#CIFA2021 - 20 Countries, 30 Institutions And 32 Awards
Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Delhi, IIHMR University, Jaipur, IMS, Ghaziabad, RCM, Bangalore, Department of Media Studies, Christ College, Bangalore, among 32 recipients of inaugural Commonwealth Innovation Awards
PROFILE & GLIMPSES OF CIFA 2021 - https://cutt.ly/DnAq95i
By Dr. Jyotsna Pandit
NEW DELHI
In the backdrop of the world facing the worst economic and health crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, over a dozen of top academicians, including several vice chancellors, bureaucrats and corporate leaders participated in a mega virtual event --The first Commonwealth Innovation Forum and Awards 2021, to discuss the issue and find a way out of this catastrophe. The event, organized on Zoom on June 01. 2021 saw guests, speakers, jury and participation from 30 Leading Institutions from 20 Countries. On this occasion 32 individuals and institutions were awarded with Commonwealth Innovation Awards 2021.
The Forum was organised virtually by Golden Signatures Research and Consulting in association with Global Thought Leaders, Indian Observer Post, Corporate Tycoons, Africa-Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON) & Commonwealth Friends Association on June 1, 2021. The event was supported by IIHMR University, Jaipur, IMS, Ghaziabad, Up, RCM, Bangalore, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Delhi and Mata Sundari College for Women, Delhi University, Delhi.
The Theme of the Forum was “SERVING HUMANITY, PROTECTING LIVES & PROMOTING PEACE.”
H.E. Mr. Prajapati Trivedi, Special Envoy to Commonwealth Secretariat, presented Inaugural Keynote. He said “Those countries that have clarity of goals succeed while others falter. Unless countries have goal clarity, they will drift without any directions”. Mr Trivedi also called for making the bureaucracy accountable by rewarding performers and pulling up non-performers and added that what is needed is to reform the entire system.
H.E. Dr. Roger Gopaul, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to India was the Chief Guest and he gave his inaugural speech. He said the pandemic has affected each and every person in the world and has also created fear psychosis. He said “we have to prepare for the post pandemic world with new reality and positive frame of mind”. He said the pandemic hasaffected one and all irrespective of cast, colour, race or creed and has forced us to reassess our priority.
H.E. Mrs. Dina Grace Akello, High Commissioner of Uganda to India and also the High Commisioner to 5 more countries of South East Asia also gave her speech and talked about the importance of cooperation among the Commonwealth countries.
H.E. Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana had sent an impressive video speech specially made for this Forum. In his speech he highlighted the contribution of India to the Common Wealth.
Mr. Tripurari Sharan, Chief-Secretary,Government of Bihar said the COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be the biggest challenge to the world. He said a country like USA, which had managed to send men on the moon, which was regarded as a big leap for the mankind. “But the sad part is that we are not able to do anything much to conquer a tiny virus which has paralysed the world “.
Maj. Gen. Manoj K. Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM, MHA – Government of India spoke about the importance of climatic change and how it was affecting the coastal life.
Dr. Dr. Anand K. Joshi, Advisor, ISDC, UK, Global Thought Leaders stressed the need to create psychological and emotional safety as people are going through depression and negativity. He also spoke on the need for reorganizing post covid work dynamics as the work from home has merits as well as demerits. He also spoke about giving “spiritual vaccinations” to help prevent negativity and fear psychosis in them.
Guest of Honour-Dr. Prahlad R. Sodani, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur spoke about IIHMR University its’ efforts in driving research-focused education in healthcare management, pharmaceutical management and development management area. Emphasizing the need for innovative approach in higher education, Dr. Sodani elaborated how collaboration can help in making healthcare education relevant and useful to the current needs.
Mrs Harpreet Singh, the CEO of Alliance Air said when it comes to disaster management one should first expect the worst and then plan accordingly so that one is able to deal with any eventuality in a better manner. She said airlifting people during the pandemic was a herculean challenge which called for tremendous planning.
Amb Anup K. Mudgal, Former High Commissioner of India to Mauritius and Chairman of Global Thought Leaders, gave the concluding remarks of the Chair and Take Aways. Amb Mudgal said the COVID -19 has cracked open the vulnerability of global economy and it will require a lot of mature action to fix it and bring the economy on the track. Amb Mudgal argued, while the Covid pandemic is primarily a public health challenge, it could have far reaching implications in terms of geo-plotics, economy, technology, social sector and finally the larger governance issues. Post Covid recovery and course correction, therefore, will need to be multifaceted with all stakeholders on-board. As the end victims of all impact lines of the pandemic were the people, it would be essential to seek their greater involvement in finding more sustainable solutions, which would essentially depend on quality innovations in all relevant sectors. In this context, the innovation forum's role becomes key. Amb Mudgal urged the CIFA and other stakeholders to expand this plateform so that more and more young researchers and entrepreneurs could disseminate their ideas and available best practices for larger public benefit. He also offered to link the Indian innovator with the Indian origin counterparts in other countries through the plateform of Diaspora Research and Resource Centre, which he chairs.
During the inaugural session, Knowledge Volume on ‘10th Year of UN Academic Impact: Inaugural Conference Proceedings and Stakeholders’ Reflections’, published by Golden Signature Research and consulting, was also released. Presenting the book, one of the Editors, Prof. Dr. Shiv K. Tripathi highlighted about the purpose of the book, which captures 10th Anniversary year conference contributions as well as the selected stakeholders’ reflections collected from the different events organized during 10th Anniversary year of UNAI.
The inaugural session was moderated by Pooran Pandey, Resident Representative, Climate Scorecard, USA & Board Member, WFP Trust, India. Pooran Pandey, moderating the Panel highlighted varied strengths of the Commonwealth as a key intergovernmental Organization based out of its secretariat in London run in the name of HM, the Queen premised in the charter of London declaration. With 2.4 billion people, 21 per cent of world land mass and combined economic gross national product share pegged at 9 trillion USD that it represents, Commonwealth can not be ignored in the contemporary world. It however has to devise creative mechanisms to be able to be more agile, strategic and comprehensive to play a larger and a strategic role in comity of nations in current and ongoing reset of trade, commerce and geopolitical partnerships. It definitely can have a bigger role across the spectrum to play with its 54 members in Asia, Africa, West, Europe, Caribbean and the Pacific to represent some of the most vulnerable members for a fairer and a more equal world, post Covid recovery period.
In the begining while opening the Forum, Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey, Founder of Commonwealth Thought Leaders group and brain behind this Forum and Awards, said, “My heart goes to those millions of people who lost their lives due to covid19 across the globe. We are tired of writing obituaries and RIP on Facebook. This is a real unprecedented time. But, the sun rises every morning. Billions of people are suffering. But still, billions of others are working to save lives innovatively. The wheel of time never stops turning. Hope is a renewable option. Thus, to keep the zeal of life alive, and to motivate the people to persist, we have organized this Commonwealth Innovation Forum and Awards”
Defining his ideas about this Commonwealth Forum, Founder Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey in his opening speech said, “When I talk about the Commonwealth, I do not talk about the Commonwealth Countries of Colonial days. I do not talk about the political historical linkages of Commonwealth countries. I talk about those countries, which may be identified as the Commonwealth nations spread in various continents stretches from Australia to Antigua, and Canada to Cameroon, and which is a beautiful bunch of 54 independent nations.”
He further said, “Today’s Commonwealth is a mixture of developing and developed world, which is the hub of half of the top 20 global emerging cities including Delhi, which makes up a quarter of the world's land mass. The Commonwealth continues to play a leading role in global affairs. The Commonwealth is a champion of democracy, freedom, sustainable development, the rule of law, and human rights, especially the rights of women and girls. Marcus Tullius Cicero had said “We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.”
Mr. Pandey said, “Can we find some commonality in commonwealth countries for Global Good, for serving Humanity? Can we enhance and deepen the synergy with these countries to protect lives? Can we develop more people to people contact to promote global peace? Can we develop more common sense and work unitedly for common cause such as Covid 19?”
Mr. Pandey also raised the demand to initiate a movement to bring the Commonwealth secretariat from London to Delhi for psychological independence of these countries from the shadow of imperial legacy.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT WAS
- Commonwealth Innovation Awards 2021 for Institutions & Individuals
- Awards for Enterprise Startup Ideas to fight Covid-19 Challenges
- Book release - Titled “10th Year of UN Academic Impact
- Launching - Emergency Incubation for Emergency Response Bootcamp by IIHMR University
On this occasion, Commonwealth Thought Leaders group honourd a few selected Organizations, Institutions, Ideas and Individuals with the Commonwealth Innovation Awards 2021 based on a transparent process. The selection of awardees was based on their responsible innovation in creating social impact and was selected from those who filed their nominations.
Some awards for 'Enterprise Startup Ideas to fight Covid-19 Challenges', were also announced by IIHMR University, Jaipur, India's one of the leading healthcare management University and also Lead Partner in Commonwealth Forum 2021. The selected awardees of this 'start up competition' will be participating in complementary 'Emergency Incubation for Emergency Response Bootcamp’ by the University during 1-7 June 2021.
The participants of this event included people from Academia, Healthcare, Media, Corporates, NGOs, Diplomacy & other walks of life. The Editor of Corporate Tycoons magazine, Mr. Chandran Iyer proposed the vote of thanks.