A Rs 2cr prize dedicated to grassroots-level innovators

Time of India

11 hours ago

Infosys Foundation instituted Aarohan Social Innovation Awards in 2018 with the single-minded goal of being a vital platform for identifying and supporting innovative solutions addressing critical societal challenges.
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"These awards reflect our commitment to fostering grassroots innovation across India, with a focus on driving scalable and sustainable social change," says Sumit Virmani, trustee, Infosys Foundation.
Now in its fourth edition, the awards span key categories including education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. The biannual awards were named Aarohan, meaning 'The Ascent,' by Sudha Murty, former chairperson of Infosys Foundation, in an attempt to reflect progress and the transformative power of social innovation.
Aarohan has now grown into an ecosystem of innovators, inspiring ideas with the potential for visibility, funding, and large-scale change. With a total prize pool of Rs 2 crore, Aarohan addresses the core problem of funding, a lack of which often stops grassroots-level innovation from taking wings. Individual winners are awarded a prize of up to Rs 50lakh. This year's entries closed on June 22.
Aarohan welcomes both early-stage prototypes and market-ready solutions prepared for scaling.
The awards recognise that many impactful innovations, particularly in the social sector, stem from the personal experiences or hardships of their founders, the Foundation said in a statement. "Whether the idea is nascent or ready to grow, Aarohan provides critical support to ensure these innovations don't fade away due to lack of resources or amplification.
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One of Aarohan's most notable success stories is Prashant Gade, founder of Inali Foundation.
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In 2018, Prashant approached Aarohan at the prototype stage with the Inali Arm, a low-cost prosthetic arm designed for individuals with disabilities who lacked access to expensive care. To date, the Inali Foundation has distributed over 15,000 prosthetic limbs free of charge, offering hope to thousands of individuals.
Prashant's vision is to serve the estimated 22 million disabled Indians, ensuring inclusivity and dignity for every individual.
"As one of India's most prestigious platforms for recognising social impact, Aarohan is dedicated to identifying and nurturing solutions that address real-world problems with scalable and sustainable outcomes," says Virmani. "From day one, our focus has been on scale because social innovations truly make an impact only when they scale. That's why the Aarohan award isn't a one-time reward—it's tied to periodic milestones to encourage sustainable growth," he says.
Beyond the award money, Infosys Foundation also provides access to a community of social innovators and support towards a mentoring and incubation programme to bridge expertise gaps. "This year, we are partnering with leading incubation organisations to offer winners enhanced mentorship, resources, and opportunities for growth. These collaborations will help amplify the impact of their innovations, enabling them to reach wider audiences and deliver transformational solutions more effectively," Virmani adds.
Among last edition's (2023) winners, nLite 360 stands out — a portable smart phototherapy device built by Subrahmanyam Prasad Muddam and Akitha Kolloju from Hyderabad. It's battery-powered and designed to treat severe jaundice in newborns, making neonatal care more accessible.
In education, Smart Vision Glasses stole the show. Created by Seetharam Muthangi from Bengaluru, these AI-enabled glasses help visually impaired individuals identify objects, people, and read printed material, even in regional languages.
In women empowerment category, Shelter Associates, a Pune-based NGO, won for their One Home One Toilet initiative. They've developed a data-driven model to build household toilets for underprivileged women, helping improve hygiene, safety, and dignity.