Introduction



“niiti”, a Sanskrit word means, in different contexts, policy, ethics, tenets. To us, who belong here, it is our raison d’etre, our touchstone. So we constantly turn to our ethics and tenets when we re-examine the basis of what we do and how we do it over and over again. This is our space to engage with our core, with you, our readers and companions on the path towards an equitable society in the deepest meaning of the word. Over the past years, there are several social issues and organisations that we have engaged with and been enriched with both experience and knowledge along the way. We believe that in creating a conversation platform for those engaged in the field, including some of our clients, partners, all of you out there who have reached this site wanting to be the change and others who have expertise to comment and critique, we can actually crowd-source actions and solutions for some of our most pressing social issues.

Some of these stories feature organisations and people who have been the change; others highlight innovative approaches to long-entrenched social issues; yet others point to ways in which change can be facilitated, simply. If you are inspired by them as well and motivated to replicate their work, or want to share inputs on other bright examples like these, do write to us at info@niiticonsulting.com.

This is your platform. Feel free to contribute, critique, and most importantly, converse.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Total Village Management of Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra


Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK), is an entity that specializes in delivering multi-dimensional Corporate Social Responsibility Services and applies business management principles at the grassroots. The integrated approach to rural development envisioned through the proprietary concept of Total Village Management (TVM) borrows its fundamental theory from the Japanese concept of Total Product Management is now a movement.


In TVM, strong business principles have been adapted and indigenised to the rural setting to build community ownership and grassroots entrepreneurship; eventual goal being to meet and surpass the Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in its area of operations. 


State Institute of Rural Development, London School of Economics, John Hopkins University (JHPIEGO), Clinton Global Initiative, University of Washington, and International Centre for Excellence in Malaria Research are keenly observing and partnering the TVM model.

All TVM efforts have multiple 90-day implementation cycles, at the end of which, impact is measured through Social Return on Interventions (SROI). KGVK has also developed its own organisation structure with a cluster-approach to take forward TVM initiatives following an 80:20 Model where 80% of the workforce comes from the villages while 20% is from KGVK. The target is to reduce this ratio to 95:5 over a course of time thus ensuring a high level of community ownership.


Following the fundamental edifice of TVM and igniting initiatives at the grassroots through Public–Private-People’s Partnerships (P4) has won the organization the Most Admired NGO Award at the Emerging Jharkhand Times Impact Award Ceremony.

TVM has now been introduced in 130 villages to cover 20,000 households. By 2015 the organization plans to scale up to 350 villages and further replicate it outside its direct area of operation in partnership with likeminded national and international agencies.

To know more visit:  www.kgvkindia.com/

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Some Much Needed Mash-Up Reveling


Just last weekend Niiti Consulting Inc. hosted a weekend long set of meetings for members of the internal as well as external Niiti Network. The Mash-Up weekend was not only productive for persons already in India's social sectors but it was also a learning experience for many, including myself, who is not yet in a particular space but has a friendly inkling that social entrepreneurship may just hold some unfound treasures that belong to a curious and social-remedied mind. 




This little event of just thirty odd people in a little village in little India is something I will never forget. As a youngin' setting out into the world for the first time since graduating in December, I feel that it was fate for Niiti and I to collide so well on this cold January morning. I met smart, thoughtful, and just genuinely  good people! Everyone had different talents and interests and yet everyone seemed to mesh on the nobility of the cause that had us all gathered together.





We talked about the world, i.e. concerns, issues, insecurities, creativity and discovered from between ourselves how businesses and society itself can interact in more ways than exist thus far. The various people who turned out was what made the experience so wonderful. There were elder business partners who were in the highest mark of their careers, as well as 20 year olds still in college and already looking for scientific and educational opportunities to expand their interests. From Niiti's five pre-selected experts, everyone that attended the mash-up was able to gain real insight into approaches for social entrepreneurship. The Niiti experts facilitated small group discussions on business strategy, design, finance, and marketing. Feedback from attendees was spectacular and as everyone shuffled out of the little room above the clothing shop in Hauz Khas Village, smiles lit up and pens were on the loose, writing down e-mails and exchanging information. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone that attended when I say thank you Niiti! Thank you for the opportunity and for everyone involved you were truly exemplary and I look forward to see what wonderful things you embark on in the New Year. Keep in touch.





Iliana Foutsitzis is a recent graduate of Northeastern University's Political Science curriculum. Before embarking on a law degree Iliana is spending a gap year in New Delhi, India interning with the Niiti Consulting team. Contact Iliana at ifoutsitzis@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

EPOCH For Elderly Indians


January 1st marks more than the start of the New Year ( and a Happy New Year to you! ) – it is also Global Family Day – a global day celebrated of peace and sharing. To start off the new year and to celebrate family care, Niiti is going to focus on an organization whose motto is “…because the fun does not have to end.” Certainly something useful to keep in mind with regard to family! Epoch is a foundation providing elderly care to families in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Elderly care is a soft spot for all of us who couldn’t or wouldn’t want to live without grandma’s cooking or grandpa’s secret wages – the elderly have a hold on us as being a special part of our hearts, and often pass down the most important of life stories and incomparable words of wisdom.
Epoch Elder Care was founded in January, 2012 by Kabir Chadha, a Stanford University and McKinsey & Company alumni. Inspired by his grandmother, he researched the needs of the elderly and found:
• India is a young country with the world’s second largest elderly population
• The elderly have many needs, but the biggest one is that of loneliness and companionship
• Indian elderly want to stay at home, unlike their Western counterparts
• However, there is no professional at-home care service to help the elderly, all you have is family and domestic help
• The elderly are unwilling to pay for high quality services, but their children are
The highly impressive team of employees at Epoch is responsible for taking into consideration all aspects of elderly care and life where there could be improvement. Home visits and regular check-ups, Epoch is like a friendly neighbor. Intellectual companionship was the first of three services that Epoch provides. Epoch team members will take you out for coffee, play games, explore the blogosphere, discuss current events and using its resources can create a whole new social space for the elderly community. With specialists in Healthcare management and medical systems engineering, Epoch also guarantees a second service of health monitoring. Seniors who recently returned home from hospitalization are ensured home visits for check-ups, monitoring of vitals like blood pressure and blood sugar, medication management and for creating a fall-proof home environment. The third service provided by Epoch is Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Epoch specialists conduct cognitive exercises, help label the environment, create daily calendars, train caretakers and provide respite care.
The vision and values of Epoch are something to surely appreciate on a day like this. The organization prides itself for creating and celebrating fulfilling relationships. Both at work base and within the elderly communities, Epoch does business with compassion; trust and good humor as the only end goal and it proves to be self-rewarding as the organization continues to grow. The organization is creating employment and if you go to the website will find are presently hiring caretakers in Delhi and Mumbai. Contact: Kabir Chadha - Founder & CEO - kabir@epocheldercare.com Phone: +91.989.946.9345 http://www.epocheldercare.com/
Iliana Foutsitzis is a recent graduate of Northeastern University's Political Science curriculum. Before embarking on a law degree Iliana is spending a gap year in New Delhi, India interning with the Niiti Consulting team. Contact Iliana at ifoutsitzis@gmail.com.