Aditi Banerjee

How do we create a partnership between govt & entrepreneurs where we can share the risk? Can we as a collective society, innovate, to solve big problems? Highlights from my discussion with Arun Gupta

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A little more insight into the work done by Indian School of Development Management (ISDM)!

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I spoke to one of the most extraordinary people in the world - Ashish Dhawan, founder of ChrysCapital, Ashoka University and The Convergence Foundation (and, frankly, Foundation For Economic Development) for our podcast FED dialogues. An investor who made his money and switched to doing philanthropy at 40! I've worked with him for almost 6 years now and there were still lots of new and interesting things for me to discover - the influence of Calcutta on his thinking, how he thinks about philanthropic 'portfolios' and more. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dYHa7uG4

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Dr Sasmit Patra is an interesting parliamentarian to watch, bringing to the fore issues of an institutional nature. It may be the more reasoned deliberations at the back-end, of MPs like Dr Patra, that produces real work, in the absence of maturity and substantive depth in those leading the poor quality of the opposition's grouse mining narrative spins. Building congruency, needs a reasonable nod to reality, and that is compromised by the poor quality of legislative deliberations descending purely to exacerbating issues in the pursuit of vote-banks, rather than act as a check on government excesses. Even our institutional structures like courts, in many cases, appear to prefer moral posturing rather than building a bridge to better policy implementation, the decontextualized nature of their abstractions, and a procedural morass. where the fealty to procedural means have overtaken substantive and practical ends (tareek pe tareek!) - leads any resolution into an endless procedural maze. The tough task of "performing" in governance, making a careerist bureaucracy with its deep vested interests work, is difficult even for the strong willed, and may not even be in the agenda as the primary focus of those slanted by their electoral bargains.

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Nissy S. and I write about the need for Senior Care policy reforms in India. In another two decades, India will start aging and we should start looking at the challenges of Senior care now onwards #seniorcitizens #elderlycare #CPPRIndia

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🙏 Thanks Dasra for a really well-organised, and engaging programme for the 2nd edition of the India Philanthropy Forum, London – with a critical question emerging for me – balancing local specificity with a need for ‘scale’. 💕 As always, I get the answer from social entrepreneurs, (loved the Ashoka representation in the room!) - Anshu Gupta/ Goonj, Samina Bano/ RightWalk Foundation, Sarah Misra/ Reap Benefit - systems-changing social entrepreneurs and organisations unlocking individual agency for systems change – and effecting change, and scale at the policy level. Takeaways for me: 🔋 Regulation follows innovation, and what’s needed is an enabling environment and support for innovation (and innovators...) 🤝 Redefining Success, and understanding the value of organising, convening, and building community capacity is crucial (though hard to quantity, and perhaps therefore to fund?) 💸 Funding mechanisms, like outcomes-based financing that trust local organisations and de-risk philanthropic capital, ground solutions in real needs, can and should be scaled (with great examples from British Asian Trust). A long way to go for systemic investing, but I think India is a great place to experiment! 🌏 Climate is a priority, and any solution that doesn’t bring in a climate lens is probably not good enough (thank you Alan Dangour for bringing in much-needed urgency to the discussion) 📽 Storytelling, grounded in evidence, makes research personal, accessible and actionable. Make this an intentional part of a philanthropic strategy!

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What a wonderful episode to bring the Season 2 of Decoding Impact to a close. It was an absolute pleasure listening to Manish Sabharwal offer a sweeping analysis of the job and employability landscape of India and highlight what needs to be done to unlock more economic prosperity. Manish is a unique combination of someone who bring three key strengths - Firstly, as an entrepreneur, he has set up one of the largest companies that intermediates between supply and demand of the job market offering a ringside of the dynamics of the market on a real-time basis. Secondly, given his deep engagement with the government institutions such as RBI, he has an insider view of the bureaucracy and policy trends that influences our economy. Thirdly, as an erudite scholar of the global political and economic landscape, he is able to contextualise his observations as part of a larger narrative and make strong recommendations for the way forward. I used this podcast to ask all the questions I had for him. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Please give it a listen. https://lnkd.in/ga6EGSf3 Sattva Knowledge Institute Sattva Consulting #jobs #livelihoods #economy #Indiaat2047

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Scale is such a used and abused word in the Social Sector that it's not even funny anymore. Diametrically opposite schools of thought exist - those for whom scale is a question of value for money because they need to justify their impact through numbers, rather than through quality of impact, and those who prefer to more in-depth work with smaller communities and are not bothered about scaling up their work. The fact of the matter is that in India millions of people are still living lives of indignity, inequity and injustice. So figuring out models of delivering meaningful change in the lives of people at scale is really a question of fairness and equity, not vanity and legacy. So it's not a choice between quality of impact or quantity of impact. We have to, as a sector, figure out ways of doing both. We owe it to the stakeholders and communities we work with. Join us for conversations of this nature at India's only national conference on Management for Social Change - Dialogues on Development Management (DoDM) 2024. 21 November, Delhi. Register Now on dodm.isdm.org.in Indian School of Development Management (ISDM)

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Under the leadership of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, we launched the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’, a bold and decisive step towards empowering the women of Delhi. This initiative reflects the Delhi Government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the financial independence, social welfare, and overall well-being of women in our city. Under this landmark scheme, every woman resident of Delhi aged 18 and above will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹2100. This direct financial support will enable women to make meaningful choices in education, healthcare, and economic stability—strengthening the backbone of our society. The Delhi Cabinet has given its approval, and registrations will commence tomorrow. In the next few days, our dedicated teams will carry out a door-to-door outreach program to ensure that every eligible woman can register for the benefits of this scheme. This is more than a policy; it is a transformative vision for Delhi. By empowering our mothers, sisters, and daughters, we are creating a stronger, more equitable future for all. AAP-led Delhi Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure the success of this groundbreaking initiative.

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We are excited to share our latest policy brief on the seasonal patterns of births in Jharkhand. This comprehensive analysis reveals how seasonal variations impact birth rates, providing valuable insights for improving healthcare delivery and family planning programs. Understanding these patterns is essential for enhancing maternal and child health services in the region. Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/grTTSTE5 #NutritionResearch #PublicHealth #HealthcarePlanning #IITBombay #Jharkhand #FamilyPlanning

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**Should Schools have Air-Conditioned Classrooms?** My letter this morning to my daughter's school. To:  Capt Ms Richa Sharma Katyal  The Principal   Salwan Public School,  Mayur Vihar, New Delhi Date: Thurs 18 April 2024 Dear Mme, My daughter is not happy about attending school (very few children in humanities is one among them) and my concern is that she may lose interest. I would like to meet you to understand the reasons and if we need to move her to a better school in Delhi. Parnika also mentioned that the classroom is hot and humid as the school doesn't have AC like her previous school. As an environment responsible family, we don't use AC at home but I understand that the problem is with the nauseating pollution around the Gazipur landfill and traffic pollution in Delhi around the school area and lack of proper ventilation in the classrooms. On internet search for 'Should schools have air conditioning?' , I found strong advocacy such as this: Pollution solution: If your children go to these top Delhi schools, you can breathe easy https://lnkd.in/gGfCtGt3 https://lnkd.in/gW7ZfEMF We chose the school because our elder daughter Akarshita Chandra studied for Class XI-XII at your school in 2019-21. Even as her session was hampered due to the abrupt and unplanned Covid Lockdown, she had overall good experience especially with Fine Arts. She is doing well with her B. Design 3rd year at Delhi Technology University. I wrote earlier email on 8th April to you about my deep concern that a callous and ruthless global system is snatching away the future of our children. I have not received any response so far. The ticking Climate Clock at your school and a growing spate of disastrous events like the flash floods in Dubai 2 days back and escalating war tensions between Israel and Iran portending a nuclear winter catastrophe are unmistakable evidences that the Climate Clock is not lying. We wanted better nurturing for her musical talent. My dream was that more children like her learning Humanities will help us restore the losing and faltering human values. For that schools such as your would need to take the lead to be far more assertive in checking the mindless drift towards more Coaching Classes for IIT and Medical exams leading to more techno-frenzy and joblessness as 50% of IIT students are jobless this year, hospitals have become criminally complicit with the Pharma lobby and lawyers fending for proven criminals and corrupt companies. We also need to instil better discipline for health and fitness and for a cleaner environment so that they grow up to be responsible adults. Sincerely yours, Chandra Vikash : #DAWD - #DelinquentAdultWithoutDiapers

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What percentage of revenues are ploughed back to the maker NGO? What kind of communities does jhappi work for & with? Could we have the details on the NGO and makers who will get impacted with our order? We have a budget in mind but if we are supporting some lives it's just a number that can be worked with but what is important to know are the people behind the creation. Can we have products from our home states ? can we support women from rural areas? We take delight in answering all these queries, take pride in value we are adding. Customer transparency & maker well being are the foundational principles we work with. It's a joy to work with clients who have the above queries because the visions are aligned - social good. 🤗 Products are change agents. 🤗 Price is value addition in lives and not a spend. 🤗 Warranty is the belief that goodness is passed on. 🤗 Outcome is sharing and not give & take. After all the intention was a jhappi ! #marketinggoodness #ngoproducts #diwaligifting #weddinggifts #weddingfavours #corporategifting #livelihoods

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"A useful contribution from the philanthropic community, international and domestic, might be to invest in building the capacity of nonprofits to adopt this approach and strengthen the ecosystem needed to facilitate giving of this kind, especially through digital channels, at the commercial end of which India leads the world." It is time to think about newer models of giving because while the old ones are working. The onus is still all on the NGO to find new donors, keep communicating and raising money from them. Time for philanthropy to step up and change with the rest of the world to see how giving can have newer models. We are in the business to disrupt giving with V-ALL incase anyone wants to have a conversation.

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"If you want to drive significant impact, you have to think about philanthropy differently; looking at actual outcomes and not just attribution." Ashish Dhawan, Core Founder of Accelerate Indian Philanthropy (AIP) & Founder-CEO of The Convergence Foundation (TCF). Ashish exemplifies purpose-driven giving, focused on driving transformative impact. In this video as part of our #CelebratingPhilanthropy series, he shares powerful insights on rethinking philanthropy - to look beyond immediate results and channel resources scalable over time toward meaningful, long-term outcomes. His journey is testament that true change happens when we place purpose over recognition and collective progress over individual milestones. Let’s celebrate #philanthropy that fuels shared responsibility and visionary leadership!  #TransformativeGiving #SharedPurpose #VisionaryLeadership #SystemicChange #ImpactPhilanthropy #LegacyAndImpact Watch the full video - https://lnkd.in/gDga_iZA

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The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) led by Priyank Kanoongo and colleagues at Bachpan Bachao Andolan - India are real heroes for rescuing 21 children from trafficking! Fifteen years ago, I filed the first court case for regulation of placement agencies, as a result of which, trafficking was defined in India. Yet, it continues. Time for anti-trafficking law is NOW. Freedom from trafficking and exploitation is necessary for us to realise the dream of a developed India. Safe India is Developed India. https://lnkd.in/gGQUENN9  

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Industrial policies have traditionally been government-led policy interventions, something that everybody presumed had gone out of fashion. Surprise, surprise! Every country across the globe (including the advanced economies) is now crafting a new industrial policy, ostensibly to boost manufacturing activity and employment but also to help domestic industry compete globally. India also has a putative industrial policy which has yielded mixed results. The larger question remains: how efficacious are these new industrial policies? My column in today's edition of Mint (an image of the article is in the comments section). #industrialpolicy #subsidy #tariffprotection #semiconductor https://lnkd.in/dYPWhXWG

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From the POV of my area of work, reflecting on the complexities of India's new generation is both humbling and inspiring. From grassroots advocacy in Chand Kari to Sia Malik Arjuna's innovative strides in Telangana, their journeys underscore the stark disparities and untapped potential across our nation. This documentary vividly portrays the resilience and aspirations of India's youth amidst economic disparity, gender inequity, and cultural diversity. It's a poignant reminder that while progress is palpable, many communities still grapple with profound challenges. Sonam's struggle in Bihar echoes the harsh realities faced by millions, urging us to redouble our efforts in creating sustainable solutions. Yet, amidst these disparities, there's a unifying thread of hope and determination. Simon's commitment to amplify rural women's voices and Sia Malik Arjuna's entrepreneurial zeal exemplify the transformative power of grassroots initiatives and innovative solutions. Their stories reaffirm my belief in the potential for meaningful change through empathy, empowerment, and community-driven action. Let's embrace these learnings to drive inclusive development and foster a society where every individual, regardless of background, can thrive. Together, we can rewrite the narrative and build a brighter future for all. 🌍💫 #SocialChange #InclusiveDevelopment #Empowerment https://lnkd.in/ds7hdQdf

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My article in Hindustan Times argues for promoting innovations to improve health outcomes and tunnel through traditional constraints in providing health services. Innovations play a pivotal role in bridging supply gaps, enhancing quality and efficiency, and ensuring greater accountability. By adopting innovative approaches, we can rationalize demand and better align resources with needs, ultimately driving more impactful and sustainable outcomes. https://lnkd.in/gZvKiipr

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