Global Innovation challenges-1: a call for creative connections with children, youth and women When any society learns to live with solvable problems by reinforcing inertia, indifference and also internalizing helplessness, then imagination gets stifled first. Once imagination gets constrained, innovations are unlikely to follow. UNICEF and SRISTI have joined hands to announce a global challenge…
Seeking solutions to problems faced by the women, children and youth, particularly disadvantaged ones, worldwide is a challenge itself. I have shared six inclusive innovation challenges so far: a) overcoming anaemia among women through extremely affordable solutions, b) creating awareness about women’s biology, including menstruation among particularly boys and the rest of the society so…
It is well known that in many states, economic development does not always lead to educational development. Why should ranking on economic and social indicators vary so much? One reason, I have repeatedly mentioned over last two decades is that top level policy makers don’t spend enough time, not even one hour a week with…
Deification of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam legacy will be the greatest disservice to his memory. Having his statues on crossroads would not make him more venerated. We killed Gandhi, many times over by deifying him. I hope Dr Kalam will survive this tendency of making idols of people and forgetting…
I want to continue the discussion on how do we educate our children, particularly pre-school and primary school children. I can never get tired of recalling what my grandfather, a monk had told me years ago, when I had just become a young parent. He said, ‘don’t teach…
Education matters despite policy neglect! ‘Kaju katri khao, teacher’, said the student ( will you eat cashew sweet ?), Teacher asked, ‘from where did you get this?’ and took one piece. ‘A rich man had died today’, replied the student. He used to work at cremation ground in Surat. And Bina Rao has been providing…
I am often asked: if an innovation does not scale, is it any good? Such questions are a product of a mindset that does not recognize the legitimacy of niche specific needs. Let us take the case of District Dhimaji, Assam ( where ULFA was born) where iron content in water is very high. The…
Innovation from/with/for grassroots street workers: I don’t know how many people in our country can claim that they have never either bought anything or used any service provided by street vendors. And yet, when policy and institutional space for improving their occupational and living conditions has to be expanded, they are often left to fend…
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: building upon past mistakes An extremely appreciable focus on providing toilet in every school can be a game changing intervention for improving public sanitation and in directly for educational enrolment and retention, particularly of girls. I also admire the impatience with which central government has started action already through MHRD. However, it…
A tribute to inspired teachers Every year India honours school teachers for their outstanding contribution based on their applications. Should any teacher really be applying for such honours? Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of parents, fellow teachers, educational administrators and others to nominate such outstanding teachers who go beyond the call of duty and nurture…