November 2024

Ajay Piramal, Chairman, India@100 Foundation

As we approach 2047, India stands at a historic juncture, poised to reflect on its remarkable journey since independence and chart a visionary path for the future. India showcases a story of resilience and transformation—a nation that has harnessed its diversity and potential to emerge as a global leader.

Yet, amid this economic growth and global influence, stark disparities persist for the bottom quartile of the population—approximately 350 million people—who remain on the margins of progress. Key indicators such as poverty rates, fertility ratios, maternal mortality, and healthcare access reveal deep-rooted disparities. Despite average annual spending by States and Centre of ₹48 Lakh Cr (15% of GDP), India lags behind in achieving critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Disparities between India’s poorest five states and the rest of the country have widened over the years; their per capita income (PCI), 1.6x lower than the national average in 2012, worsened to 2.2x by 2022. These five states contribute only 10% of India’s GDP, despite housing 21% of its population.

To realize our vision of an equitable and prosperous India, we must ensure that the benefits of growth reach even the most underserved. Every 1% increase in GDP growth in these underserved states could potentially increase PCI by ₹10,000 annually, underscoring the potential of targeted economic policies. This calls for a systemic change—rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to reimagining the structures that underpin our nation’s progress.

One of the significant players in this change story is corporate India, which reflects a maturing understanding of development challenges. Over the decades, India’s philanthropic landscape has evolved significantly from charity-based approaches to rights-based advocacy and systemic change. The synergy of government spending and private resources, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, has driven impactful interventions. However, funding alone cannot drive transformation. A systemic approach is essential—one that bridges institutional gaps, builds leadership capacity, and fosters sustainable change.

The India@100 Foundation embodies this vision, with a focus on improving the lives of 400 million Indians by 2047. We seek to enhance institutional capacity and community-driven leadership to catalyse sustainable progress through strategic deployment of available resources. Our mission focuses on creating scalable, systemic solutions across four key pillars: Education and Livelihoods, Holistic Health, Leadership, and Volunteerism.

The need of the hour lies in creating solutions that are sustainable, by involving and empowering communities, leveraging technology and creating robust institutions that function with empathy and purpose. The foundation recognises that a pivotal shift in the way development challenges are addressed needs to be explored. It is focussed on addressing the complex interplay of community systems, information networks, talent development, and inclusive practices to ensure sustainable development.

Universal Health Coverage exemplifies our need for a systemic approach. While India has excelled in upstream innovations like vaccines and protocols, the midstream infrastructure—delivery mechanisms, local institutions, and talent—lags significantly. Strengthening these midstream systems is critical to ensuring that healthcare reaches every citizen effectively.This involves empowering communities through initiatives like strengthening community health workers, implementing digital health systems, ensuring healthcare becomes accessible even at the last mile.

Focusing on developing compassionate healthcare leadership at the point of delivery, we ensure responsive, dignified care across communities, especially in underserved regions. It is by looking at healthcare from a systemic lens that we can also appreciate and integrate indigenous healing practices with modern medicine, promoting a culturally inclusive and holistic healthcare model.

The journey to 2047 demands a shift from incrementalism to transformative action. It demands a cohesive strategy that unites every stakeholder—government, corporates, non-profits, and individuals—in a shared commitment to equity and progress. This convergence of public and private resources has the potential to exponentially increase the scale and impact of development projects. The role of corporate India in this transformation cannot be overstated.

The India@100 Foundation recognizes that the best way to achieve the SDGs is to leverage the ₹48 Lakh Cr spent annually by the Indian government with an additional ₹40,000 Cr in CSR funds. Beyond financial contributions, businesses must integrate community-driven initiatives into their core strategies. This includes promoting volunteerism, supporting digital health ecosystems, and investing in leadership development programs that emphasise empathetic and ethical decision-making. We must not see this as corporate philanthropy—it's an investment in building a more resilient and productive society.

The India@100 Foundation's vision for transforming the lives of 400 million Indians by 2047 is ambitious but achievable. However, its success depends on our collective willingness to move beyond business as usual and embrace systemic change. As India marches toward its centennial, the true measure of our progress won't be found in GDP figures or stock market indices, but in our ability to ensure that every Indian citizen has the opportunity to live a dignified life. The time for incremental changes has passed—what we need now is transformative action that reimagines how we approach development challenges and creates lasting change for India's most vulnerable citizens.

India@100 Foundation invites you to participate in the National Volunteering Week (NVW) 2025, to be held from 18–24 January of the coming year. Themed “Act Today for an Equitable Tomorrow”, NVW is a nod to the power of collective action and community spirit, and your opportunity to make a difference where it truly counts.

Every act of volunteering, big or small, has the power to transform lives and build resilient communities. Since the NVW was instituted in 2014, over  20 million people have volunteered more than 2.5 million hours. Last year more than 68,466 volunteers from diverse backgrounds registered their interest and contributed 8,66,083 volunteering hours of their time to further causes such as child development, climate action, community development, education, healthcare, nutrition, road safety, rural development, skill development, social inclusion, sports, culture, and women empowerment. More than 24.8 million people benefited from these activities.

By signing up, you’ll join this growing network of passionate changemakers dedicated to building a future rooted in empathy, sustainability, and progress. So be the spark that ignites change and help shape a better tomorrow, one act of kindness at a time.

Visit www.nvgindia.org and choose your cause.