AMCHAM’s HR Committee organized an interactive session on ‘Mental Health in COVID Times’ on July 28th. The guest speakers were Ms. Niharika Thakkar, Founder, PsychLine and Ms. Saachi Arora, Consultant Therapist, PsychLine. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM introduced the speakers and welcomed participants. In her opening remarks, she gave an overview of the challenges people have been struggling with, such as the absence of a structured work day, no informal communication amongst colleagues and work-life balance distortion. Ms. Niharika Thakkar, in her presentation, shared some common myths, problems and consequences around the topic of mental health. She highlighted the major challenges at work due to COVID, which includes disturbed schedule, inability to request leave, the never-ending work day, technical and logistic challenges, “water-cooler” chats, broken feedback loops and appreciation, communication difficulties, decline in team work, loneliness, frustration, anxiety, demotivation, burnout evidenced as procrastination, fatigue and seriously disturbed work-life balance. Some of the prescriptions included seeking a sense of normalcy, maintaining a routine, online open-door hours, positive affirmations and self-motivation, setting incentives at short intervals, scheduling pleasurable activities and digital detox. Ms. Saachi Arora covered more difficult challenges faced during the pandemic which includes family and adjustment problems, parenting challenges, anxiety (panic attacks), OCD (health anxiety), obesity and overweight, PTSD, grief and bereavement, loneliness and depression, domestic violence, pain disorders, sleep disorders, substance abuse and suicide. She stressed on the importance of recognizing warning signs which can be emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral. She ended her presentation with a 2 minute mindfulness exercise with participants. It was followed by Q&A with the audience. Mr. Chaitanya N. Sreenivas, Chairman – HR Committee, AMCHAM and VP HR & HR Head India South Asia, IBM, thanked the speakers and summarized the session.

AMCHAM had an introductory meeting with CAPT Michael Farmer, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), U.S. Embassy on July 27th. CAPT Farmer was briefed about AMCHAM and activities in the aerospace and defense sector by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. He was welcomed to the Defense Committee in his position as the Honorary USG Chairman. He shared insights on the upcoming U.S. government visits, as well as his vision on how members could support in expanding the scope of the U.S. India defense relationship.

AMCHAM’s Electronics Manufacturing Committee met virtually on July 22nd under the leadership of Mr. Ketan Patel, Chairman – Electronics Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Hewlett – Packard Enterprise India Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Naveen Tandon, Co-Chairman – Electronics Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and Head- Policy and Strategy, Apple Inc. The committee discussed, amongst other issues, concerns with Trusted Electronics Value Chain (TEVC), standards of STQC and TEVC for telecom, delay in BIS Certification and approvals, a host of representations that are proposed to be made to the government, as well as policy stability issues in ease of doing business. The need for a stake in higher opportunities to industries in electronics manufacturing sectors in India and U.S.-India High Tech Corridor was also discussed. Requirements to prepare a document for presentation to the Government of India on end-to-end manufacturing, capturing the current business and trade scenario and the U.S. industry’s complete engagement in R&D emanating from long term plans were some of the main points of discussion at the meeting.

AMCHAM’s National Executive Board welcomed Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy and AMCHAM’s Honorary President, Ambassador Atul Keshap and interacted with him virtually on July 20th. The session began with welcome remarks and an introduction of CDA Ambassador Keshap by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. Mr. Salil Gupte, Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India, provided an overview of AMCHAM, the voice of U.S. industry on the ground in India. CDA Ambassador Keshap shared his global experience, highlighted the U.S. government aid contributions to India during the pandemic, discussed trade figures and the Indo Pacific, among other topics.

AMCHAM’s Office Bearers, Ms. Kaku Nakhate, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and President & Country Head (India), Bank of America N.A., Mr. Sanjay Koul, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and Chairman & Managing Director, Timken India Limited and Mr. Atul Dhawan, Honorary Secretary & Treasurer, AMCHAM and Chairperson, Deloitte South Asia, shared their thoughts, then all National Executive Board members introduced themselves, mentioned their company’s CSR initiatives and voiced sector specific updates and challenges. Some of the topics discussed included supply chain resilience, climate action, geopolitical scenario, renewable financing, G2G interactions with President Biden’s administration, growing U.S.-India defense ties and some ease of doing business challenges. Members acknowledged the phenomenal support of the U.S. Embassy during this time, especially Honorary National Executive Board Members, Ms. Aileen Nandi, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and Mr. Thomas Carnegie, Minister Counselor for Economics, Trade, and Information Technology, Acting. The insightful interaction concluded with a vote of thanks from AMCHAM.