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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-K, SBI Foundation launch startup innovations initiative
Kanpur: The Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur's Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), in partnership with SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India, launched the 'Startup Innovations for Social Good' initiative under SBIF Innovators for Bharat on Thursday. The initiative is also supported by SBI DFHI Limited and SBI Ventures. The programme was announced on Thursday at an event held at the IIT-K Outreach Centre, Noida. The initiative will nurture 30 impact-driven startups—24 of which will be early-stage and 6 will be growth-stage—in domains such as AgriTech, Healthcare, and CleanTech. Spanning 18 months, the program will offer a structured incubation program with continuous mentoring, domain-specific support, and performance monitoring to ensure effective, socially impactful outcomes. The launch event was attended by Amey Karkare, dean of resources and alumni, IIT-K; Deepu Philip, professor incharge, Innovation & Incubation, FIRST; Sanjay Prakash, MD & CEO, SBI Foundation; Ambika Prasad Bhuyan, vice president (head marketing and strategies), SBI DFHI Ltd; Kapil Kaul, CEO, IIT-Kanpur development foundation; Kumar Alok IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary Tripura and Prof of Practice, IIT-K; Aman Bhaiya, vice president and head (Strategy) SBI Foundation; and Piyush Mishra, COO, FIRST SIIC Kanpur, among other dignitaries.


Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
IIT Kanpur's SIIC and SBI Foundation Launch 'Startup Innovations for Social Good' Initiative
The program will support 30 startups—24 in the early stage and six in the growth stage—across three crucial sectors: agritech, healthcare, and cleantech. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur's Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), in collaboration with the SBI Foundation, has launched the 'Startup Innovations for Social Good' initiative under the SBIF Innovators for Bharat program. The initiative, supported by SBI DFHI Limited and SBI Ventures, aims to nurture impact-driven startups that address some of India's most pressing societal challenges. The program will support 30 startups—24 in the early stage and six in the growth stage—across three crucial sectors: agritech, healthcare, and cleantech. Over a span of 18 months, selected startups will receive structured incubation support, expert mentoring, and performance monitoring to ensure sustainable and scalable impact. Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, "SIIC/FIRST IIT Kanpur has always had a solution-oriented and future-ready approach to strengthen India's startup ecosystem. This program, supported by the SBI Foundation, is a uniquely-curated collaborative initiative that will help enhance the impact of the startups, empowering communities and ultimately contributing to economic growth and societal well-being." The initiative also promises startups opportunities for networking and follow-on investments through curated workshops and roadshows, promoting indigenous innovation to meet critical unmet needs. Prof Deepu Philip, Professor-in-charge of Innovation and Incubation, SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur, added, "This collaboration focuses on developing transformative capabilities across AgriTech, Healthcare, and CleanTech to achieve a wider impact. FIRST IIT Kanpur has a proven record with over 400 incubated startups, and this joint initiative adds to our legacy of nurturing innovation." SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India, is driving the program under its broader Innovators for Bharat initiative. Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director, SBI Foundation, stated, "This initiative will be a cornerstone in identifying, funding, and nurturing startups that will lead the next wave of Agritech, Healthcare, and Cleantech innovations. Our partnership with SIIC, one of India's top incubators, reflects our commitment to social progress through innovation." The initiative was officially launched at IIT Kanpur in the presence of several dignitaries including Prof Amey Karkare, Sanjay Prakash, Kapil Kaul, and others who reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation for social good. This partnership sets a significant precedent in leveraging academic and corporate collaboration to fuel India's journey toward sustainable development and inclusive growth.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Menstrual waste management gets a sustainable shift in DK panchayats
Mangaluru: As part of a zero-waste model initiative, 10 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada were identified for waste management interventions through Hasiru Dala. However, managing sanitary waste emerged as one of the most pressing and often overlooked challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We receive about 200kg of sanitary waste every day, including diapers and pads. Some panchayats alone generate 100–300kg of such waste daily," said Nagaraj Raghav Anchan, project manager, Hasiru Dala. He said that this kind of waste poses a major environmental and logistical challenge. In response, Hasiru Dala launched a proactive campaign promoting the use of menstrual cups. "We distributed menstrual cups in seven panchayats so far. Wherever we conduct meetings on menstrual hygiene, we create WhatsApp groups, collect feedback, and even have a doctor on hand to address women's concerns. Nearly 90% of the women who where present during wareness shifted to menstrual cups," he added. Beyond menstrual waste, the project focused on improving waste collection systems. "There is no point blaming only the public. We must set up a functioning system," said Anchan. Working closely with Sanjeevani self-help group, the initiative ensured door-to-door collection and awareness drives through IEC activities. The project is supported by SBI Foundation. "We realised that once a proper system is in place, we collect nearly one tonne of waste per day. Wet waste is managed at composting units, while dry waste is routed to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)." The campaign also includes educational outreach in schools through sessions on Trashonomics, fostering environmental responsibility from a young age. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now DK zilla panchayat deputy secretary Jayalakshmi Raikod said that awareness is happening, but it will take some time for public mindset to change. 2.5 tonne waste cleared in Neermarga A significant clean-up drive was carried out in Neermarga, recently, by volunteers from Hasiru Dala, with active support from residents. The team cleared nearly 2.5 tonnes of waste from a steep black spot that became an unofficial dumping site. Nagaraj Anchan said that the area was used for waste disposal due to irregular waste collection services. The pile-up led to a strong stench and posed health and environmental concerns. "The situation was quite severe. The terrain made it challenging, but with the help of the community, we managed to clear the spot," he said. Hasiru Dala is also planning a month-long awareness programme in the region. The campaign will focus on educating citizens about responsible waste segregation, proper disposal, and the importance of community involvement in keeping their surroundings clean.


Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Last Chance to Apply: Registration process for ‘SBI Youth for India Fellowship 2025' closes soon
The SBI Youth for India Fellowship 2025 registration process closes on 30 April. If you're a young changemaker passionate about rural development, hurry up and apply now. The SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India Group, is accepting applications for its flagship program that places young professionals and graduates in rural India for a year of transformative work. Spanning 13 months, the Fellowship invites individuals aged 21 to 32 to work with rural communities in partnership with 13 leading NGOs across India. The initiative enables fellows to contribute meaningfully to one of 12 key focus areas, including: Education Women's Empowerment Rural Livelihood Health Environmental Protection Technology Social Entrepreneurship Traditional Craft Food Security Self-Governance Water Alternate Energy Each Fellow selects a theme that resonates with them and works closely with communities on the ground to design and implement development solutions. Eligible applicants include Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and citizens of Nepal or Bhutan with a passion for grassroots development and sustainability. Visit the official SBI Youth for India website to apply and learn more about the Fellowship experience. 'The SBI Youth for India Fellowship aligns with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by empowering the youth to drive transformative change in rural India,' said Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director & CEO of SBI Foundation. As per a statement issued by SBI Foundation earlier, 'more than 640 Fellows have worked in over 250 villages across 20 Indian states, touching the lives of more than 1.5 lakh people through community-driven interventions over the past 12 years.'