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Ten social innovations, tested and released

Since 2003 the lab has produced ten models, acclaimed nationally and internationally. Each began as a problem on the ground. Explore any of them in detail.

INNOVATION 01Replicated

Social Innovation Lab

SIL / SEPICA + SERA

A shared platform that brings community, university, corporate and government together to brainstorm and test solutions for long pending problems, at both grassroots and university level.

West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh / McMaster University, CanadaView →
INNOVATION 022 states

CESS Social Security

Consumption and Expense based

Complete social security for the masses with no taxes, premiums or savings, drawn from a slice of each family's everyday spending. The first expenditure based model in the world.

Betul, Solapur, and replicating in Bihar and Andhra PradeshView →
INNOVATION 03UNESCO Award

The Museum School

Project Parvarish

Turns city museums into schools and their exhibits into teaching aids, with B.Ed. trainees as teachers, giving slum children world class education at almost no extra cost.

Bhopal since 2005 / Bengaluru, Mumbai, DelhiView →
INNOVATION 04Govt. of India

NIRAMAYA

Insurance for the disabled

A campaign begun in 2005 led to India's first national health insurance framework for the disabled, co-designed with the Chief Commissioner Disability, The National Trust and IRDA.

Run by The National Trust since 2008 / ~4 lakh beneficiariesView →
INNOVATION 051,100+ volunteers

SWANS

Youth volunteer association

An on field finishing school that grows teamwork, leadership and compassion in young people through social work, shaping them into responsible, capable citizens.

Nationwide volunteer base of 1,100+View →
INNOVATION 06Maharashtra

SCALE

Social Credit system

A 360 degree system that scores social contribution and awards credits, mobilising youth, institutions and corporates toward volunteering and rewarding responsible action.

Adopted in the Govt. of Maharashtra Youth PolicyView →
INNOVATION 07Award

GRAMODAYA

Rural development education

Teaches rural development to rural children, 70 percent practical and 30 percent theory, building a local backbone of professionals to run welfare programmes and earn locally.

Piloted in 2 villages, West Bengal / HP Education Award 2013View →
INNOVATION 08Experiential

Life School

21st century life skills

Builds critical thinking, awareness and empathy through everyday, experience based learning, the skills today's exam driven schooling tends to leave out.

Learning drawn from everyday spacesView →
INNOVATION 09Frontier

Virtual Museum School

ViMS

Turns a classroom into a 3D theatre and a lesson into a 3D film, giving every child a personal teacher and exhibits that pop off the screen, anywhere in the world.

Quality education delivered virtually, at scaleView →
INNOVATION 1011 states

GLIDE

Group Livelihoods for Development

Helps rural youth redesign sustainable local livelihoods together as climate change and automation erode farming and factory work, keeping communities and ecology intact.

612 villages, 352 panchayats, 31 partner organisationsView →
PILOTINGDrawing board

Good-to-Go

A citizen for citizen skill bridge

Connects urban professionals who want purpose and nature with rural youth who need new economy skills, a two way bridge toward a society with less deprivation and division.

In pilot, dedicated site in development
MENTOREDForbes 30 Under 30

The Optimist Citizen

India's first good news newspaper

A venture mentored at the lab that captures positive news from around the world, on the belief that if bad news drives bad action, good news can drive good action.

Manthan 2015 / Ashoka / Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2019Visit →
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