Latest news with #AarohanSocialInnovationAwards
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A Rs 2cr prize dedicated to grassroots-level innovators
Infosys Foundation instituted Aarohan Social Innovation Awards in 2018 with the single-minded goal of being a vital platform for identifying and supporting innovative solutions addressing critical societal challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "These awards reflect our commitment to fostering grassroots innovation across India, with a focus on driving scalable and sustainable social change," says Sumit Virmani, trustee, Infosys Foundation. Now in its fourth edition, the awards span key categories including education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. The biannual awards were named Aarohan, meaning 'The Ascent,' by Sudha Murty, former chairperson of Infosys Foundation, in an attempt to reflect progress and the transformative power of social innovation. Aarohan has now grown into an ecosystem of innovators, inspiring ideas with the potential for visibility, funding, and large-scale change. With a total prize pool of Rs 2 crore, Aarohan addresses the core problem of funding, a lack of which often stops grassroots-level innovation from taking wings. Individual winners are awarded a prize of up to Rs 50lakh. This year's entries closed on June 22. Aarohan welcomes both early-stage prototypes and market-ready solutions prepared for scaling. The awards recognise that many impactful innovations, particularly in the social sector, stem from the personal experiences or hardships of their founders, the Foundation said in a statement. "Whether the idea is nascent or ready to grow, Aarohan provides critical support to ensure these innovations don't fade away due to lack of resources or amplification. " One of Aarohan's most notable success stories is Prashant Gade, founder of Inali Foundation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In 2018, Prashant approached Aarohan at the prototype stage with the Inali Arm, a low-cost prosthetic arm designed for individuals with disabilities who lacked access to expensive care. To date, the Inali Foundation has distributed over 15,000 prosthetic limbs free of charge, offering hope to thousands of individuals. Prashant's vision is to serve the estimated 22 million disabled Indians, ensuring inclusivity and dignity for every individual. "As one of India's most prestigious platforms for recognising social impact, Aarohan is dedicated to identifying and nurturing solutions that address real-world problems with scalable and sustainable outcomes," says Virmani. "From day one, our focus has been on scale because social innovations truly make an impact only when they scale. That's why the Aarohan award isn't a one-time reward—it's tied to periodic milestones to encourage sustainable growth," he says. Beyond the award money, Infosys Foundation also provides access to a community of social innovators and support towards a mentoring and incubation programme to bridge expertise gaps. "This year, we are partnering with leading incubation organisations to offer winners enhanced mentorship, resources, and opportunities for growth. These collaborations will help amplify the impact of their innovations, enabling them to reach wider audiences and deliver transformational solutions more effectively," Virmani adds. Among last edition's (2023) winners, nLite 360 stands out — a portable smart phototherapy device built by Subrahmanyam Prasad Muddam and Akitha Kolloju from Hyderabad. It's battery-powered and designed to treat severe jaundice in newborns, making neonatal care more accessible. In education, Smart Vision Glasses stole the show. Created by Seetharam Muthangi from Bengaluru, these AI-enabled glasses help visually impaired individuals identify objects, people, and read printed material, even in regional languages. In women empowerment category, Shelter Associates, a Pune-based NGO, won for their One Home One Toilet initiative. They've developed a data-driven model to build household toilets for underprivileged women, helping improve hygiene, safety, and dignity.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Infosys Foundation announces Aarohan Awards
Mangaluru: Infosys Foundation , the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, announced the launch of the fourth edition of its Aarohan Social Innovation Awards . Continuing its commitment to fostering social innovation in India , Infosys Foundation is inviting innovators and social entrepreneurs from across the country to participate in the awards. The Aarohan Social Innovation Awards 2025 aims to recognise and reward individuals, teams, NGOs, and social enterprises developing unique technology-based solutions that have the potential to create a significant impact on the underprivileged communities across India, at scale. Infosys Foundation commits up to Rs 50 lakh per winner, with a total award purse of Rs 2 crore. "Through the awards, we are committed to identifying and supporting changemakers who are driving impactful solutions in education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. We aim to further our purpose of amplifying human potential to create the next opportunity for everyone," said Sumit Virmani, trustee, Infosys Foundation. The Aarohan Social Innovation Awards 2025 will accept submissions across three categories: education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. The submissions will conclude on June 15. For more information visit, Infosys Foundation, Aarohan Social Innovation Awards.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Infosys Foundation invites innovators for awards
Bengaluru: Infosys Foundation , the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, Thursday announced the launch of the fourth edition of its Aarohan Social Innovation Awards . Aimed at fostering social innovation in India , the foundation has invited innovators and social entrepreneurs from across the country to participate in the awards. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "Aarohan Social Innovation Awards 2025 aim to recognise and reward individuals, teams, NGOs and social enterprises developing unique technology-based solutions that have the potential to create a significant impact on underprivileged communities across India, at scale. Infosys Foundation commits up to Rs 50 lakh per winner, with a total award purse of Rs 2 crore," read a statement issued here. Sumit Virmani, trustee, said the foundation believes in the power of innovation to address real-world challenges and uplift communities and through these awards, it is committed to identifying and supporting changemakers who are driving impactful solutions in education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. The awards will accept submissions across three categories: Education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. The submissions commence Thursday and conclude on June 15. Entries are open for citizens aged 18 years and above who are residing in the country. "Participants can submit entries describing their work in the form of videos that can be uploaded on Aarohan Social Innovation Awards website. The entries must be of a fully functioning prototype or finished project and not just a concept, idea or mockup," the statement read.
