Showcasing the last decade of the Fellowship and the impact it has made in the development of the rural sector, the SBI Foundation organized a two-day SBI Youth for India (YFI) Conclave 2023 providing a platform to bring together leaders and pioneers in the social sector in New Delhi on April 8 & 9. Grants amounting to approx. INR 2.4 million were given out to WINNERS during the ‘SBI YFI Sahyog – The Pitch Fest’. This Pitch fest intends to offer seed grant to the promising non-profit/ for-profit ventures by the SBI YFI Alumni.
The SBI YFI projects have made significant contributions in areas such as Health, Rural Livelihood, Food Security, Environmental Protection, Education, Water, Technology, Women’s Empowerment, Self-Governance, Social Entrepreneurship, Traditional Craft and Alternate Energy. SBI YFI alumni were present at the event to deliberate on societal issues in rural India, paving the way for accelerated rural development in the country.
The winning ventures were selected based on the assessment & evaluation by an eminent jury that included Mr Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director & CEO, SBI Foundation; Mr Lalit Mohan, President & COO, SBI Foundation; Mr Vijay Mahajan, Co-Founder Pradan & Basix; Mr Vimal Garg, Director, R A Environlink Technologies; Mr. Suresh Krishna Bandi, Associate VP-Programs & Partnerships, I-Venture at ISB Hyderabad & Mr Gyan Prakash, Coordinator & Program Head, SBI Youth For India Fellowship.
Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director & CEO, SBI Foundation said: “As an organization, we are proud to fuel social enterprise and contribute to India’s G20 goals.” He added “Projects implemented by our fellows have helped to accelerate rural development, as also resulted in inclusive and sustained growth across the remotest corners of the country.”
The Conclave attended by well-known personalities such as Ms. Sanchita Mitra, National Coordinator, SEWA Bharat; Mr Liby Johnson, Executive Director, Gram Vikas; Mr Ronak Shah, Chief Executive, Seva Mandir; Dr Sunil Kaul, Founding & Managing Trustee, the ant; Mr Badrish Mehra, Executive Director, CHIRAG among others, had several interactive sessions that included advisory forums, speed networking, lightening talk, formal and informal discussions between non-profits, think-tanks, fellows, and other stakeholders from across the country.
The following ventures won grants to further their work:
| YFI Sahyog – The Pitch Fest 2023
Ventures that received grant |
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| Sr. No | Name of Alumni | Batch | Name of the Organization | Organization Brief | |
| 1 | Mr. Nitesh
Bhardwaj |
2016-17 | Aadiwasi
Janjagruti |
Using hyperlocal Communications to bring
social justice and awareness. |
|
| 2 | Mr. Rangan Ghosh | 2018-19 | AIZHEIMERS | AIZHEIMERS is engaged in design, testing and prototyping of innovative AI/ML based platforms combined with deep science approaches for early-stage risk stratification of neurological disorders and mental health
issues such Alzheimers, depression etc. |
|
| 3 | Ms. Shravani Ladkat | 2016-17 | Eco-Circular India Foundation (ECIF) | ECIF encompasses activities coming under health, livelihood, education, environment and sustainability as these integrate to provide a better tomorrow. | |
| 4 | Mr. Siddarth Daga | 2016-17 | NeoMotion | NeoMotion designs and manufactures life transformative products for the physically challenged and elderly! | |
