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The speed with which Globalisation has shrunk our world has increased our inter-dependence on each other. And the huge technological revolution that has taken place and is taking place provides a dilemma. Those who are connected to this world are able to get the most out of it those that are not –are and will be further excluded the consequences are clear. We need to harness the power of these technologies and should through social innovation make these accessible for the poor. This was the subject of considerable discussion, debate and reflection within the EMF a social justice foundation in London.
As a result of this number of development models across Asia and Africa were examined. The analysis led us to India and two years were spent collating data, understanding the nature of the not for profit sector and the incredibly large number of government Schemes designed to help the poor, with substantial investment by India itself in addressing the problems. This led to INDIA800 Foundation
INDIA800 Foundation is a Trust, registered in Delhi with the specific purpose of helping to bridge the divide between the two India’s our objective is to help build one India. We will do this by supporting the 800 million people that live below poverty line.
We will focus on developing solutions through an evidence led approach, driven by science and technology and social innovation. We will use policy and research tools to generate debate and ideas that can contribute towards inclusive growth. There is no reason in our view why so many Indians should be desperately poor. We are developing new models of service delivery for those most in need, focusing on rot causes of poverty a opposed to good causes.
Using science and technology with social innovation as a key driver we will work on the inter related themes of
- Health and infectious diseases
- Economic integration/Education/Livelihood
- Agriculture
- Non-conventional forms of energy
The vast majority of the world’s poor are women. When women have access to education, capital and healthcare, they not only improve the well being of their own families but the stability of their communities.
Women bear almost all responsibilities for meeting basic needs of the family, yet are systematically denied the resources, information and freedom of action they need to fulfil this responsibility.
The current food inflation crises impact on women severely. Around the world, millions of people eat two or three meals a day but a significant percentage of women are denying themselves even that, to ensure that their children are fed. These women are already suffering the effects of sever malnutrition, which without intervention, will be their children’s fate as well.
The scale and complexity of the challenge that we have set for ourselves is enormous.
Message from Chairman
Growth without inclusion is a philosophy bereft of soul. Progress and well being, be it economic, social or spiritual is less than acceptable if it does not touch the vast majority of human beings that populate the planet. The philosophical underpinning of the vision of INDIA800 Foundation is to live in a world where a minimum level of livelihood and Well Being is available to all citizens and to seek answers and to offer solutions is the mission. We believe that innovation and technology lie at the heart of solutions to address the challenges of inadequate education, healthcare and livelihood that afflict teaming millions in many parts of the world.
The Foundation seeks to be the platform which will bring citizens, institutions and Governments together to deliver on the promise of a brighter future for the less advantaged and marginalised populations of our country. Our programme to date have touched many lives as we deliver solutions in the fields of energy, disease amelioration and education. We know that this a mammoth task but so is out motivation and aspiration. We implore all citizens, organisations and Governments to be partner of INDIA800 Foundation as we walk the journey to achieve our vision.
Come walk with us and be a partner
Yours sincerely
Harpal Singh
Message from CEO
Welcome to INDIA800 Foundation. This website briefly describes why the foundation was set up, how and what it intends to work and provide some examples of the work currently undertaken. We firmly believe that science and technology is capable of providing solutions to some of the most difficult and complex challenges that we face as a global society. Large amounts of public funds are globally invested in scientific and technological research yet very rarely as a society do we asses our return on this investment. Governments believe that investments in science and technology which entail building defence industries and providing world class result in the high industrial growth. But they have yet to fully harness this potential in tracking global poverty.
Our approach to tackling poverty is to understand the set of concrete problems, identify these and understand them to build evidence base and solve them. This is not done in a classroom but by actually living with poor people, trying to understand their lives, in all complexity and richness. Because they are poor it is assumed that there is nothing interesting about their economic existence, when in fact there is a considerable amount to learn about how they manage their lives on very small sums of money. They have very little and as a result out much careful thoughts into their choices.
The exercise of this choice along side understanding human behaviour, guides the nature of the intervention that we make. This takes time, its painfully slow but it helps us understand why some things work and others do not.
I have travelled and lived in some of the most remote regions of India, it has been a humbling experience. To find a huge reservoir of love and compassion in communities that barely find one meal a day has lessons for all of us. It is this love that has kept me going even when the challenge looked overwhelming. I am also grateful to so many people who invested in me and made this possible. Especially to EMF. A Social Justice Foundation in London for funding us for a three-year period, to our Chairman Harpal Singh and Vice Chairman Lord Amir Bhatia without whose help and support this would no have been possible. Last but not least is to mu family who have put up with my long absences from home.
I hope that you will join the India800 movement.
Chief Executive officer
Dr. Krishna Sarda
  
Dr Krishna sarda - speaking at the Pune press conference - "Inclusive development required new and innovative forms of partnership between the not for profit sector and the Corporates to meet the social development challenges that the country faced. We are pleased to be leading on this and the we hope to bring to this task"
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