 'The investigation is now underway,' Kamampalam said. Athulya had been residing in Sharjah for the past two years and was about to start a new job at a mall. She had celebrated her birthday the day before with her sister. Kamampalam confirmed that arrangements are currently being made to repatriate her mortal remains to Kerala.
