SVM Monthly Newsletter – April 2022

In This Issue

SVM India Roadshow 2022 | Blog – Explore Meghalaya -Festivals in Meghalaya

Dear Friends,

These are exciting times for Smart Village Movement and the coming months hold much promise, bringing expansion and scaling of our sustainable Open-Innovation model. After several Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, and Water projects were successfully modeled and scaled in Meghalaya, our team from the USA and India led by Executive Chairman Dr. Anil Shah, embarked on a dynamic roadshow through various states in India, from Maharashtra to Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, and Telangana. The entire SVM team also gathered in Meghalaya to meet with our Nodal officers to discuss future projects, visit our current active project sites and interact and gain feedback from the villagers we seek to serve and empower.

We delayed going to press with this edition so we could get you timely updates from the road. We thank you for your patience. Stay tuned for our Social Media and Monthly Newsletter updates from the SVM Roadshow 2022; as we take you on an exciting journey through rural India and the various institution we collaborate with for common rural development goals. Our experience of interacting with visionary government leaders and the satisfaction of receiving positive feedback from those who benefit from our programs has enriched and strengthened us beyond measure.

Thank you for your good wishes and support.

Yours Truly,
Smart Village Movement Team India / US

Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India with over 200 million people. It is the second-largest economy in India, yet many resources and development are yet to reach the poor and underserved rural communities in the state where SVM hopes to bring the right solutions to solve the pain points of people.
It was our privilege and pleasure to meet the Honorable Governor of UP Smt. Anandiben Patel,who has formerly served as Chief Minister of Gujarat (2014-16), to present and discuss our sustainable rural development model that brings in companies with customized solutions to challenges that villagers face.

Accompanied by SVM well-wisher Dr. Rajni Sarin,Rashtriya Parisad Sadasya, National Co-convener O.F. BJP, President NRI BJP UP, State Secretary our team also met other esteemed government officials to learn about their concerns and development goals that SVM can augment and supplement with Open-innovation and pilot projects.

Third Stop – Nagaland

Smart Village Movement team was cordially welcomed to Nagaland in Northeast India. We met with the Honourable Chief Minister of Nagaland, Mr. Neiphiu Rio, and other esteemed officials to discuss our sustainable rural development model envisioned in partnership with Berkeley Haas. SVM is deeply honored to facilitate business and economic prospects for the rural communities of Nagaland. Mr. Rio desires better economic development for this lively state with vibrant people and culture.

Throughout this dynamic trip, the team traveled to some of the remotest villages and sat down to listen to what the villagers had to say. Across the board, rural communities aspire to the same things we do. They need access to good healthcare, basic infrastructure, modern and meaningful education for their children, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities close to home, so they are not forced to migrate to crowded cities. SVM will work tirelessly to ensure that all villages can be Smart Villages one day. With this invitation to SVM and significant interest in our open innovation model, we envision great opportunities for the underserved community of Nagaland.

Fourth Stop – Meghalaya

Meghalaya certainly feels like home to Smart Village Movement. After two years of pandemic travel restrictions and zoom calls across time zones, we’re meeting our fabulous team and very supportive Government officials and respected Nodal Officers Mr. Sampath Kumar, IAS, and Mr. Ram Kumar, IAS. The USA and India teams visited our active village pilot project sites and interacted with the villagers to learn first-hand about their aspirations and the positive impact SVM pilot projects have brought into their lives.

To see this entire Open-Innovation model successfully piloted and scaled from theory to reality is extremely gratifying. From a rural challenge being articulated, then powered by Berkeley-Haas’ academic research, a tentative solution is born. Then the innovative corporations are brought in and a sustainable business model is perfected for the rural context. Thanks to Chief Minister Mr. Conrad Sangma and our progressive Nodal Officers, we have tested & perfected these pilot models & now scale them throughout Meghalaya & other states in India.

Check out this Video of some of our projects like Salesforce Trailblazer Labs for Education, Gramin Polyclinic & Apollo Telehealth Centre for Healthcare, and eFresh Farmer Development Centres (FDC) that are bringing sustainable positive change in the villagers’ lives. Look out for our May Newsletter where we will share more updates and images from Meghalaya projects.

Finally – Hyderabad, Telangana

On SVM’s last stop in Hyderabad, Telangana, we had the pleasure to meet Mr. G. Narendra Kumar IAS, Director General of NIRDPR National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and other faculty & team members to discuss mutual goals. SVM’s core value of Open-Innovation brings us engagements with other organizations to collaborate in working on Rural Development Schemes and empowerment of rural entrepreneurs and Self Help Groups (SHG) across India. SVM team also explored collaborations with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) which runs colleges and hospitals. They have strong footprints in villages to serve the underserved with world-class education and healthcare. In our meeting with Mr. Malla Reddy, Minister of Labour and Employment in Telangana, and his son Dr. Badra Reddy, we discussed promoting research on microbiology and healthcare through our open innovation platform.

Smart Village Movement works towards building Smart Villages to empower rural communities in India. In this part 3 of our Blog Explore Meghalaya, we present – Festivals of Meghalaya. Most of the popular Meghalayan festivals are those connected with agricultural activities, their human nature bond, and their thanksgiving ceremonies to the deities. Like the Hindus, the Garos used to show reverence to their ancestors by offering food to the departed souls and by the erection of memorial stones, the festivals of Meghalaya are diverse in nature. The three main tribes of Meghalaya, the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia tribe celebrate very culturally rich, traditional as well as modern festivals. Read more

SVM needs your support- skills, knowledge, and financial donation to help us undertake our various projects on the ground in the rural areas of India.

Every small or big contribution will help us bring crucial development to the rural world that alleviates poverty and connects them to the global economy.

Learn more about our projects and please consider donating. We are so glad you are part of our community and engaged in helping build a better tomorrow!

SVM is a not-for-profit society with 80(G) certification and is also registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The tax-deductible contributions go directly to fund rural development and empowerment of village livelihoods in pilot areas.

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Please sign up and access our platform engage with our movement and help us with creative & innovative solutions. Together we are all ‘smarter’.

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