The Pune International Centre (PIC) Social Innovation Lab proudly hosted the 12th National Conference on Social Innovation (NCSI) on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the YASHADA Auditorium, Pune. The day-long conference celebrated the creativity and resilience of social innovators, honoring groundbreaking contributions across Tribal, Rural, and Urban categories.
The conference began with the presence of eminent dignitaries Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, President of PIC; Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Vice President of PIC; and the chief guest, Mr. Sanjay Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mashelkar emphasized the power of innovation to address societal challenges, advocating for “compassionate equity” and the pursuit of “next practices” for the public good.
Innovation Showcases and Panel Discussions
The day unfolded with dynamic sessions dedicated to innovations in Tribal, Rural, and Urban categories, each chaired by eminent leaders and followed by engaging Q&A discussions:
- Tribal Innovation Session: Chaired by Ms. Bina Joshi and Mr. Dinanath Kholkar
- Rural Innovation Session: Chaired by Ms. Soujanya Veguru and Mr. Shashank Kothari
- Urban Innovation Session: Chaired by Dr. Sujata Deshpande and Mr. Ram Iyer
A notable highlight was the compelling panel discussion on CSR Funding Opportunities with CSR Heads from Persistent Systems, Bajaj Finserv, and Flipkart Foundation, moderated by Mr. Amit Bhargava. The day also featured a fireside chat on impact investing, with Dr. V. Premnath and Mr. Vishwas Mahajan sharing insights into scaling social enterprises through innovative financing.
The conference also included a panel on Success Stories of Leading Social Entrepreneurs, featuring innovative startups such as Blackfrog, Padcare, RNisarg Foundation, and Trestle Labs, moderated by Mr. Hitendra Singh.
Awards and Keynote Highlights
As the conference approached its conclusion, the winners in each category were announced:
- Tribal Category Winner:
Manthan Sanstha
Manthan Sanstha is a voluntary organisation that has been working since 1998 with 100,000 people from underprivileged communities across 120 villages in five districts of Rajasthan. It focuses on providing essential services such as education, healthcare, employment, and access to drinking water. To reduce the effects of climate change and global warming, Manthan also undertakes the restoration of traditional ponds, water bodies, and water conservation systems.
Mr. Tejaram Mali
- Rural Category Winner:
Rozgar Dhaba
Working to provide a one-stop solution for job skilling, safer employment and documentation support to rural community through offline and online platform and helping reduce unsafe migration and unemployment from rural India.
Ms. Neelam Pathak
- Urban Category Winner:
RATI Foundation for Social Change
RATI Foundation for Social Change offers children, women and marginalised genders affected by online and on-ground sexual violence access to healing, justice and rehabilitation. The Foundation’s multidisciplinary team, comprising social workers, lawyers, counsellors, researchers, and tech experts, provides comprehensive support, addressing all violence-related disruptions in the victim’s life, ensuring they thrive.
Ms. Uma Lal
The winners received a cash prize of ₹50,000 and mentorship from PIC’s Social Innovation Lab mentors.
Lastly, in her valedictory keynote, Ms. Jyotsna Sitling, Member of SEBI’s Advisory Committee on the Social Stock Exchange, passionately spoke on Democratising Giving: The Role of Social Stock Exchange, inspiring attendees to consider innovative models of philanthropy and investment.
Overall, NCSI 2024 attracted over 200 applicants, showcasing 18 finalists whose ideas reflected the ingenuity and passion of India’s social innovators. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Vijay Kelkar, highlighting the vital role of collaborative platforms like PIC’s Social Innovation Lab in transforming visionary ideas into impactful realities.
The Social Innovation Lab extends its gratitude to all participants, partners, and mentors for making NCSI 2024 an outstanding success.
