Bangalore’s Akshaya Patra awarded for service to urban poor

India Urban Space Foundation,in collaboration with Cisco Systems,sought nominations from across the country,for innovations in servicing the needs of the urban poor. India Urban Space Foundation was supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the World Bank,the Ministry of Housing and Poverty Alleviation as well as the Ministry of Urban Development.

The innovations were invited from government,private sector and social organisations. Innovations were sought in five urban themes – primary education and preventive health care,urban housing,urban livelihoods,water and sanitation and urban mobility.

Speaking on the event Swati Ramanathan,chairperson of Indian Urban Space Foundation said,“We are witnessing the intersection of market based approach and the social sector in solving the challenges of urban India in multiple sectors such as education,healthcare,livelihood,skills training,micro finance,affordable housing etc. Government policies need to be geared towards encouraging entrepreneurs and investment in market innovations,while regulating excesses. This is the future of public private partnerships”

A total of 166 nominations were received,of which 37 were shortlisted and the four finalsits selected. The selection criterion was based on a number of parameters such as nature of innovation,sustainable implementation,value to the community,etc.

The awards programme recognised the spirit of entrepreneurship in solving social challenges. This is the first such exercise gathering the data on social innovations that are mushrooming in the country.