Latest news with #Sama
Hans India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Millet magic from Bhadrachalam wins national applause
In a quiet corner of Bhadrachalam, famously known as the South Ayodhya, a group of determined tribal women is rewriting the story of rural enterprise — one millet biscuit at a time. Their venture, now known as 'Bhadradri Millet Magic Biscuits,' has earned the rare distinction of being praised by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. The recognition has created a wave of pride across the region. What started as a modest effort to make healthy snacks has blossomed into a small but impactful business with growing popularity. 'For the past six years, we've been making millet biscuits — using jowar, ragi, sama, and korralu,' shares Thati Lalitha, one of the four women behind the initiative. 'We never imagined they would one day be mentioned by the Prime Minister. His praise gave us a huge boost.' Her teammate Uke Venkatalakshmi adds, 'We were so encouraged when our friends and sisters started asking for the biscuits — some even sent them abroad! Representatives from TIFED recently visited our ITDA office and tasted our biscuits. They said they were wonderful.' Their journey began in 2018 with the formation of the 'Srirama Joint Liability Group.' Initially, the group focused on producing sanitary napkins under the brand Giri. 'It was difficult,' recalls Lalitha. 'People weren't interested in buying them. We faced many hurdles and lost nearly ₹15,000. But we didn't give up.' Support from the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) proved critical. A subsidy of ₹8 lakhs helped them buy essential machinery, with the remainder financed by a bank loan and their own contribution. But then came an unexpected blow — the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We couldn't begin napkin production because of the lockdowns,' explains Venkatalakshmi. 'Instead, with support from authorities, we pivoted and started making masks. We produced and delivered 40,000 of them to the GCC in just one month.' It was during this period that the idea of making millet biscuits took hold. 'We were seeing people move toward healthier food — jowar rotis, ragi java, korrala rice. So, we thought, why not make healthy snacks too?' says Lalitha. 'We experimented with jowar and ragi initially. There were challenges, but we kept going.' Backed by guidance from then ITDA PO Prateek Jain, who arranged training in Hyderabad, the group refined their recipes. Today, their daily production has grown from a modest three kilograms to twenty, sourced from tribal farmers in Tulsipaka, Chintur Mandal (Andhra Pradesh). The biscuits — sold in attractive packs — now come in varieties like Sama and Korralu (₹150), and Ragi and Jonna (₹130). The team has also begun making Karakkaya tea powder, priced at ₹200. They're now dreaming bigger. 'We want to see our millet biscuits on the shelves of big shopping malls. That's our next goal,' says Venkatalakshmi. 'Right now, we are just four women. But we hope to grow and provide employment to at least ten more.' Their journey is an inspiring example of how resilience, innovation, and community support can turn humble beginnings into a source of regional pride. As Lalitha puts it, 'We didn't get success easily. Behind this recognition is a story of struggle, setbacks, and sheer will.'
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Health bodies urge implementation of report on racial bias in medical aid schemes
The fight for fair treatment of healthcare providers is far from over. Image: File Several years in the making, the fight for justice in South Africa's healthcare sector is far from over. Health bodies say the real test now lies in the implementation of key recommendations from a landmark report, which found that black healthcare providers were unfairly targeted by medical schemes often having their claims withheld based on race and ethnicity. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi received the final report from the Section 59 Investigation Panel on Monday. The investigation, commissioned in 2019, examined allegations of racial discrimination and procedural unfairness in the application of Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) processes by major schemes and administrators, including Discovery Health, Medscheme, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). Covering the period from 2012 to 2019, the Panel reviewed statistical and testimonial evidence and found that black providers were disproportionately flagged, audited, or penalised through opaque FWA systems. The report also detailed serious procedural shortcomings. These include failure to notify providers of alleged irregularities within a reasonable timeframe, audits that stretch back more than three years, the use of non-transparent algorithms and risk-rating tools, and the absence of independent mediation or effective appeal mechanisms. National Health Care Professionals Association (NHCPA) chairperson Dr Donald Gumede, who was among the complainants in the matter, welcomed the release of the report. 'We are very excited that the final report has finally come to light,' said Gumede. 'What's critical now is the implementation because the report, at the end of the day, is just a document with recommendations. It's what happens next that matters.' He welcomed the proposal for a tribunal, saying: 'There needs to be a proper system in place to regulate the entire healthcare chain. Right now, medical aid schemes operate like a law unto themselves. They are not accountable to anyone and they've destroyed many lives.' Gumede added that they still receive complaints from healthcare professionals and acknowledged that reaching this point had been no easy feat. The South African Medical Association (Sama) welcomed the release of the long-awaited final report and said it had been an active participant throughout the inquiry process. 'The Report validates what many of our members have endured for years: racially skewed targeting, opaque algorithms, and Kafkaesque audit processes,' said Sama chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa. 'Sama has zero tolerance for any form of racial discrimination. Our members have a right to fair treatment, regardless of their race, and patients deserve a health system built on equity and accountability. We urge all medical schemes to act decisively and transparently. South Africa cannot tolerate discrimination masquerading as fraud control. Sama stands ready to work with all stakeholders to restore fairness, trust and accountability in our healthcare financing system.' Sama said they supported the panel's call for urgent remedial action; legislative, regulatory, and operational, to eliminate discrimination and ensure fairness. 'The association has called on the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to publish an implementation roadmap within 60 days; on medical schemes and administrators to institute a moratorium on recoveries for claims older than three years until updated rules are adopted; and on the National Department of Health to accelerate long-overdue amendments to the Medical Schemes Act that would require algorithmic transparency and the establishment of independent dispute-resolution mechanisms.' Discovery, Medscheme and the CMS did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. Cape Times
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Can Kenya attract the outsourcing jobs of the AI future?
By Eric Randolph Nairobi: In a leafy Nairobi suburb, a Kenyan firm helps foreigners track shoplifters, monitor lung damage from Covid-19 and identify whales -- tapping into the outsourcing market's artificial intelligence-boosted boom. Cloudfactory started in Kenya in 2014, initially doing simple tasks like transcription for overseas clients. But since 2024, it has taken on a wide array of AI-powered business that is transforming the sector and raising hopes Africa could become a new hub for digital outsourcing. Clients include Charles River Analytics, a US robotics firm that needed its AI trained to spot whales so its unmanned vessels would not collide with them. For other firms, Cloudfactory analyses medical X-rays, helps insurers spot damaged roofs and measures forest cover to see whether carbon-offsetting projects live up to their hype -- employing 130 staff and 3,000 freelancers in the process. "We still need people to tell machines what to do and verify what they produce," said Cloudfactory Kenya director Festus Kiragu. "And that is creating jobs -- lots of jobs." Kenya certainly needs them. Roughly a million people turn 18 in the east African country each year. Eighty percent end up in informal, poorly paid work, fuelling social unrest that has lately spilt over into violent protest. Traditional outsourcing is already booming. In the swanky recently built offices of CCI in Tatu City, a new town on Nairobi's outskirts, some 5,000 staff answer calls from customers of US airlines, banks and retailers. The firm hopes to double its personnel by 2030 and receives hundreds of hopeful candidates each week. "It's an entry-level job, let's not sugar-coat it, but you get a chance and you can build a real career," said CCI Kenya CEO Rishi Jatania, who said he started "on the phones" himself. Mental health impact Africa currently accounts for just two percent of the world's business outsourcing. But rising wages in established hubs like India and the Philippines are pushing firms towards the continent. Kenya is a frontrunner thanks to its educated, English-speaking, tech-savvy youth and good internet. Some 35,000 employees already work in outsourcing, and that could rise to 100,000 within three or four years with the right nudge from the government, according to Genesis, a global consultancy. However the push to grow the sector has not been universally welcomed. Last year a court ruled social media giant Meta could be sued in Kenya over working conditions at the outsourcing firm Sama, tasked with removing violent and hateful content from Facebook. Critics have also long alleged that moderation work poses a high risk to the mental health of workers. And overseas firms have frequently come under fire for outsourcing tasks to exploit cheap labour costs while investing little in their local employees' futures -- or the economies of host nations like Kenya. Meta argued it was not the direct employer, and many in the sector fear the Sama case will scare off clients, though it has taught them lessons. "Content moderation is still critical and our workers want those jobs because they pay a premium," said Kiragu, the Cloudfactory chief. "But that work needs to be on a rotational basis -- do it for two months and then do something else." Long-term view The recently formed Outsourcing Association of Kenya is pushing for cheaper work permits and tax breaks to help it compete with Asia. But with debt-ridden Kenya in urgent need of revenue, the negotiations with the government have been tough. "We also need the government to market Kenya as (an outsourcing) centre, the same way they do for tourism," said Kiragu. Sometimes that means changing investors' outdated perceptions of Africa. "I've been asked... 'Are there giraffes and lions outside your window?'," said CCI's Jatania with a chuckle. Looming over everything is AI, which created those new jobs and could just as quickly destroy them if education and training do not keep pace. "Customer experience jobs at call centres are great for entry-level but they are the most vulnerable to AI," said Betty Maina, a Kenyan former trade and industrialisation minister now with the Genesis consultancy. "Reskilling people for the new demand is going to be critical." For now, there is still plenty of work for humans, insisted Jatania. "If you miss your flight... the last thing you want to do is talk to a bot."
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Can Kenya attract the outsourcing jobs of the AI future?
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills In a leafy Nairobi suburb, a Kenyan firm helps foreigners track shoplifters, monitor lung damage from Covid-19 and identify whales -- tapping into the outsourcing market's artificial intelligence-boosted started in Kenya in 2014, initially doing simple tasks like transcription for overseas since 2024, it has taken on a wide array of AI-powered business that is transforming the sector and raising hopes Africa could become a new hub for digital include Charles River Analytics, a US robotics firm that needed its AI trained to spot whales so its unmanned vessels would not collide with other firms, Cloudfactory analyses medical X-rays, helps insurers spot damaged roofs and measures forest cover to see whether carbon-offsetting projects live up to their hype -- employing 130 staff and 3,000 freelancers in the process."We still need people to tell machines what to do and verify what they produce," said Cloudfactory Kenya director Festus Kiragu. "And that is creating jobs -- lots of jobs."Kenya certainly needs them. Roughly a million people turn 18 in the east African country each year. Eighty percent end up in informal, poorly paid work, fuelling social unrest that has lately spilt over into violent outsourcing is already the swanky recently built offices of CCI in Tatu City, a new town on Nairobi's outskirts, some 5,000 staff answer calls from customers of US airlines, banks and firm hopes to double its personnel by 2030 and receives hundreds of hopeful candidates each week."It's an entry-level job, let's not sugar-coat it, but you get a chance and you can build a real career," said CCI Kenya CEO Rishi Jatania, who said he started "on the phones" currently accounts for just two percent of the world's business rising wages in established hubs like India and the Philippines are pushing firms towards the is a frontrunner thanks to its educated, English-speaking, tech-savvy youth and good 35,000 employees already work in outsourcing, and that could rise to 100,000 within three or four years with the right nudge from the government, according to Genesis, a global the push to grow the sector has not been universally year a court ruled social media giant Meta could be sued in Kenya over working conditions at the outsourcing firm Sama, tasked with removing violent and hateful content from have also long alleged that moderation work poses a high risk to the mental health of overseas firms have frequently come under fire for outsourcing tasks to exploit cheap labour costs while investing little in their local employees' futures -- or the economies of host nations like argued it was not the direct employer, and many in the sector fear the Sama case will scare off clients, though it has taught them lessons."Content moderation is still critical and our workers want those jobs because they pay a premium," said Kiragu, the Cloudfactory chief."But that work needs to be on a rotational basis -- do it for two months and then do something else."The recently formed Outsourcing Association of Kenya is pushing for cheaper work permits and tax breaks to help it compete with with debt-ridden Kenya in urgent need of revenue, the negotiations with the government have been tough."We also need the government to market Kenya as (an outsourcing) centre, the same way they do for tourism," said that means changing investors' outdated perceptions of Africa."I've been asked... 'Are there giraffes and lions outside your window?'," said CCI's Jatania with a over everything is AI, which created those new jobs and could just as quickly destroy them if education and training do not keep pace."Customer experience jobs at call centres are great for entry-level but they are the most vulnerable to AI," said Betty Maina, a Kenyan former trade and industrialisation minister now with the Genesis consultancy."Reskilling people for the new demand is going to be critical."For now, there is still plenty of work for humans, insisted Jatania."If you miss your flight... the last thing you want to do is talk to a bot."
Int'l Business Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Can Kenya Attract The Outsourcing Jobs Of The AI Future?
In a leafy Nairobi suburb, a Kenyan firm helps foreigners track shoplifters, monitor lung damage from Covid-19 and identify whales -- tapping into the outsourcing market's artificial intelligence-boosted boom. Cloudfactory started in Kenya in 2014, initially doing simple tasks like transcription for overseas clients. But since 2024, it has taken on a wide array of AI-powered business that is transforming the sector and raising hopes Africa could become a new hub for digital outsourcing. Clients include Charles River Analytics, a US robotics firm that needed its AI trained to spot whales so its unmanned vessels would not collide with them. For other firms, Cloudfactory analyses medical X-rays, helps insurers spot damaged roofs and measures forest cover to see whether carbon-offsetting projects live up to their hype -- employing 130 staff and 3,000 freelancers in the process. "We still need people to tell machines what to do and verify what they produce," said Cloudfactory Kenya director Festus Kiragu. "And that is creating jobs -- lots of jobs." Kenya certainly needs them. Roughly a million people turn 18 in the east African country each year. Eighty percent end up in informal, poorly paid work, fuelling social unrest that has lately spilt over into violent protest. Traditional outsourcing is already booming. In the swanky recently built offices of CCI in Tatu City, a new town on Nairobi's outskirts, some 5,000 staff answer calls from customers of US airlines, banks and retailers. The firm hopes to double its personnel by 2030 and receives hundreds of hopeful candidates each week. "It's an entry-level job, let's not sugar-coat it, but you get a chance and you can build a real career," said CCI Kenya CEO Rishi Jatania, who said he started "on the phones" himself. Africa currently accounts for just two percent of the world's business outsourcing. But rising wages in established hubs like India and the Philippines are pushing firms towards the continent. Kenya is a frontrunner thanks to its educated, English-speaking, tech-savvy youth and good internet. Some 35,000 employees already work in outsourcing, and that could rise to 100,000 within three or four years with the right nudge from the government, according to Genesis, a global consultancy. However the push to grow the sector has not been universally welcomed. Last year a court ruled social media giant Meta could be sued in Kenya over working conditions at the outsourcing firm Sama, tasked with removing violent and hateful content from Facebook. Critics have also long alleged that moderation work poses a high risk to the mental health of workers. And overseas firms have frequently come under fire for outsourcing tasks to exploit cheap labour costs while investing little in their local employees' futures -- or the economies of host nations like Kenya. Meta argued it was not the direct employer, and many in the sector fear the Sama case will scare off clients, though it has taught them lessons. "Content moderation is still critical and our workers want those jobs because they pay a premium," said Kiragu, the Cloudfactory chief. "But that work needs to be on a rotational basis -- do it for two months and then do something else." The recently formed Outsourcing Association of Kenya is pushing for cheaper work permits and tax breaks to help it compete with Asia. But with debt-ridden Kenya in urgent need of revenue, the negotiations with the government have been tough. "We also need the government to market Kenya as (an outsourcing) centre, the same way they do for tourism," said Kiragu. Sometimes that means changing investors' outdated perceptions of Africa. "I've been asked... 'Are there giraffes and lions outside your window?'," said CCI's Jatania with a chuckle. Looming over everything is AI, which created those new jobs and could just as quickly destroy them if education and training do not keep pace. "Customer experience jobs at call centres are great for entry-level but they are the most vulnerable to AI," said Betty Maina, a Kenyan former trade and industrialisation minister now with the Genesis consultancy. "Reskilling people for the new demand is going to be critical." For now, there is still plenty of work for humans, insisted Jatania. "If you miss your flight... the last thing you want to do is talk to a bot."
