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NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours (NSIH) 2010 www.nasscomfoundation .org
The power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has been discussed widely by media, academics and practitioners alike. In the last two decades, it has changed the world as we know it. While gaps exist, ICT provides new age tools that can speed up sustainable development and enhance the overall quality of life. Recognising the role of ICT in sustainable development, NASSCOM Foundation (NF) instituted the NASSCOM Social Innovation Honours (NSIH) in 2009 with the objective of nurturing and showcasing innovation in the use of information technology that brings about positive and sustainable social change. In creating the platform for Social Innovation Honours, NF aims to identify projects where innovation could be in the form of both a process and a result. In looking at the process, NF aims to understand systems based on transfer and sharing of knowledge across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. For NF, a social innovation can be not only a product, a process, or a technology, but also a principle, an idea, a piece of legislation, a social movement, an intervention, or some combination of the above. NF endeavours to recognise organisations that foster these social innovations. We hope this Honour inspires creativity and imagination to bring positive social transformations for ICT in development. The NSIH 2010 showcased innovations under the following categories – 1. ICT led Innovation by Non - Profits 2. ICT led Business Innovation for Development 3. ICT led Innovation through Corporate Social Responsibility 4. ICT led Innovation in e-Governance 5. Multi Stakeholder Partnership 6. Environment related project The Honours were judged by an 42
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District Administration, Kolhapur, receiving honours in the category of ICT led e-Governance innovation
eminent jury of Narayana Murthy, FounderChairman, Infosys Technologies Limited, T. N. Ninan, Chairman and Editorial Director, Business Standard Ltd., Rama Bijapurkar, Independent Market Strategy Consultant, Jaithirth Rao, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation and Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman, CA India and past Chairman , NASSCOM Foundation. The following organisations were honoured at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum held in Mumbai on 9th Feb, 2010 and the Chief Guest, Mr. Ashok Chavan, the CM of Maharashtra honoured them: ICT LED INNOVATION BY NONPROFITS Health Management and Research Institute (HMRI) (www.hmri.in ) won the Honours for its unique means of reaching at-risk rural populations through a 24x7 health helpline - 104 Advice. This health contact centre offers nonemergency medical advice, information
and counselling services on the toll free ‘104’ number ICT LED INNOVATION THROUGH CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY a. Iris Business Services Pvt. Ltd (www.irisbusiness.com) won the Honour for creating an internet based voting mechanism through which children in the schools of Navi Mumbai could vote for the candidate of their choice from amongst those standing for election. In doing so, the company was successful in increasing awareness about the importance of voting and citizenship in a democracy amongst children in middle and high schools. b. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (www.mcxindia.com) won the Honour for it’s Gramin Suvidha Kendra (GSK), a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with India Post, that provides relevant information to farmers. The project brings a gamut