Rural start-ups: making a policy and institutional highway

I inaugurated the GIC unit set up by  Subhash ola, a Presidential  Grassroots Innovation Award winner of NIF at Behror, midway, Delhi-Jaipur highway. He invented a very cost and energy efficient way of recycling steam to generate power, and/or improving efficiency in textile, food, pharma, plywood industry etc. Sixty per cent saving in water and … Continue reading →

Why is hunger for innovation so low in Indian polity?

While reflecting on innovation ecosystem for national transformation a few days ago at an apex industrial association forum, I had to ask the industry representatives as to why were they so complacent in seeking ideas from outside? Many MNCs with even  a very large  market share and no imminent threat to their dominance seem more … Continue reading →

Sheeren Shekh’s simple yet effective idea inspires policy makers

Every year, around the month of March, member organizations of the Honey Bee Network (SRISTI, NIF and GIAN) conduct various activities in the Festival of Innovation(FOIN) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Once such activity is the ‘Children’s Workshop’ supported by UNICEF. In the last year’s workshop, several underprivileged children from multiple informal settlements in Delhi participated. … Continue reading →

Disrupting Dalit Destinies Through Inclusive Innovation

The history of injustice with Dalit communities has not always subdued their spirit. There are many instances  when some of them have come out of low self-image, low self-deprecating belief systems and decided to break out of culture of subjugation, learned-helplessness both involuntary and also voluntary. Extreme events some times are a historical necessity to … Continue reading →

Unfolding Entrepreneurial Potential in Millions of Villages: Can Digital Networks Help?

The asymmetry in access to resources, institutions and technologies between urban and rural areas is enormous. Therefore, many creative people in the rural areas are unable to fully exploit their potential, not because they don’t have ideas or the persistence to pursue them, but because they lack an appreciative peer group. The idea of setting … Continue reading →

When the values give way to velocity: are we monitoring right indicators

There are goals which we wish to pursue faster in the larger public interest but often lose track of certain values of subsidiarity in design, action, review and redesign. What does subsidiarity imply in the context of public policy? Let us take one of the most noble, long overdue goal of removing open defection through … Continue reading →