Atal Innovation Mission unveils fourth cohort of Community Innovator Fellows supported by Capgemini, India
Atal Innovation Mission unveils fourth cohort of Community Innovator Fellows supported by Capgemini, India
New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog marked a significant milestone today with the formal recognition of its fourth cohort of Community Innovator Fellows (CIFs). This year, the program has been further strengthened with the support of Capgemini India, marking a key partnership in fostering grassroots innovation across the country. The CIF initiative continues to empower local innovators, enabling them to address community-specific challenges through creative and sustainable solutions.
In conjunction with the cohort recognition, AIM commenced a two-day intensive bootcamp aimed at equipping these CIFs with the necessary skills and knowledge to scale their innovative solutions as part of AIM’s continued commitment to fostering grassroots innovation and promoting an entrepreneurial ecosystem across India, particularly in underserved regions. AIM, through its Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC) program has envisaged to serve the unserved/underserved areas of the country and provide support to every grassroots innovator and work towards accelerating the pathway to reach SDGs 2030.
The CIF Program is a one-year intensive initiative designed to provide aspiring innovators from all socio-economic backgrounds with the infrastructure, training, and mentorship necessary to scale their ideas and build sustainable businesses. Each Fellow is hosted at an Atal Community Innovation Center, where they receive entrepreneurial, SDG-focused, and life skills training while working on solutions tailored to their community’s unique challenges.
Speaking during his keynote address, Mission Director AIM, Dr.Chintan Vaishnav while applauding the program’s role in empowering innovators from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities said, “The Community Innovator Fellows are uniquely positioned to address community-level problems with solutions that are both relevant and sustainable. This program is a model of excellence, where innovation meets purpose and where community-centric ideas drive national progress.”
He further highlighted the importance of initiatives like the CIF Program in advancing solutions across key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and financial services.
Capgemini India, a global leader in consulting, technology services, and digital transformation, is supporting this cohort by providing grants of INR 1 lakh each to 15 CIFs, helping them scale their innovative solutions. SRF Foundation is leading the program’s implementation in collaboration with AIM and Capgemini.
The event witnessed profound insights from distinguished speaker Dhanashree Page, Head of Operations, Digital Inclusion – CSR at Capgemini India. In her address, she emphasized the power of collaborative partnerships in fostering local innovation and driving societal progress. She remarked, “The CIFs represent the hope and creativity of India’s grassroots innovators. By empowering these individuals, we are enabling real, scalable solutions that can transform communities and drive sustainable change,” She said.
Dr. Suresh Reddy, Lead CSR & Director at SRF Foundation, spoke about the significant impact of social entrepreneurship in solving community challenges. “Today’s event showcases the commitment and ingenuity of the CIFs. They are truly the brightest minds in India, using their innovation to address critical local issues,” he said. “We, at SRF Foundation, remain committed to supporting such transformative initiatives and ensuring that their impact reaches every corner of the country.”
The event culminated with the presentation of grants to the CIFs, marking the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey as they work to scale their ideas and make a tangible impact in their communities.