NASSCOM Foundation and Genpact announce NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours 2014

Celebrating the spirit of innovation and Technology for Social Good, NASSCOM Foundation, in association with Genpact, is proud to announce the launch of NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours 2014. The Honours recognize innovations that creatively leverage Information and Communication Technology to create solutions to address gaps in social development. The Honours have recognized innovations focused on financial inclusion, employability, education, health, employability, governance, financial inclusion, and citizen services in the past. Entries for this year’s edition are now open and the winners will be honored at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum early next year.

The Honours serve as an exceptional platform for the winners to drive home an opportunity to network with the thought leaders in the space of technology and innovation and enhance their initiatives.

Last year, many innovative projects showcasing their innovations, from student led projects like “D-Labs”, a complete hardware and software solution that diagnoses dyslexia at an early stage by tracking eye and hand movements of children to larger projects by NGO’s like Don Bosco Forum for the Young at Risk which had developed an online comprehensive Child Tracking System for effective data management, monitoring and reporting of care, protection and development of children were awarded at the Honours. NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours 2013 also saw some excellent individual led innovations like Stipator, a mobile app that boosts safety of travellers by tracking the route they are taking and posting it on social media networks.

“Social challenges are immense but so is the potential and power of technology. The entries that we receive each year, demonstrating inspiring use of technology (web-based, mobile-based, cloud-based and others) to resolve social problems only elucidate the fact. While on the one hand the Honours are building a community of innovators and change makers, they are also making change happen on the ground by encouraging transformative ideas and walking them the last mile! Every entry received, is an evidence of how social problems are being tackled in different ways and how the industry is tread on its path to build an inclusive and sustainable India. We are more than proud to be driving change through these Honours!” said Rita Soni, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation.

“Genpact is delighted to be a part of the Social Innovation Honors again this year as we understand the transformative power of technology based innovation and the significant role played by these entrepreneurs in driving inclusive growth in India,” said Mohit Thukral, Senior Vice President and Business Leader, Genpact.  “We also share common values with these entrepreneurs which is the need to give back to society.”

NASSCOM Foundation pioneered the NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours in 2008 and since then the Honours have attracted innovative projects from NGOs, corporates, social enterprises, government bodies, PSUs, students, groups, and individuals.

Each year, participants showcase their exceptional use of ICT for social transformation to an eminent jury. In the last edition, Mr. S. Ramadorai, Vice Chairman of TCS and Advisor to the Prime Minister, had led the Grand Jury. Mr. Anand G. Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra and Mr. Narayan Murthy, Chairman of Infosys have in the past been associated with the Honours, chairing the Jury.  The winners will present their innovations at the prestigious NASSCOM India Leadership Forum event in February 2014.

Deadline for Applications: 20 October, 2013

Call for Entries: If you are bringing change in a particular community, region, state, or the country, this is the platform to share your ideas! Applications are invited from ICT led social innovation projects in the following categories:
·         Not-for-profit
·         Social enterprise
·         Corporate – CSR
·         Corporate – Responsible Business
·         Government body
·         Student(s)
·         Multi-stakeholder partnership
·         Individual or group

How to Apply:
The application form can be filled online on the Foundation’s website: https://nsih.nasscomfoundation.org/

About NASSCOM Foundation:

NASSCOM Foundation is driving technology for good. The Foundation’s work is just as expansive and evolutionary as the potential that technology and corporate India entail. Drawing strength from its parent body NASSCOM, the Foundation works in partnership with four major stakeholders: NASSCOM member companies, NGOs, emerging social enterprises, and Government, changing India bit by bit, a journey to foster a strategic relationship between technology and development. Please visit www.nasscomfoundation.org for more information.
 

NASSCOM Foundation marks a decade with Business Responsibility driven 'BRing the change' campaign

After a splendid journey of 10 years working towards inclusive development, NASSCOM Foundation celebrated the decennial with ‘BRing the Change’ week in recognition of Business Responsibility in the IT-BPO sector. Encompassing multiple activities and events between November 28 and December 03, the initiative was designed as part of the Foundation’s MyKartavya programme, and aimed at connecting corporate employees to a wide spectrum of volunteering opportunities. With over 5000 volunteers representing 30 NASSCOM member companies across India, ‘BRing the Change’ showcased the IT-BPO industry’s commitment to Business Responsibility.

With more than 15 volunteering opportunities to choose from, most participating volunteers found food donation and awareness drives the biggest draw. Over 4600 IT-BPO employees wore conspicuous red on World AIDS Day to raise awareness and close to 600 pledged online to save the environment. The biggest accomplishment was the collection of 25,000 kilograms of rice and dal in just one week! Further, as part of the workshops, the week saw enthusiastic senior marketing and communication professionals from across NASSCOM’s member companies share strategic solutions with NGO participants, project managers conducted workshops for NGO managers, HR managers provided counseling to youth with disabilities and many other such examples.

Thrilled by the participation level and excitement in the week long celebrations, Ms. Rita Soni, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation said, “The IT-BPO industry employs 3 million dynamic young people - the future of our country. They have a spirit, a zeal, to see a different world and are willing to do what is necessary to usher in change. Therefore, rather than mark our 10 year journey with Champagne, we are extremely proud to have celebrated this milestone with our fellow volunteers by commemorating World Disability Day, World AIDS Day and International Volunteers’ Day. We saw the dramatic volunteering spirit of the IT-BPO industry during the ‘BRing the Change’ week and hope to continue this effort with NASSCOM member companies on our volunteer platform MyKartavya and make lasting, impactful  changes.”

Gayathri Mohan, VP, CSR Head, Steria India said, “Steria India recently concluded with NASSCOM Foundation’s "Bring the Change Week". With multiple events that gave an opportunity for employees to participate as volunteers, the week was dedicated to the spirit of volunteering and creating awareness about the environment. At Steria, our team members from Noida, Chennai and Pune came together as one team in making the event a grand success.  I would like to thank NASSCOM Foundation for their time and effort and hope our partnership goes a long way ahead in times to come.”

Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai witnessed maximum participation during the week. Some of the active NASSCOM member companies were from Aegis, Arctern Consulting, Cactus Communications, Concentrix BPO, CSC, Graycells Technologies, Kale Consultants, Mahindra Satyam, Mphasis, Octaware, SAP, Sapient, Sonata Software, Thomson Reuters, Wipro, and Yorke Communications.

NASSCOM Foundation channels the potential of the IT-BPO industry towards inclusive development of India. It is the social development arm of NASSCOM, the internationally recognized trade body of the Indian IT-BPO industry. The Foundation was established to transform the lives of the excluded by leveraging the resources and capabilities of the IT-BPO industry. NASSCOM Foundation is a charity registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act.

Sourced From: Genesis Burson-Marsteller India