One Mega Event Ends on a High Note

Left to Right:  Dr Udit Raj, Member of Parliament; Ajay Pandey, CEO, Sehgal Foundation; Vineeta Hariharan, Head, National Rurban Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India; Aparna Mahajan, Director, Partnerships and External Relations, Seghal Foundation

One Mega Event concluded after three busy days of collaborating, networking, and sharing best practices. The highly interactive conference and expo succeeded in establishing meaningful connections between key players from the worlds of commerce, politics, and research and development to outline urban reality. The event showcased real-world innovative solutions, cutting-edge technology, and proven strategies that India needs to build more livable, workable, and sustainable cities.

Smart Village Conclave

During the session, Smart Village Conclave: Bridging the Gap between Rural and Urban, Dr Udit Raj, Member of Parliament, was explicit about the social problems prevalent in villages. “Orthodox practices in villages lead to gender separation. While males are meant for productive activities, females are confined to homely work. Such social norms need to be addressed to bring about a positive change. The society should take the initiative.”

Talking about the National Rurban Mission (NRuM), Vineeta Hariharan, head, NRuM, Ministry of Rural Development, said, “NRuM is the first mission of its kind which initiated cluster development in rural India. The aim of this program is to develop villages which have a potential to grow. The desirable components of a Rurban cluster are solid waste treatment, fully equipped mobile health units, etc. The funds for this mission are collected through partnerships between the state governments, and public and private organizations. The mission’s goal is to develop 300 Rurban clusters, which will be open-defecation-free (ODF), and equipped with all basic amenities.”

Ajay Pandey, CEO, Sehgal Foundation, said, “We intend to develop villages to an extent that they act as an inspiration for urban areas. This can be done by making water available in schools and by initiating water harvesting programs in villages.”

Smart Cities India Awards 2017

The second Smart Cities India Awards 2017 were presented to individuals, policy makers, companies, government bodies, and associations who have contributed the most to the Smart Cities Mission. Over a hundred entries were received at the second edition of the awards with 15 winners under 12 categories. Sterlite Tech – Elitecore, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, and Surat Municipal Corporation won the three Jury Excellence Awards.

Overwhelming Response

More than 15,000 visitors thronged various innovative booths set up by leading global players such as Oracle, Hitachi, Ericsson, among others. Exhibitors were overwhelmed by the footfall count, and the business opportunities One Mega Event provided.

“We are pleased to be a sponsor and participant in the Smart City India 2017 Expo. The show has given us opportunities to further our conversations and relationships with industry partners and potential customers, as we seek to deliver on Hitachi’s mission of social innovation through intelligent IoT solutions and infrastructure that help Indian cities become safer, more efficient, and thriving places for people to live and work,” said Justin Bean, director of Smart City Solutions Marketing, Hitachi Insight Group.

Government and business delegations from the European Union, France, Norway, The Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Ontario (Canada) also attended the mega event.

“There was extensive participation from officials representing Indian cities, and next year, we expect to engage with even more national and international, industry leaders, state and local government officials, decision makers, financiers, technologists, trade groups, academics, researchers, and non-profit and social organizations,” said Prem Behl, chairman, Exhibitions India Group.

The next One Mega Event will be held in New Delhi from May 23–25, 2018.