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the*spark forum’s charcha 2025 charts pathways for resilient livelihoods and collaborative action towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047

~ 2000 stakeholders including 200 speakers across samaaj, sarkar and bazaar convene in New Delhi to shape India’s inclusive growth agenda
~ Co-hosted in partnership with 29 co-hosts including Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), LinkedIn, Meta, DBS Foundation, Meesho, Mphasis and other sector leaders

NEW DELHI, Nov. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The sixth edition of charcha 2025 by the*spark forum concluded on Nov 14 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, after three days of dialogue, ideas and partnerships at the intersection of technology, inclusion and livelihoods. India’s largest collaborative convening on livelihoods, charcha brought together 2000 leaders and practitioners across government, markets, and civil society across three days to align on how India can build resilient livelihoods and inclusive prosperity for every citizen on the road to Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Expanding on the roadmap to a ‘Viksit & Inclusive’ India @2047′, India’s G20 Sherpa and FormerCEO NITI Aayog, Government of India, Shri Amitabh Kant (IAS), stated, “If we want to create an employable population, it is very critical to focus on improving health outcomes and nutrition standards as well. Additionally, if we want to grow at the rate required to transform India into a 30 trillion economy, we need to fire on all cylinders – you need to do services but you also need to do smart urbanisation, which will be a key driver of job creation in India.” 

Adding to this, Dr. Shamika Ravi, Member, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, added,

There is a big gap between degree and skill. We have a lot of educated people, degree holders, but the market actually values skill. Most of the industry surveys are telling me that today, the biggest constraint to our growth is not finance, we can raise capital, but the biggest constraint to the growth of existing firms, creation of new jobs, etc. is skilled manpower.”

Over three days and 50+ hours of live programming, the event featured 200 speakers and 29 co-hosts including Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – Government of India, Meta, LinkedIn, Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog, The Gates Foundation, DBS Foundation, British Asian Trust, Mphasis, Meesho, NuSocia, Magic Bus, The Bridgespan Group Magic Bus, Lend a Hand India, The/Nudge Institute and others to explore seven cross-cutting themes: Tech, Data & Impact; Agri & Rural Livelihoods; Policy & Capacity; Skills & Livelihoods; Inclusion, Empowerment & Sustainability; Capital & Philanthropy; and Social Entrepreneurship & SMEs.
Highlighting his vision for charcha 2025, Jerold Pereira, Managing Director, the*spark forum, commented, “India’s growth is at a stage where scale will come not from silos, but from alignment. At charcha, we are building the connective tissue between government, markets and civil society – an infrastructure of collaboration that can outlast projects and personalities. The most powerful infrastructure we can build today is the one that connects institutions: linking the intent of sarkar, the innovation of bazaar and the insight of samaaj. And charcha serves as this collaborative platform where key stakeholders across India’s livelihood development ecosystem come together to share, learn, celebrate and discover scalable pathways to drive meaningful change, aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat by 2047 agenda.”
Talking on social justice and equitable growth, Mr. Amit Yadav (IAS), Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, added, “The measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. India’s constitutional vision of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity, continues to guide our mission to build a just, inclusive and equitable society where every individual has equal access to opportunity and a life of dignity.”
Adding a market perspective, Kumaresh Pattabiraman, Country Manager and Product Head, LinkedIn India, reflected that India’s growth will be defined by how well its tier-two and tier-three cities convert energy into opportunity. The promise of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, he noted, depends on building ecosystems that make skills and jobs accessible to every professional, no matter their pin code.

Rukmini Banerji, CEO, Pratham Education Foundation, speaking on empowerment, said, “Desh ko badalna bahut badi baat hai, but apne gaon ko badalna is possible (Transforming the nation is a massive goal, but changing our villages is possible). We’ll need mechanisms like School management committees, and mothers groups which, if activated, will lead to ownership.”
Throughout the convening, a powerful narrative emerged around the role of technology in inclusion. Sessions on AI and digital infrastructure examined how these tools can strengthen livelihoods rather than replace them. Leaders from Meta, NASSCOM Foundation and Atal Innovation Mission shared examples of AI-enabled social innovation, digital skilling for rural youth and emerging models of micro- and nano-entrepreneurship that combine technology and human agency. Focusing on gender inclusion and tech, Dr. Kalika Bali, Senior Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research Labs India, stated, “There is going to be disruption because of AI, I agree. But we need to ask which sectors women in India are most employed in, mostly in lower-skill jobs. These are the jobs that will be most affected by AI and high tech. One sector where women cannot be replaced is the care economy, like ASHA workers.”
Conversations on agriculture and rural livelihoods spotlighted regenerative farming, climate resilience and inclusive value chains as the foundations of a prosperous rural economy. Whether the focus was on gender, technology or sustainability, the message remained consistent: India’s path to inclusion will depend on the ability of governments to enable, markets to innovate and civil society to bridge last-mile inequities.
Since its inception in 2020, charcha has grown into one of India’s foremost platforms for development dialogue, engaging more than a thousand leaders, fifteen thousand stakeholders and reaching over one and a half million people. The 2025 edition deepened this legacy by focusing on livelihoods resilience, technology for inclusion and partnerships that can translate India’s demographic potential into equitable economic growth.

About the*spark forum

the*spark forum is India’s leading platform for dialogue and collaboration on livelihoods, curating cross-sector convenings that inspire ideas, partnerships and action toward a poverty-free India.

Media Contact
Preyashi Roypreyashi.roy@thenudge.org +91-9167368602
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Reliance Digital Launches ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day Campaign Celebrating the Many Expressions of Fatherhood

MUMBAI, India, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital has launched ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day campaign to celebrate the many expressions of fatherhood. Built around a simple cultural observation, while “Maa ki Mamta” has long been a part of India’s collective vocabulary, there has never been a word that captures the distinct ways fathers express love, the campaign introduces ‘Baaptaa’ as a tribute to the many shades of fatherhood.

Conceptualised as an original music-led campaign, Baaptaa celebrates fathers not as idealised figures, but as they are experienced in everyday life, protective, dependable, emotional, quirky, practical, occasionally embarrassing, and always present. Through a relatable narrative, the campaign acknowledges the countless ways fathers care for their families, often through actions rather than words.Watch Video: https://youtu.be/9XyUsJB33Ds?si=PM67vhxrzth1JEkz At the heart of the campaign is an original music video told from a father’s perspective, capturing the different roles he plays across life’s moments and milestones. The film brings to life the humour, warmth and unspoken affection that characterise father-child relationships, while giving a name to a form of love that many recognise but few have articulated.The campaign stems from a simple insight: while motherhood has often found expression through familiar phrases and popular references, the unique language of fatherhood has remained largely undefined. Baaptaa seeks to fill that gap by creating a term that reflects the everyday gestures, practical wisdom and quiet sacrifices that fathers make.Father’s Day communication often leans into familiar emotional territory, but Reliance Digital’s campaign celebrates fathers in a way that feels more culturally authentic and relatable. The idea for ‘Baaptaa’ came from a simple observation — mother’s love has been immortalised in a number of heartfelt, emotional songs, there needed to be an anthem dedicated to dad’s love. And thus was born Baaptaa – a love language that is often awkward, practical, protective, humorous and deeply felt, even if rarely verbalised. It’s a celebration of fatherhood in all its wonderfully imperfect forms immortalized by a song that you won’t be able to stop humming.Shop for the widest range of electronics at Reliance Digital and thank your father for his Baaptaa.

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Canara HSBC Life Insurance Celebrates Father’s Day with a Heartwarming Tribute to Dad Jokes

The digital film highlights how fathers express love through humour, turning everyday moments into lifelong memoriesNEW DELHI, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (“Canara HSBC Life Insurance”) today announced the launch of its Father’s Day digital film, a light-hearted and heartfelt tribute to fathers and their unique way of expressing love through humour. Celebrating the universally relatable phenomenon of ‘Dad Jokes’, the campaign shines a spotlight on the small yet meaningful moments that often become some of the most cherished family memories.

Presented in the style of a mock documentary, the film follows a sibling duo as they recount some of their father’s most memorable jokes—ranging from playful puns to classic one-liners. While the film begins with humour and nostalgia, it gradually reveals a deeper truth: behind every seemingly cringe-worthy dad joke lies a father’s sincere effort to connect, bring joy, and remind his family that he is always there for them.The campaign is rooted in the insight that fathers often express their emotions differently. Rather than through words alone, they communicate their care through everyday actions, practical guidance, shared experiences, and sometimes, through humour. Dad jokes may not always receive the loudest laughs, but they often become lasting reminders of a father’s presence, warmth, and unwavering support.Through relatable storytelling and candid family moments, the film celebrates fathers who may not always wear their emotions on their sleeves but consistently show up for their loved ones in their own unique ways. It captures how these seemingly ordinary interactions become treasured memories that families carry forward for years.Reflecting the campaign’s central message, Canara HSBC Life Insurance reiterates its belief in standing by every promise that matters. Just as fathers quietly support and protect their families through every stage of life, the company remains committed to helping customers secure their loved ones’ future and fulfil their financial commitments, truly embodying its promise of being a ‘Promises Ka Partner’.The campaign is now live across Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s X (twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram channels.IG- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZwH5IKhCzG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1cSkxsFWNY/X- https://x.com/CanaraHSBCLI/status/2067808467205918962?s=20Li- https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7473574831364468737Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997652/Canara_HSBC.jpgLogo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2739906/6008480/Canara_HSBC_Logo.jpg

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Harper Collins Publishers India is Delighted to Announce the Recent Publication of ‘People We Love’ by Preeti Shenoy

NEW DELHI, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India is delighted to share the recent publication of People We Love by bestselling author Preeti Shenoy. At once tender and sharp, this collection of stories offers intimate, truthful and relatable portraits of the people we cherish, the ones we lose, and the people we become.

ABOUT THE BOOKThe people we love never truly leave our story…In these tender yet piercing stories, Preeti Shenoy returns to some of her most beloved characters to reveal who they were before they appeared in her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have.Aniket, a coder, carries the weight of a longing for Trisha that he cannot bring himself to act on. Nidhi abandons her corporate life to teach pottery, only to discover that clay is far more forgiving than the people she loves. A quiz competition sparks an unlikely romance between Aman and Shruti, one that must withstand parental disapproval and class divides. And Anjali, a journalist, is so busy chasing stories that she almost misses the one unfolding in her own life.Set against the pulse of contemporary India, People We Love explores the tug-of-war between duty and desire, family and freedom, who we are and who we dare to be. Intimate and deeply felt, these are stories about love that stays, leaves and almost slips away … love that quietly and irrevocably shapes the people we become.Preeti Shenoy, author, says, “People We Love is a collection of three long stories, prequels to my bestsellers It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have. If you have read those books, you already know how these characters’ stories unfold. But what you don’t know yet is where it all began, the loves they carried, the choices they made, and the people they were before life shaped them into who you met on those pages. Writing these prequels felt like returning to a home I hadn’t realised I missed, and discovering rooms I had never been in before.”Rashmi Menon, Associate Publisher – HarperCollins India, adds, “Preeti Shenoy has an extraordinary gift for finding the heartbeat of ordinary lives. People We Love is a warm, wise and deeply humane collection of short stories that reunites readers with favourite characters from her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have, weaving them into fresh, deeply satisfying narratives. These characters feel like people you know, and their journeys will move, comfort and surprise you. This uplifting, thought–provoking collection reminds us why we turn to stories in the first place. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers.”ABOUT THE AUTHOR Preeti Shenoy is among the highest-selling authors in India. She was featured on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life, Is Calling, Life Is What You Make It, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All in the Planets, Why We Love the Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, an avid fitness enthusiast, and an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journalling. Preeti lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka.ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIAAt HarperCollins Publishers India, we believe in telling the best stories and ensuring they reach the widest readership. We publish around 250 new books every year across 10 imprints, adding to a diverse catalogue of more than 3,000 titles in print and digital formats, with an array of genres and voices that ensure there is a book for every reader. Our authors have won some of the most prestigious literary awards, and we are proud to publish many acclaimed writers, alongside new and emerging voices shaping contemporary literature. We are also the publishers of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Booker Prize 2008, and Girl in White Cotton by Avni Doshi, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2020, and HarperCollins India itself has been awarded “Publisher of the Year” several times. In addition, we represent some of the finest global publishers such as Harvard University Press, Lonely Planet, Oneworld, Nosy Crow, Usborne, and National Geographic Children, bringing Indian readers access to world-class books and ideas. We are also proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years, a recognition of our culture, people, and values that make HarperCollins India a truly inspiring workplace. PRESS CONTACT:Nandini Tripathi, Manager – Marketing (Commercial)Email: nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in | Mobile: +91 9718928839Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997583/HarperCollins_People_We_Love.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/4665143/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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