IIM Bangalore’s Centre For Public Policy Hosts ‘Water & Sustainability Conference’

The Centre for Public Policy (CPP) of IIM Bangalore hosts two-day ‘Water and Sustainability Conference’ in association with IIT-IIT (IITians for Influencing India Transformation) at the IIMB campus.  

The conference is an initiative of IIM Bangalore’s Golden Jubilee Year celebrations. Highlighting the alarming temperature change, the sessions emphasised on India’s vulnerability to climate change and delved into the initiatives that can create an impact and help in resolving the issues pertaining due to scarcity of water. .   

The first day saw deliberation on water rejuvenation initiatives and the role played by NGO’s, philanthropists, academicians and CSR initiatives led by corporates. The impactful on-ground initiatives of Caring Friends and Consortium of Foundations on water transformation from their project in Beed District, Asian Paints’ Mysore Watermark projected dedicated to water rejuvenation and ITC’s Water Stewardship were presented, showcasing the impact of collaborative work in this space.  

Panelists at the first-day of conference included Sanjiv Phansalkar, Director, Vikas Anvesh Foundation; Ravi Mariwala, Founder and Managing Director, Smaart Water; Deepti Kommera, Independent Advisor and Consultant, Water Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture; Anuj Sharma, CEO, Arghyam, Sharachchandra Lele, Distinguished Fellow, Environmental Policy and Governance; Amit Singh, Associate VP & Group Head Corporate Affairs & CSR, Asian Paints, Vijay Vardhan, General Manager, Social Investments, ITC and Ajith Radhakrishnan, Senior Specialist, World Bank. 

On Day 2, Satyajit Bhatkal, CEO, Paani Foundation, has spoken on ‘Realising the Farmers Producers Organisations’ Opportunity’. His talk followed by a presentation by Ambuja Cement Foundation. The Center for Collective Development made a presentation on ‘Processed Groundnut B2B Market Linkages’. The closing address was delivered by Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures.