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Electrifying India, With the Sun and Small Loans
A few years ago, the hundred or so residents of Paradeshappanamatha, a secluded hamlet in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, gathered along the central pathway between their 22 densely clustered homes, and watched as government workers hoisted a solar-powered streetlamp. As the first display of electricity in the town, it was an object of mild interest, but, being outside, the light didn’t help anyone cook or study, and only attracted moths.
- Region
- South Asia
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Vaccines for Dengue, Malaria in Final Stage
Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, on Sunday claimed indigenous vaccines against dengue and malaria are in an advanced stage of development.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- vaccines
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Social enterprises increasingly getting more capital, from impact and venture capital funds
GoCoop now has 250 cooperatives on its ecommerce platform and B2B customers include the likes of Levi's and Reliance Retail. While Devireddy used his savings of 10 years and funds from his colleagues to get his dream project off the ground, the startup later raised seed funding and is currently in the process of closing its Series A round of funds, both from impact investors.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- impact investing
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Multinationals Get Back to Basics
On August 24, 2015, for the first time, more than one billion people used Facebook in a single day. It's easy to think that the Internet has engulfed the world and communities across the globe are perpetually mesmerised by smartphones. Yet, the reality is very different. More than four billion people - or over half the world's population - still don't have access to the Internet, reports ITU, a United Nations agency.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Facebook’s “Save Free Basics in India” Campaign Provokes Controversy
Facebook is calling on Indian users to send an email to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), asking the government agency to support its Free Basics program. The campaign, which shows up when users sign onto the social media platform and includes a pre-filled form so they don’t even have to write an email, has already proven controversial, with opponents saying its message undermines net neutrality in India.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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Zephyr Peacock, Omidyar Network invest Rs 100 Crore in Swarna Pragati
Bengaluru-based private equity funds Zephyr Peacock and Omidyar Network have picked up about 15 per cent stake in housing microfinance firm Swarna Pragati for about Rs 100 crore, people close to the development said.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Facebook’s Campaign in India Provokes Controversy
Facebook is calling on Indian users to send an email to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), asking the government agency to support its Free Basics program. The campaign, which shows up when users sign onto the social media platform and includes a pre-filled form so they don’t even have to write an email, has already proven controversial, with opponents saying its message undermines net neutrality in India.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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World Bank Approves $1.5 Billion Loan for Toilets in India
The World Bank has approved a $1.5 billion loan for a state-led sanitation program in India, where millions of people have no access to toilets, the bank said Wednesday.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending
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