With 2023 near to end, The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth’ declaring, “This is the period in the history of India when the country is going to take a quantum leap”. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision to actively involve the youth of the country in the formulation of national plans, priorities and goals of the country, Piramal Foundation has initiated nation transforming programs keeping youth and women at the core for the mission of Building Bharat.
The Concept of Viksit Bharat
'Viksit Bharat,' or Developed India, envisions a nation characterized by inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth, ensuring every citizen has access to opportunities for advancement. This transformative vision aims to propel India into the league of developed nations by 2047, the 100th anniversary of its independence. Viksit Bharat embodies Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a prosperous, inclusive, and technologically advanced India, focusing on holistic growth across sectors like education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. It seeks to harness the creativity, enterprise, and innovation of India’s billion-plus population to drive sustainable development. Central to this vision is the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth), emphasizing inclusive development that benefits every stratum of the society.
India is striving to become a $30-trillion developed economy in the next two decades. With a population of 1.65 billion, realizing this vision requires a unified national effort, strategic planning, and strong public-private partnerships. Inclusive growth for marginalized communities is crucial, where the government has a major role to play for turning the vision of Viksit Bharat into reality through effective grassroots policy implementation.
By fostering personal transformation and a commitment to service, Piramal Foundation is enabling government systems through leadership development, digitisation, decentralisation and inclusion, which can be achieved by mobilizing women and youth to lead from the front as they are the true drivers and beneficiaries of social and economic upliftment.
Strengthening institutional processes, practices, and governance is one of the primary steps to achieving this goal. With the Piramal School of Leadership, the foundation aims to address these needs by developing a cadre of government leaders who embody the spirit of Sewa Bhaav. These leaders are equipped to drive systemic transformation across sectors such as education, health, climate change, and justice.
The power of collaboration at micro levels
The true magic behind "Viksit Bharat@2047" lies not in the grand, broader picture but in the power of collaboration at the micro level with ripple effects.
In a vast country like India, with its large and diverse population with democracy in its DNA, developing the ability to listen, respect others' opinions, and learn from those around us is essential. The mission of Viksit Bharat therefore needs a multifaceted perspective with sustainable solutions. Collaboration and partnership are the keys to achieving this. Working closely with the government, Piramal Foundation is invested in this endeavour, while focusing on creating an ecosystem sustained by mutual support.
Collaboration has always been at the heart of Piramal Foundation’s mission leading us towards forging over 100 partnerships with government bodies, corporates, foundations, and civil society organizations to build a better India. These partnerships have allowed us to leverage diverse strengths and expertise, creating a synergistic impact that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The key to unlocking this potential lies in localised solutions. Investing in rural infrastructure, internet access, digital literacy programs, upskilling initiatives, and AI technology can cater to the unique needs across sectors and geographies.
Through Anamaya – the Tribal Health Collaborative, the foundation aims to enhance the health and well-being of 700 million tribal people living in the remotest corner of the nation. By leveraging local healers, forest produce, and traditional medicine, this initiative has made notable progress, particularly in combating Tuberculosis (TB). In collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and USAID, the Tribal TB Initiative has successfully mapped TB hotspots and identified 75 TB-free tribal districts for focused interventions. This initiative was recognized by the President of India for its impact.
The importance and role of responsible entrepreneurship
The interests of beneficiaries—investors, consumers, and communities—should guide all actions, with alignment to national priorities. Sustainable impact is best achieved through system strengthening rather than superficial ‘Band Aid’ solutions. Given the complexity of systemic issues, there is no textbook answer. Addressing complex issues demands risk- taking, learning from failures, and adapting strategies. Building effective solutions involves forging partnerships, leveraging diverse expertise, and sharing resources. Sharing intellectual property and creating public goods is also vital for broader benefit. Understanding and respecting culture and tradition determines the real success of Bharat. Piramal Foundation’s initiatives exemplify this approach, focusing on building a democratic India by supporting government implementation, fostering community participation in change, and shaping ecosystems to enable transformation.
Hear out Aditya Natraj and his views on the need of public investment and public quality control and how government collaboration is much required in medical space.
Piramal Foundation’s efforts towards Viksit Bharat
Since its inception 17 years ago, the Piramal Foundation has touched over 113 million lives across 27 Indian states and 2 union territories in the domains of education, health, and water.
The Piramal Foundation has been at the forefront of driving transformative change in India, aligning its efforts with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’ One of our flagship initiatives, the Aspirational Districts Collaborative, partners with NITI Aayog to bring comprehensive development to 112 districts across India where the most marginalized communities reside.
Through this initiative, we have fostered collaborations with over 1,000 active NGOs, 195,000 youth volunteers, 6,651 faith leaders, and 8,162 Village Governing Councils. These efforts have led to remarkable outcomes, with several districts we work in ranking among the top 10 in education and health indicators, as reported by an HBS affiliate study.
Digital Bharat Collaborative works with the government and multiple technical experts to leverage technology and build a transformation roadmap, system and tech readiness and distributed and data-based governance structures to support the state in improved Governance and decision making. Through this initiative we hope to democratize service for every Indian citizen so that s/he enjoys equitable access to quality public service and equal opportunity to live to their fullest potential.
We firmly believe in harnessing India’s greatest assets – its youth and women – to drive social and economic progress. Our Gandhi Fellowship program embodies this belief, nurturing over 3,000 energetic young leaders who are effecting large-scale grassroots change. Similarly, the Karuna Fellowship empowers young rural women from marginalized backgrounds, transforming them into role models and agents of change within their communities.
The significance of Collaboration for Viksit Bharat
To truly contribute to the dream of Viksit Bharat, businesses must adopt a collaborative approach in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. By partnering with government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, companies can amplify their impact, driving innovation and addressing complex social challenges. Such collaborations ensure that philanthropic initiatives are not only sustainable and scalable but also aligned with the national vision of a developed India. For further insights, explore Aditya Natraj’s views on future of CSR in India. https://piramalfoundation.org/Docs/the-future-of-csr-in-india-with-aditya-nataraj-rusen-kumar.pdf
Conclusion
As we approach the centenary of our independence, these efforts stand as a testament to the power of collaborative action and responsible entrepreneurship in building a developed and democratic nation. Through sustained impact and innovative partnerships, we are not only shaping the future but also fulfilling the promise of a thriving India for all.
Sources
TAGS
SHARE
