In early January, Plaeto, a multiplay footwear brand of the Bengaluru-based Plaeup Pvt. Ltd, launched the inaugural edition of its Pioneers Physical Education (PE) Teacher programme in the garden city’s world-class PadukoneDravid Centre for Sports Excellence to “train PE teachers to spread the joy of play among schoolchildren in India”. Over 50 PE teachers from schools across the country were trained through a specially curated curriculum to deliver enjoyable sports and fitness activities to children. Promoted in 2020 by Ravi Kallayil, former head of Nike Ideation in Portland (USA), the Plaeto range of school footwear for children is specially designed by the “finest designers and footwear engineers from India, USA and Italy to suit the unique features of Indian feet”. Amid Covid-19 pandemic uncertainty in April 2020, Kallayil decided to give up the “best job in the world” with sportswear behemoth Nike and relocate to India to realise his dream of designing world-class, affordable and healthy shoes for Indians especially children. After thoroughly researching gaps in the Indian footwear industry, Kallayil forayed into the niche children’s footwear segment with the twin objectives of producing customised shoes for Indian children and raising awareness among parents and educators about the critical importance of play and foot health in the life of growing children. “Unfortunately in India’s schools, sports and games have traditionally taken a back seat with the greater focus on academics and exams. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the lack of outdoor play opportunities for children became more pronounced adversely affecting their physical and mental health. Plaeto’s mission is to spread awareness about the importance of foot health; shoes that fit well and are comfortable; and their relevance in encouraging regular play habit,” says Kallayil. An engineering and double business management alumnus of Trivandrum University, Wharton Business School and IIM-Bangalore, Kallayil acquired over two decades of rich working experience in innovation, business development, supply chain, manufacturing and strategy across footwear, apparel, engineering and consumer product industries in the US, India, Africa and Nepal. In October 2020, to spread this message of children wearing scientifically designed footwear as well as the critical importance of play in children’s lives, Plaeto roped in former cricket superstar Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador and mentor of its innovative footwear and PE teachers program. Former captain of the Indian cricket team and currently its head coach, Dravid is acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen in cricketing history, having scored over 24,000 runs in international cricket. “When Plaeto approached me with their idea, vision and product — all made to serve Indian children and proudly made in India — I was very impressed with the thorough The centrepiece of the book is a radical re-evaluation of the crucial concept of trusteeship, which according to Rao contests the conventional view that Gandhi was opposed to capitalism research and development effort they invested in designing shoes suited for Indian feet. And when I used it myself I was convinced of its quality,” says Dravid who recalls that “finding comfortable footwear…
