Last week we attended the Second National Seminar on Social Innovation, at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) in Pune. The seminar was attended by some of the most eminent social innovators of the country, who agreed that a platform like this was long overdue to be able to articulate the policy, institutional, technological and educational issues. The event was organized by Professor Anil Gupta and his team from IIM-Ahmedabad, along with Sristi, Honey Bee Network, and Pune International Center.
Dr. D R Mehta, chief patron from Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, the organization behind the world renowned Jaipur Foot, shared how they were able to scale up one of the most successful social enterprises, by focusing on making the best product available to the poorest of the poor. BMVSS has served more than 1.40 million handicapped beneficiaries, across 27 countries.
Dr Devi Prasad Shetty Chairman, Narayana Group of Hospitals shared the incredible storyof Narayana Hrudalaya, and how his vision of the worlds’ largest “Micro Health Insurance” programme has changed how the world looks at Healthcare in India. Dr Shetty’s team is in the process of setting up a worldclass facility at Caymen Islands, the first nation to formally recognize the Medicine degrees from Indian Universities.
Mr. Jaydeep Mandal, Founder and MD, Aakar Innovation Pvt. Ltd shared how it is difficult for the innovators to procure funds for new ideas, and shared how Aakar has succeded in providing affordable and environmentally sanitary pads. Aakar is an inspiring story of tenacious efforts resulting in social Impact.
Mr Swapnil Chaturvedi CEO Samagra.co, a Gates Foundation supported enterprise, shared how they are engaged in innovative use use of psychology, technology and design towards solving the issues in sanitation and waste management in urban slums.
Our CEO Neil shared how Awaaz de, with the extensive experience in social development sector, has been able to develop products that make reaching out to the difficult to reach populations, while breaking the language and technology barriers, and empower organizations with unparalleled ability to generate relevant data for monitoring and evaluating the impact of their work in the target populations.
