NEW DELHI (India CSR): In a bid to recognize the efforts made by individuals, groups, organizations, and corporates in the sphere of social innovation, NASSCOM Foundation announced the winners of one of India’s largest platforms devoted to encouraging ‘Technology for Good’—the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum.
In its seventh edition, supported this year by leading IT companies Mphasis and Genpact, this unique platform has evolved from merely recognizing impactful projects to actively supporting early-stage, high-impact initiatives through industry mentorship and catalytic grants.
The grand jury that selected the winners comprised many renowned industry stalwarts, including Rohini Nilekani—Chairperson of the Grand Jury, NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum 2015, and Founder-Chairperson of Arghyam; Ganesh Ayyar—CEO of Mphasis; Ganesh Natarajan—CEO of Zensar and Chairman of NASSCOM Foundation; Kalpana Morparia—CEO of J.P. Morgan India; Mohit Thukral—Genpact Officer and Senior Vice President; Rama Bijapurkar—a respected expert on India’s consumer economy and business-market strategy; and Rita Soni—a ‘Technology for Good’ expert.
Genpact has always been at the forefront of process innovation, making it an ideal supporter of NSIF. Commenting on the initiative, Mohit Thukral, Genpact Officer and Senior Vice President, said, “There is a very strong connection between technology and social good. Through NSIF, Genpact is trying to encourage innovative solutions and help them scale in terms of both reach and impact.”
Mphasis, a firm believer in technology as a viable solution to many of India’s basic social needs—such as access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, financial independence, and energy—has come out in full support of NSIF this year. Commenting on the occasion, Ganesh Ayyar, CEO of Mphasis, said, “With our focus on true corporate social responsibility, coupled with our brand promise of ‘Unleash the Next,’ NSIF is a perfect fit with our core values. It provides a great platform to identify and support innovations that can truly shape the India of the future.”
Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman of NASSCOM Foundation, added, “Our country today needs to catalyze growth by creating an ecosystem that not only fosters entrepreneurship but also drives inclusion. The thought behind the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum is that technology has the power to bring about social change by nurturing entrepreneurs and creating this ecosystem. The Forum not only recognizes ideas and projects but also provides a platform for collaboration, scalability, and sustainable development. I congratulate all the winners and hope they will continue to bring about positive change in India using their innovations.”
Earlier known as the NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours, this program—instituted by NASSCOM Foundation in 2008—has attracted a vast number of innovative projects from NGOs, corporates, social enterprises, government departments, students, and individuals each year. Over time, NASSCOM Foundation has established itself as a harbinger of change, driving technology for good through this initiative.
Going forward, the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum will continue to provide social innovators not only with a platform to showcase their innovations but also with opportunities to bring about meaningful social change through the effective use of technology for good.
List of Awardees:
Award Category: ICT-led Social Innovation by a ‘Not for Profit’ Organization
Vidiyal – Led by Mr. K. Kamaraj, VIDIYAL, in collaboration with COL, conducted a participatory rural appraisal that identified the need for improved goat-rearing and cow-rearing practices. Through the L3F initiative, COL helped VIDIYAL establish a cooperative network among various agricultural and veterinary universities in India to provide women with the knowledge and business skills necessary for goat-rearing and cow-rearing microenterprises. Using multimedia materials in local languages, VIDIYAL trained 300 women in value-chain analysis and business proposal development for their enterprises.
Award Category: ICT-led Social Innovation by a Social Enterprise
Kriyate – Led by Mr. Sumit Dagar, SimplEye is a custom-designed smartphone application featuring an easy-to-use interface for the visually impaired. A voice narrates which element appears on the screen, and users interact using simple gestures. For example, swiping up/down scrolls through elements, swiping left goes back one step, tapping moves forward, and a long press accesses options. These gestures can be applied anywhere on the screen, removing the need to see the display.
Award Category: ICT-led Social Innovation Concept by Students
SOS Device – Led by Mr. Piyush Agarwal, the IIT Delhi team developed a smart gadget that allows individuals—especially children, women, and the elderly—to reach out to their friends, family, or concerned authorities with their GPS location by simply tapping on the device. This gadget sends emergency SMS alerts to pre-set numbers and authorities, continuing at short intervals until the user is located. Users can also set “safe zones,” triggering notifications if they leave these designated areas.
Award Category: ICT-led Social Innovation by a Corporate (Responsible Business)
Lemon Tree Hotels – Led by Mr. R. Hari and Ms. Aradhana Lal, this initiative addressed communication challenges faced by employees who are speech- and hearing-impaired (90% of the hotel’s 13% disabled workforce). The hotel used ICT to develop visual aids covering technical aspects of housekeeping and F&B service, including a custom dictionary with sign language demonstrations and visual guides.
Award Category: Catalytic Grants for Early-Stage Enterprises
- Enability Technologies – Led by Mr. Pradeep Thangappan, this initiative leverages sensors and mobile data to reinforce motor skills in children, aiding gesture consistency and communication.
- SkillTrain – Led by Mr. B. Ganesh, this program provides vocational training via mobile phones to 15 million school dropouts in rural India, delivering video content directly to their devices at low costs.
- Tamana – Led by Mr. Blessin Varkey, this project adapted Microsoft Kinect for autism therapy. In collaboration with IBM, Tamana developed applications that enhance motor coordination, joint attention, and cognition in children with autism and intellectual impairments.
Award Category: Certificates of Appreciation
- Biocon Foundation – Developed a mobile-based cancer screening and surveillance platform for oral cancer detection, integrating Electronic Data Capture (EDC).
- Easy Gas (District Administration Kanpur) – A software innovation enabling fair and automated LPG cylinder allocation, replacing inefficient manual systems.
- Sabrang Trust – Developed a “Peace Mapping Project” to counteract violence by tracking early warning signs and leveraging social media for intervention.
- Frontier Markets – Designed “Solar Prahari,” a remote monitoring system for solar products, reducing theft and ensuring maintenance in rural areas.
This recognition of technological innovations for social good underscores the commitment of NASSCOM Foundation and its partners to fostering inclusive growth and social progress through innovation.
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