Latest news with #VivekKumar
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
When Gandhi meets Ambedkar: How higher education institutions can change our villages
Also written by Virendra Kumar Vijay and Vivek Kumar 'True India lies in its seven lakh villages,' Mahatma Gandhi once declared, envisioning Gram Swaraj — self-reliant, self-governed village republics — as the foundation of Indian democracy. In sharp contrast, B R Ambedkar, speaking in the Constituent Assembly, fiercely rejected such idealisation: 'What is the village,' he remarked, 'but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism?' For Gandhi, the village was the crucible of true independence; for Ambedkar, it was a site of deeply entrenched caste oppression. These two conflicting yet coexisting truths have long shaped India's rural imagination. It is within this contested terrain that the idea of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) took root, not as a top-down policy directive, but as a determined initiative by the faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), committed to sustainable rural development and the use of appropriate technology. A shared vision What began as a campus conversation gradually evolved into a national movement — shaped by higher education institutions, grassroots organisations, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and Union ministries of education and rural development, among others. The objective was to empower rural India through meaningful partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and villages. It also offered academia an opportunity to learn from the lived wisdom, resilience, and practices of rural communities — a symbiotic relationship nurturing both the village and the university. The Unnat Bharat Abhiyan was officially launched in November 2014 by the Ministry of Education. Coordinated by IIT Delhi, it encourages HEIs, designated as Participating Institutes (PIs), to engage with at least five villages each. To support this, a national ecosystem of 14 Subject Expert Groups and 50 Regional Coordinating Institutes provides technical guidance, mentorship, and capacity-building for impactful, sustainable, and context-specific interventions. In its early years, UBA selectively invited HEIs to join the initiative. By 2014–15, 170 PIs were working with 800 villages. The network grew rapidly. By 2017–18, 1,771 institutions engaged 7,893 villages. In April 2018, the programme was opened to all HEIs, significantly expanding its scale, reach, and impact. As of May 2025, 4,183 institutions are working with 19,783 villages across 35 states and union territories. To deepen impact, UBA has forged 18 strategic partnerships with key ministries — such as Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Tribal Affairs — and institutions including the National Cooperative Union of India, the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India, the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Rural Technology Action Group, among others. Transforming villages The HEIs are working closely with gram sabhas, elected representatives, district officials, and governments. The goal is to partner actively in shaping Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) and driving meaningful change from the ground up. Their work spans a wide spectrum — from promoting sustainable agriculture and clean energy to enhancing rural livelihoods, improving water and waste management, and facilitating effective implementation of government schemes, and more. The HEIs also help build skills, foster entrepreneurship, support startups, and expand digital literacy across villages. A quiet transformation is unfolding across India, delivering real, measurable change at the grassroots. For instance, in Haridwar's Gaindikhata cluster, IIT Delhi introduced lemongrass cultivation and set up an oil extraction unit, helping farmers earn Rs 8,000–10,000 per month during harvest. In Manipur, the NIT developed a low-cost water purifier providing clean drinking water to over 2,000 villagers previously reliant on a contaminated pond. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand's Chene village, a quiet revival is underway. With support from Jharkhand Rai University, the community has returned to millet farming and established a seed bank to preserve indigenous varieties and ensure long-term food security. Such collaborative, community-driven initiatives blend scientific innovation with local wisdom, proving that real change grows from the ground up. What sets the UBA apart is its emphasis on Village Adhyayan (village study) through Participatory Learning and Action, a people-first, bottom-up way to understand and engage communities. The UBA envisions a shift in how development is practised: Not by imposing top-down solutions, but by listening to and building on the needs and aspirations of rural people themselves. Its core belief is simple yet powerful. Development must serve the people, not sideline or marginalise them. Transforming higher education Through sustained, meaningful engagement, the UBA is redefining higher education's role in India. The programme urges academia to move beyond classrooms and labs, engaging directly with rural life through grounded, empathetic, and socially relevant research. The UBA aims to foster stronger, self-reliant communities while nurturing scholars attuned to rural realities and aspirations. Here, the village is not merely a site for fieldwork or theoretical inquiry; it becomes a dynamic space for collaborative, action-oriented research, where knowledge and solutions are co-created through active community participation. Rural knowledge, lived experiences, and community priorities are no longer peripheral; they actively shape learning, research, and knowledge production within institutions. In its first decade, the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan has made important strides. But much more remains to harness India's vast academic network — over 1,000 universities and more than 42,000 colleges — to engage meaningfully with rural India, where two-thirds of the population lives across more than six lakh villages. Bridging the rural–urban divide demands sustained, equal partnerships between universities and communities. In its second decade, the UBA aims to rapidly expand its reach, especially in remote areas. Only then can we build rural futures rooted in Gandhian self-reliance and Ambedkar's vision of justice and dignity for all. The writers teach at the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and coordinate the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Foreign investors raise bets that India stock market rally may stall
By Vivek Kumar M and Bharath Rajeswaran (Reuters) -Foreign investors are becoming more cautious about the Indian stock market, indicating a three-month rally may run out of legs despite retail traders growing optimistic, according to monthly derivatives data analysed by two brokerages. The Nifty 50 has risen about 12% from March through May, largely due to better-than-expected corporate earnings and easing global trade risks. That is nearly double the 6.6% gain in the MSCI Emerging Markets index in that time. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pumped $2.66 billion into Indian equities over that period and cut their short positions on the Nifty. A short seller borrows stock at a higher price betting its value will decline, at which point they buy the stock and pocket the profit. However, FPIs have started the June derivatives series -- which runs from May 30 to June 25 -- with about $2 billion in Nifty index futures shorts, the highest since February, according to Nuvama Alternative and Quantitative Research. In contrast, retail investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), called the client category, turned bullish with long positions worth $1.54 billion on Nifty futures, compared with $546 million in shorts from early May. "This divergence sets up a potential tug-of-war between institutional caution and retail optimism, and could lead to a brief pause in the market rally in June," said Abhilash Pagaria, head of Nuvama. Indeed, the Nifty's gains have weakened in each month -- from 6.3% in March to 3.5% in April and to about 2% in May. "Markets appear to be waiting for some concrete cues before turning bullish," said Sriram Velayudhan, VP at IIFL Securities. Velayudhan expects the Nifty 50 to trade between 24,300 and 25,300 points over the June series, compared with its current level of about 24,800 points. Analysts expect the Nifty to hit new highs by end-2025, but say a correction is likely in the next three months, according to a Reuters poll. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Workers 'better be worried' about AI taking their jobs, TRU prof says
As more tech companies create generative AI advancements, there are concerns that many humans could lose their jobs. Vivek Kumar, a computer science professor at Thompson Rivers University, said it's imperative that people brush up on their "soft skills" like collaboration and creativity in the years to come.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Generation Z Cutting Healthcare Spending Amid Economic Uncertainty
The self-care obsessed generation is forced to forgo mental health services due to increasing financial pressure SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Socialtrait, AI-powered consumer insights platform, published a report revealing nearly 60% of Gen Z plan to cut healthcare spending citing rising prices and economic uncertainty. Mental health services, which have been a staple of self-care for younger generations, are reported as the first to be reduced or eliminated. "Financial pressures are overriding long-term wellness considerations for Gen Z in the U.S.," said Vivek Kumar, CEO at Socialtrait. "This study's findings point to critical gaps in healthcare affordability and access, particularly mental health support, which younger Americans increasingly view as negotiable as the economic situation becomes more unpredictable." The survey highlights broader economic implications, as younger consumers' healthcare cutbacks today could lead to escalated costs and health complications tomorrow. This data is a signal for healthcare providers, insurers, employers and policymakers to rethink healthcare access and affordability, particularly mental health services, for younger generations. Participants highlighted financial difficulties caused by high copays significantly impacting their healthcare affordability. Socialtrait conducted the survey using an AI-driven simulated community representative of the general United States population. Each AI persona has their own unique profile and socio-economic characteristics and can respond to questions, provide commentary or interact with other participants. "We build AI agents to act like lenses, allowing us to zoom in on the emotional and cognitive patterns that often go unnoticed," said Kumar. "It's not just about replicating behavior. It's about understanding the why behind it." About Socialtrait Socialtrait leverages AI-driven communities to deliver precise, actionable consumer insights. By facilitating authentic interactions and deeper understanding of consumer behaviors, Socialtrait helps brands, marketers and policymakers respond effectively to evolving market dynamics. Media ContactKsenia Kulik395550@ (919) 349-3786 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Socialtrait Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Korean skincare clinic brand KorinMi raises Rs 3 cr in pre-seed round, enters D2C space
New Delhi: Korean skincare clinic brand KorinMi has raised Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by former Kaya Skin Clinic (UAE) CEO Vikas Agarwal, along with angel investors including Venture Garage's Vivek Kumar, the company told ETRetail in an interview. The Gurugram-based startup will use the funds to expand its clinic network and support the launch of its direct-to-consumer (D2C) skincare range. Founded in late 2024 by Reshbha Munjal and South Korean national Jenovia Daun Jung , KorinMi blends Korean dermatological protocols with Indian skin needs. It currently operates two clinics - in Gurugram's Worldmark and Delhi's Defence Colony. Looking forward, it aims to open 25 outlets across metros such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad over the next three years. 'We are formalising a new category in professional Korean skincare tailored for Indian consumers with a high-trust clinical approach,' Munjal said. The brand has reported over 20 per cent month-on-month growth and became operationally profitable within six months, with the Gurugram clinic breaking even by March–April 2025, she added. KorinMi's upcoming D2C skincare line includes a cleanser, toner, hydration essence, rejuvenation cream, and sunscreen, all formulated for Indian skin and climate. The products, priced between Rs 1,500–3,000, will be sold via the company's website, clinics, and select platforms such as Nykaa (premium), Tira, Broadway, and Kindlife. The brand said it has already recorded Rs 2 lakh in pre-launch product sales and does not plan to pursue mass-market or quick commerce channels for now. Investor Vikas Agarwal noted the brand's clinical focus and early profitability as key differentiators. 'They've built a strong foundation in a high-growth niche,' he said. Also, the company is in early discussions for a second fundraising round and exploring potential partnerships with celebrities.
