Nagpur, 1st of March, 2025 : IIM Nagpur’s pioneering conference, ICSSR Vision Viksit Bharat@2047, opened up promising avenues for the future and concluded on a high note with promising resolutions and ways to make India a diverse, equitable, and inclusive society. Over two days, the event infused crucial conversations across diverse sectors, forging a collaborative path to progress.
Dr.BhimarayaMetri, Director, IIM Nagpur, welcomed this initiative. He mentioned India’s exceptional growth as a nation due to substantial number of youth professionals in all sectors, visionary leadership, and fast-paced growth, making it a global epicenter. The compelling welcome address by Dr.Metri was followed by a keynote speech by Mr. Arvind Kumar, Director General of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). He emphasized the pivotal role of bringing together academia and industry to achieve the goal of a diverse, inclusive, and equitable society.
The conference unearthed challenges and solutions for marginalized gender-diverse communities in the context of entrepreneurship and active community initiatives. The highly invigorating panel moderated by Dr. Ankita Dash brought together persons working day and night to create a more inclusive society in the corporate sector, start-ups, and public policy.
The panelists Mr. S. Subramanyeswar, Group CEO, Chief Strategic Officer Asia Pacific, MullenLowe Lintas Group, Mr. Shaman Gupta, Co-Founder, Misfyt Trans Youth Foundation, and Mr. Nikunj Joshi, LGBTQI+ Activist, Chief Executive Officer, Sarathi Trust discussed key issues. Discussing ‘Initiatives for Marginalized Identities,’ they highlighted different sectors’ experiences, challenges, and opportunities.
The exhibition stalls at IIM Nagpur made great strides in empowering gender-diverse entrepreneurs as the footfall steadily increased for two days. The entrepreneurs showed great interest in the Entrepreneurship and Business Management Workshop’s interactive and exciting sessions.
A paper presentation by Prof. Russell W Belk, Distinguished Professor & Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing, Schulich School of Business, York University, “Face Equality for Facially Different Persons,” highlighted an interesting axis of marginalization requiring urgent attention setting the tone to discuss the diverse ways marginalization can occur.
In the panel discussion on “Creating Inclusive Marketplaces,”Dr.Pushpesh Kumar from the University of Hyderabad moderated the session. The Panelists included transgender and queer activists, professionals, and thought leaders, Ms. Santa Khurai, Dr. Kiran Nayak B and Dr. Surabhi Mitra. The session highlighted structural barriers in society that marginalize gender-diverse individuals.
An enlightening academic session by Prof. Israr Qureshi,Professor of Social Entrepreneurship & ICT for Development, Australian National University, on frameworks, including digital social innovation, utilized to create technology-led inclusion of transgender persons.
Cultural programs by Santa Khurai, NupiMaanbi Activist, Scholar, Author, & Filmmaker showing the film Nawa – The Spirit of Atey exploring the life of a 13 years old trans boy Atey from Manipur explored the lived experiences, challenges, and struggles of trans persons with their families and broader society.
The grand showstopper of the day, a solo performance by the renowned Actor, Author, and Trans Activist Revathi A, performing in the play VellaiMozhi, captured harsh realities of her and the broader transgender community, highlighting a need for diversity, representation, and education at the end.
The Valedictory Sessionand Closing Ceremony brought everyone together for one last time as all present, online and offline, took vows to do their bit on the road to making India a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive society.The conference proposed real solutions and ensured diversity and representation in all deliberations. It reached out to persons from gender-diverse backgrounds and developed a strong bond with the community, promising several fruitful collaborations.
Entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds within LGBTQIA+ community showcased their businesses and products in fantastic exhibition stalls, which left all attendees delighted and asking for more.
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