• Blog

As a Civil Engineer, I Saw Progress. As a Citizen, I Saw Pain

  • Source : Youth Ki Awaaz
  • 1 April 2025
Sometimes, progress isn’t as seamless as it seems; what lies beneath can change how you see it forever. As a civil engineer, my fascination with grand infrastructures started early. During my undergraduate years, I visited numerous dams, bridges, and other engineering marvels. These structures symbolized progress monuments of human ingenuity and resilience. My professor at UG, a renowned structural engineer, often spoke of the transformative potential of such projects. Inspired, I dreamed of contributing to a future shaped by these engineering wonders.
  • Blog

From Chikankari to Kalamkari: How ‘Slow Fashion’ Contributes To Sustainability

  • Source : Youth Ki Awaaz
  • 1 February 2024
Within the dynamic realm of Indian fashion, a subtle revolution is taking place – one that advocates for the principles of deliberate and conscientious fashion. Grounded in India’s abundant legacy of textiles and crafts, this movement offers a sustainable alternative to the rapid and mass-produced fashion industry.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Culture Sustainability through Storytelling: A Study of Patricia Riley’s “Wisteria” and “Damping Down the Road”

  • Source : Journal of Urban Culture Research
  • 1 December 2023
In the late 1980s, the United Nations introduced a comprehensive vision of sustainable development, encompassing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental balance. However, the crucial role of culture within development has very often been overlooked. Contemporary insights emphasize that culture is integral to sustainable development. This paper, through an analysis of two short stories by Native American author Patricia Riley, sheds light on the significance of storytelling as a fundamental element of culture. It explores how these narratives emphasize the need to cultivate a culturally aware society and how ‘storytelling’ contributes to cultural preservation and identity. Focusing specifically on the Native American worldview, the article underlines the significance of storytelling as a dynamic tool that bridges cultural traditions with sustainable development, promoting cultural resilience, community well-being, and fostering awareness.
  • Academic / Journal Article

What AI Thinks About Sustainability

  • Source : Oxford Academic
  • 1 May 2024
While generative AI tools are good at replicating patterns to generate text, fully replicating human reasoning around sustainability is a whole other ball game. A team of five academic writers have their say.
  • Academic / Journal Article

The framing of sustainability by different stakeholder groups in India: Perspectives, consequences and implications

  • Source : Emerald Insight
  • 1 August 2025
Achieving sustainable development in emerging economies requires engagement across business, government, and civil society, yet framings of sustainability diverge. This study examines how Indian stakeholders interpret sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) through diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing tasks. Using 32 semi-structured interviews and a focus group with eight stakeholders, we find two parallel but distinct frames. Sustainability is linked to environmental issues, private sector solutions, and business-case motivations, while CSR is linked to social issues, state responsibility, and regulatory drivers. These parallel framings persist through a process of frame separation, posing challenges for global alignment and holistic policy.
  • Media Article

AI for Good: Strengthening SPOs through Data and Responsible AI Innovation

  • Source : Express computer
  • 1 August 2025
The article discusses the growing but cautious adoption of AI within India’s social sector. While major tech companies and some SPOs are exploring AI’s potential, significant challenges remain. Smaller SPOs are often left behind due to high costs and a lack of skills and funding. Additionally, a key barrier is the limited availability of high-quality, well-organised data and a fear of issues like bias and data breaches. The article concludes that for AI to truly benefit the sector, SPOs must build a strong data foundation, start with small-scale projects, and receive sustained support from funders to build both infrastructure and an ethical mindset.
  • Media Article

Tech for Good: Leveraging open data to advance the SDGs

  • Source : Money Control
  • 1 August 2025
The article argues that SPOs in India must embrace data and technology to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights that while regulations like the CSR Act and DPDPA are pushing for data-driven compliance, SPOs often lack the necessary infrastructure, skilled staff, and funding. The article stresses the need for open data platforms, AI tools, and a collaborative ecosystem where funders and private institutions invest in data literacy and governance frameworks. The goal is to move SPOs beyond basic compliance toward using data for strategic decision-making and greater social impact.
  • Media Article

Data analytics: The key to improving education outcomes

  • Source : Financial Express
  • 1 May 2024
Most of the world’s trillion-dollar companies thrive on the power of data. The advent of ChatGPT is the most recent example of how data is changing the world by increasing individual as well as mass productivity and efficiency. While data is oiling the engine of growth for for-profits, the social sector is trying to ‘catch up’ in leveraging it for greater social impact. A tremendous amount of data is generated in the social sector, and evidence-based policy and programming have emerged practically as a norm in the social sector. But the usage of data is still limited by data availability, accessibility and quality, as well as the lack of capacity and dearth of resources.
  • Paper / Report

Unleashing the Power of Philanthropy for Inclusive Development

  • Source : ISDM
  • 1 November 2023
This report by CPID explores how philanthropy can drive equitable social change in India. Drawing from qualitative research and stakeholder interviews, it examines the motivations, methods, and challenges within the philanthropic ecosystem. The report identifies key barriers to inclusive development and proposes actionable strategies to overcome them. It emphasizes the need for systemic thinking, collaborative partnerships, and a focus on marginalized communities to unlock philanthropy’s full potential in fostering justice and sustainability. This working document serves as a catalyst for reimagining philanthropic practices towards inclusive outcomes.
  • Case Study

Beyond Compliance: Firstsource’s CSR Blueprint for Inclusive and Sustainable Impact

  • Source : ISDM
  • 1 February 2024
This case study explores how Firstsource goes beyond compliance in CSR by focusing on deep employee engagement and long-term, trust-based partnerships with NGOs to create sustainable impact. It exemplifies practices aligned with Philanthropy for Inclusive Development (PID) through inclusive hiring, volunteering, and community partnerships.
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