Micol Lucchi, Communication Officer, Public Engagement; Telephone: +41 (0)79 571 8307; Email: micol.lucchi@weforum.org
New Delhi, India, 3 November 2015 – The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum, in partnership with the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, announced Poonam Bir Kasturi of Daily Dump as the winner of the 2015 India Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards. The awards were conferred in New Delhi in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy of India, and over 250 participants.
According to government estimates, homes generate 75% of all organic waste produced in urban India. Daily Dump aims to manage this waste right where it is generated – within families. Daily Dump, has brought together design thinking, traditional pottery and the science of composting to develop more than 50 aesthetic products and services that enable urban Indians to compost their waste at home and be part of the solution to the country’s waste management problem.
Of the 150 applicants considered in the 11th annual Social Entrepreneur of the Year selection process for India, four finalists emerged after several stages of rigorous assessment. An independent panel of pre-eminent judges met on 3 November to select the winner.
This year’s judges included Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media; Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Arghyam Foundation; Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship; Anshu Gupta, Founder and Director, Goonj; Sudha Pillai, Board Member, Jubilant Life Sciences and emeritus Member Secretary of Planning Commission, Government of India; H Sudarshan, Winner of the India Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 and Founder, Karuna Trust; and Ajit Mahadevan, Country Director, Acumen India.
Commenting on the finalists, Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, said: “We are delighted that we have four women finalists for the 2015 India Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards – all four entrepreneurs are working on social priorities high on India’s policy agenda, including skilling, entrepreneurship promotion and sanitation.”
The winners will be invited to join the Schwab Foundation’s global community of over 300 social innovators. Social Entrepreneurs are driven by their mission to create substantial social change and promote inclusive growth, developing new products and service models that benefit underserved communities.
More information about the finalists:
Ashraf Patel, Pravah, India
Pravah is building vibrant ecosystems across India to launch young social entrepreneurs, change-makers and active citizens and propel their models of positive social change. Pravah has pioneered a youth-centric approach to development called the “5th Space”. The 5th space rejects the instrumentalization of youth for political, economic and development gains. Instead, it focuses on transforming youth and building their leadership potential to transform society.
Prema Gopalan, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), India
Working with the most vulnerable communities due to climate change and in disaster-affected areas, the SSP group of ventures is building a new generation of disaster-resilient women entrepreneurs and grass-roots women community leaders. Over two decades, it has equipped more than 70,000 women to partner with global and local businesses and create sustainable rural social businesses – in clean energy, sanitation, basic health services, nutrition and safe agriculture. This has opened up new markets and non-traditional livelihood incomes, tripled household incomes and revitalized ailing village economies.
Suparna Gupta, Aangan Trust, India
Aangan Trust is converting India’s hot spots of child violence into communities that are safe and responsive to children. It works with the full range of actors and institutions that a vulnerable child encounters – both before and after the occurrence of harm – and transforms them into child protection champions. In communities marked by intense poverty and violence, Aangan sets up local, child safety circles that are powered by unusual allies – parents, government officials and young change-makers.
To nominate a social entrepreneur or apply for the 2016 award, please visit www.schwabfound.org.
Notes to Editors
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