November 2017
EVENTS
Development Alternatives Group at COP23, Germany
The Development Alternatives (DA) Group participated in COP23 in Bonn, Germany, from 6th to 17th November 2017. The event kick started with LC3 (Limestone Calcined Clay Cement) exhibit, in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, EPFL Switzerland, CIDEM, IIT Delhi, IIT Mumbai and IIT Madras. The objective was to create awareness on the new technology package - LC3, its advantages over other commercial products, and also the environmental benefits. The footfall at the exhibit was of more than 90 people. The esteemed guests who appreciated the exhibit included the Founder and CEO of Energies 2050, Policy Advisor for French Environmental Ministry, and Associate Program Officer - Stakeholder and Regional Support at UNFCCC, Bonn office.
Side Event on 'Circular Economy and Low Carbon Development - A Climate Change Solution', Germany
A consultation on 'Circular Economy and Low Carbon Development - A Climate Change Solution' was organised on 13th November 2017, in collaboration with Chatham House, London,and International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Austria. Dr. Soumen Maity (smaity@devalt.org), Assistant Vice President, DA, presented perspectives from different countries, on the importance of global collaboration to move towards circular economy by supporting MSMEs. The event witnessed participation from 90 delegates, including Lucy Corfield, Welsh Government, and Gary Crawford, Director, Vice President of International Affairs, Veolia & ISWA.
Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GABC) Building Action Symposium, Germany
The DA Group was invited to give a presentation on LC3 at the GABC workshop, organised on 9th November 2017 during COP23. GABC is an initiative launched at COP21, which focusses on the achievement of low-carbon and energy transition through fostering the development of appropriate policies for sustainable energy efficient buildings, which allows a concrete value-chain transformation of the sector. Dr. Soumen Maity (smaity@devalt.org), Assistant Vice President, DA, gave a presentation on LC3 and its scope of becoming an alternative material for the cement industry.
ClimEX: Climate Change - Extractive Industries - Resource Efficiency
On 8th November 2017, the ClimEX event was organised at the GIZ Headquarters, Germany, in partnership with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The objective of the event was to explore and create awareness about resource efficiency potentials in India. Vaibhav Rathi (vrathi@devalt.org), Manager, DA, gave a presentation on 'Tapping Resource Efficiency Potentials in India'. The event witnessed participation from 40 delegates, including representatives from Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and GIZ.
Dr. Ashok Khosla at the Annual Conference of the Club of Rome India, Maharashtra
The Indian National Association for the Club of Rome (CoR-India) hosted the 2017 Annual Conference on 16th and 17th November 2017 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It addressed the need for security of natural resources for all, leading to a resourceful and resilient India. Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman at DA, and also the Trustee at CoR-India, gave the inaugural speech. The discussions focussed on Resource Efficiency, Resource Resilient Nation, Energy Security, Circular Economy and Use of Secondary Raw Material. CoR-India seeks to help design an agenda for the government, the business sector and civil society organisations that could enable every citizen to live a full life in harmony with their surroundings.
Green Economy Coalition Global Meeting 2017, Trinidad and Tobago
The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) global meeting was held from 1st November to 4th November 2017, in the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It focussed on the role of green enterprises in driving the transition to inclusive green economies. George C. Varughese, President, DA, as a steering committee member of GEC, presented DA's contribution in the Micro Enterprise Development space across the globe. Kanika Verma (kverma@devalt.org), Associate Programme Director, DA, moderated the session on 'Tools and Approaches that work: A deep dive: Microfinance',and Leon Sra (lsra@devalt.org), Manager, DA, presented a framework paper on getting green entrepreneurship to scale, as a part of the Poverty Environment Partnership.
Stakeholder Dialogue on 'Mainstreaming Sustainable Social Housing in India', Delhi
A stakeholder dialogue, third in the series, was held on 6th November 2017 at DA Headquarters, Delhi. It brought together the project team, developers, academicians, Government officials and housing practitioners, to share insights on the status of affordable housing projects in India, and the possibility of use of alternative building materials and construction technologies. The objective was to seek insights from surveys conducted with home-owners, building material manufacturers and developers. The dialogue provided learnings from the developers on the challenges of affordable housing in India, and the concerns of social housing practitioners on access to decent and affordable housing, and of employment generation.
Paryavaran Mela on Creating Awareness about Climate Change, Rajasthan
On the occasion of Children's Day, DA, in partnership with UNICEF, organised three environmental fairs or 'Paryavaran Melas' simultaneously in schools of Udaipur, Baran and Jhadol districts of Rajasthan, on 14th November 2017. The fairs saw a range of interesting activities, including tree plantation drives, poster and essay writing competitions, climate theatre and rallies, with the aim of creating awareness about climate change and the need for a clean environment, and motivating the students to take initiatives towards improving the environment. More than 1500 students, along with their teachers and principals, actively participated in all the events.
Awareness Campaign on Importance of Girl Child, Haryana
DA and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) have collaborated to transform the lives of girl children across the villages of Manesar, Haryana. Along with creating awareness through street plays, community meetings and rallies, the project 'Unnati - Aao Sanwaarein Apna Kal' will also organise vocational training and promote entrepreneurship amongst young girls, to enable them to become self-reliant. Street plays were organised on 2nd and 8th November 2017, reaching out to over 900 community members. The plays focussed on the importance of girl child, education of girls and female foeticide. These plays were followed by group discussions.
National Entrepreneurship Day Celebration, Uttar Pradesh
The National Entrepreneurship Day was celebrated on 9th November 2017 in TARAgram Pahuj, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, in partnership with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and "la Caixa" Banking Foundation. The objective of the event was to bring forth the entrepreneurship skills and quest among the rural youth. More than 60 people participated in the celebration, including representatives from Regional Rural Bank, Rural Self Employment Training Institute and Financial Literacy Centre, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. DA facilitated the event, elaborating the emerging role of Self Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations in creating better market linkages.
Workshop on Climate Change with Bharat Scouts and Guides, Rajasthan
DA in collaboration with the Bharat Scouts and Guides, Udaipur division organised a district level workshop and lecture for the 450 Scouts and Guide students and 50 teachers, encompassing all schools of Udaipur, Rajasthan. The objective of the event was to build their capacities with respect to climate change. The workshop also motivated them to take steps to improve the environment, and build their focus towards becoming leaders for tomorrow. The workshop was an attempt to strengthen the thought process behind formation of eco-clubs in schools, as a model for bringing a change and moving towards development.
Vimla Thakur, a DA Nurtured Entrepreneur, at the Think Big Summit 2017, Delhi
Vimla Thakur, a resident of Begumpur, New Delhi, was invited to share the dais with women entrepreneurs, companies and government officials, on 13th November 2017, at the Think Big Summit 2017, Delhi. Vimla underwent the ILO certified training,'Start and Improve Your Business Idea', conducted by the DA Group as part of the UNDP Disha project. In the summit, she shared her journey from being a job seeker to an employer, and eventually to a successful entrepreneur. The event witnessed participation from more than 1600 people, including budding entrepreneurs, corporates, government bodies and media.
Employment Fair for Rural Youth, Madhya
Pradesh
An employment fair was organised by DA, in partnership with the Ford Foundation and National Rural Livelihoods Mission, on 16th November 2017 in the Niwari block of Madhya Pradesh. The fair aimed at connecting the participating companies to the rural youth. The visitors were provided information on different government schemes and employment opportunities in various private companies. The footfall was of more than 500 visitors. DA's work on creating sustainable livelihoods through various programmes, including linkage of SHGs to livelihood activities and Radio Bundelkhand, was much appreciated.
Exposure Visit of IIMC Delhi Scholars at TARAgram Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
On 10th November 2017, 25 scholars from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, visited TARAgram Orchha, Madhya Pradesh. The study tour aimed at sensitising the scholars from 18 different countries to the development initiatives undertaken by civil society organisations. The team was oriented to DA's interventions for achieving the Sustainable Developmental Goals while contributing significantly to the development sector of India, through creation of triple bottom line impacts, particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas. They also visited the Community Radio (Radio Bundelkhand) station, the demonstration and production unit of Fly Ash Bricks (TARA Nirman Kendra) and the handmade paper unit of TARA Paper.
Awareness on Solid Waste Management at AFWA, Delhi
On 7th November 2017, a 'Waste Jamboree' was organised at the Air Force Wives Association (AFWA), New Delhi. DA was invited to create awareness on waste management in residential areas. Over 200 people participated in the event, where Jyoti Shresth (jshresth@devalt.org), Fellow, DA elaborated on ways of disposal of solid waste, and different technologies available in the market to manage household waste.
DA organised a webinar on 'Indian Economy: Potential to go Green and Inclusive', on 13th November 2017. The participants identified challenges in the current economic paradigm, illustrating its inadequacy to support sustainable development. Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, DA, discussed about the untapped opportunities that could support and accelerate the transition towards a green economy. Shrashtant Patara (spatara@devalt.org), Senior Vice President, the DA Group, moderated the discussion. The webinar witnessed participation from both, national and international stakeholders. It concluded that green jobs are relatively more labour intensive; however, with the changing demographics, innovation will lead us to the creation of sustainable development, and thereby ensure a transition thegreen and inclusive economy.
Publications
India Green Economy Barometer 2017 Issue 3: Greening High Impact Sectors
The brief highlights the environmental and livelihood impacts of key economic sectors of the country. It maps the carbon footprint, resource footprint and jobs generated by each of the sectors. The report further explores the potential of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) in greening the High Impact Sectors of the country.
Towards a Resource Resilient India
The booklet has been prepared and published by DA for the Club of Rome's 2017 Annual Conference on 'Towards a Resource Resilient India', which was held in Mumbai, from 16-17 November 2017. It draws on some earlier work that DA contributed to the International Resource Panel of UNEP.
Video
Saroja Devi, a TARAAkshar+ graduate, shares her journey from literacy to livelihood
TARA Akshar+ is an ICT based adult Literacy Programme. Being run in more than eight states, it has made about two lakh women functionally literate. This is the success story of Saroja Devi, a TARA Akshar+ graduate from Uttar Pradesh, who successfully runs a cosmetic store and a beauty parlour. She expresses her gratitude to TARA Akshar+ for giving her the knowledge and confidence to become independent.
DA in News
Trying to cement a sustainable future, The Hindu BusinessLine, 8th November 2017
Development Alternatives has been quoted in The Hindu BusinessLine, in an article titled 'Trying to cement a sustainable future'. Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO at Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited, and also the Co-Chair at Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), India, has quoted DA's research on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) during the interview.
Empowering entrepreneurs in India by creating solutions with the community, Business Standard, 9th November 2017
Development Alternatives has been covered by the following media platforms, with Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, and Shrashtant Patara, Senior Vice President, Development Alternatives, being quoted in the mentioned article.
Business Standard
Outlook India
ANI
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