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NextDrop Uses Big Data, Texting To Improve Water Distribution
The proliferation of mobile-supported business models in India is substantial. Given its ubiquity amongst lower-income groups, mobile technology is recognized as a maximum impact tool, particularly for grassroots data collection. This “tech” model of social entrepreneurship has become the norm not only in India, but also in other emerging markets throughout Asia, Africa and South America.Case in point: NextDrop, a social enterprise launched in 2011, is simplifying urban water collection in India. With its “Smart Grid ‘Lite’” solution, the enterprise collects and shares water delivery information with city residents and water utilities. In this way, efficiency and transparency are improved upon.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- public health
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The Best Of Both Worlds
A frail looking Mini Shaji sits on a bed in the corner of the general ward of AyurVaid’s hospital in Bengaluru. Wearing a brick red nightgown, Shaji’s painfully thin frame looks devoid of all energy, but there is a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Six months back, the 36-year-old Shaji, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, could not move without the help of a walking stick. A friend directed her to the AyurVaid centre at Ramamurthy Nagar. After 10 days of in-patient treatment, Shaji can now walk slowly without a stick. Though still weak, she’s now hopeful that the weight she lost because of her ailment will be regained too.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- public health
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Vijayan launches Charioteer Fund-I impact investment fund
Krishnamurthy Vijayan, the former executive chairman of JP Morgan Asset Management India, has launched an impact investment fund that will invest in India's livelihood and skills development space. The Rs 250-crore fund, Charioteer Fund-I, will be a five-year fund with an extension of a further five years, and will look to invest between Rs 1 crore and Rs 10 crore in micro-enterprise clusters.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- public health
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In India, Daughters-in-Law Encouraged to Speak Up
A mother-in-law often dictates family planning decisions for the younger women in her household. Some health reformers are trying to change that dynamic through counseling efforts and discussion groups.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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Impact Investment Exchange Asia invests in Indian Social Enterprise Spring Health
Singapore based Impact Investment Exchange Asia (IIX) has announced today that its Impact Partners platform has successfully facilitated an investment from two private investors, alongside lead investors from the Artha initiative and the Stone Family Foundation, into Spring Health Water (India) Pte. Ltd., a for-profit Social Enterprise that provides safe and affordable drinking water to rural customers in India.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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Artha Venture Challenge Finalists Announced
15 social ventures in India get opportunity to access INR 25 lakh matched equity fundingThe final cohort for the Artha Venture Challenge, a national competition for early-stage social ventures in India has been announced.
- Source
- Press Release
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Matt Damon Tries to Get Clean Water and Toilets for India’s Poor
Matt Damon finds it a challenge to get people to care about water. It’s why he was in India from Aug. 23 to 26 on a four-day tour. Not to promote his latest film Elysium, a sci-fi dystopia with a socialist underpinning, but to help the rural and urban poor in India get access to clean water and sanitation by investing in tube wells, hand pumps and toilets with proper drainage facilities.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance
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Grameenphone secures $345m to widen rural network
Grameenphone is set to receive $345 million funds from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to expand its coverage in rural areas.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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