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- 25 municipal commissioners and senior officers from 14 states were a part of the programme
IIM Indore’s Centre of Excellence – ANVESHAN, focused on Waste Management and WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), marked a momentous milestone as it concluded its first-ever batch on August 3, 2023. The four-day programme witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 25 municipal commissioners and senior officers from 14 states nationwide. ANVESHAN’s inaugural batch brought together dynamic leaders committed to driving positive change in waste management and sanitation practices, all dedicated to creating a cleaner, greener, and healthier India.
The batch was inaugurated on July 31, 2023, by IIM Indore’s Director, Prof. Himanshu Rai. The programme featured diverse sessions led by esteemed experts. Topics such as Leadership and Communication, Infrastructure Financing, Waste Management, Waste to Energy, Waste to Bio-Methanation, and Behavioral Change, etc. were also discussed. Sessions on Policy Landscape, Green and Blue/Green Cities, and Modern Technologies in Waste Collection Practice enriched the participants’ understanding of best practices and innovative approaches. The speakers included:
- Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore
- Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav, Mayor, Indore
- Harshika Singh – Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner
- Nikhil Jadhav – Chief Officer, Panchgani
- Rajesh Narvekar – Commissioner, Navi Mumbai
- Shalini Agarwal – Commissioner, Surat
- Shankar Khandare – Chief Officer, Karad
- Nadia Boyarkina – Waste Management Consultant, UK
- Sourabh Manuja – Tech. Advisor, GIZ-India
- Jai Kumar Gaurav – Senior Advisor, GIZ-India
- Bharat Bhushan Nagar – Sr. Tech. Advisor, GIZ-India
- Bettina Duran – Advisor, GIZ-India
- C M Saikanth Varma – Commissioner, Visakhapatnam
- Saumil Ranjan Chaubey – Chief Executive Officer, State Urban Development Agency, Chhattisgarh
- Mohit Ganeriwala – Senior Operations Officer, IFC, Delhi
- Astha Srivastava – Senior Associate-Trilegal, Delhi
- Denis Obarcanin – Operations Officer, IFC, Singapore
- Sourav Aggarwal, Consultant, GIZ-India
- Veronica, SDA Bocconi
- Shruti Tewari, Faculty, IIM Indore
- D. L. Sunder, Faculty, IIM Indore
- Bhavin J Shah, IIM Indore
The valedictory function was marked by a certificate distribution ceremony. Prof. Himanshu Rai extended his heartfelt congratulations to the participants of the first-ever batch of ANVESHAN. “Utilize the knowledge and insights gained during the programme to implement sustainable waste management practices in your respective cities, thereby making a significant contribution to the noble cause of a cleaner India”, he said. Prof. Rai expressed his optimism and mentioned that with the successful completion of this inaugural batch, IIM Indore is now all set to continue this transformative journey with many more batches to come. “Together, we will collectively work towards building a greener and cleaner India, fostering a sustainable future for generations to come”, he added.
Mr. Kunal Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary, Mission Director – Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA, Government of India, also graced the virtual event and commended the initiative taken by IIM Indore. He expressed his confidence in the brilliance of the course and how it will undoubtedly empower the participants to drive positive change in waste management and hygiene practices. His words of appreciation added to the participants’ motivation and reinforced the significance of their efforts in building a cleaner and healthier India. He emphasized that this programme is a medium for two-way flow of knowledge, when the administration and academia come together and come up with solutions that make an impact. Mr. Shyam Lal Poonia, Deputy Secretary, MoHUA, and Mr. Binay Kumar Jha, Director, Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban, MoHUA, were also present online on this occasion. They appreciated the abundant efforts put in by the Institute under the leadership of Director Prof. Himanshu Rai, in establishing the CoE ANVESHAN and designing the contextually-relevant course.
Prof. Saumya Ranjan Dash, Dean – Research, lauded the participants for their exceptional commitment and hard work throughout the ANVESHAN programme, fostering a strong foundation for sustainable waste management practices. Prof. Subin Sudhir, Chair – Executive Education, expressed his admiration for the participants’ remarkable journey, emphasizing the significance of their contributions towards building a greener and cleaner India. They focused on how the academia can contribute to nation building through capacity building.
Prof. Shruti Tewari, the Programme Coordinator, was elated with the successful conclusion of the programme. She lauded the participants for their dedication and active participation throughout the journey and delivered the vote of thanks.
Apart from visiting the Indore Municipal Corporation on the first day, the programme also witnessed reflective sessions, where the municipal commissioners and the senior officers shared their learnings and experiences gained during the interactive discussions. The first batch of ANVESHAN set a strong precedent for future endeavors in waste management and WASH initiatives, fostering a cleaner, healthier, and happier India. As the inaugural batch graduates, IIM Indore reaffirms its dedication to fostering knowledge exchange and sustainable practices. With the generous grant of Rs. 19.95 Cr from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), ANVESHAN is poised to make a lasting impact on cleanliness, waste management, and hygiene standards in India.