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DTW
During the Week, in an op-ed published in Mint, Nandan Nilekani and V Anantha Nageswaran argued that ONDC offers a global template for using technology as a public good at population scale in an inclusive and equitable way.
Idea of platforms to create an economic model of utilising under-utilised assets is useful and certainly pertinent for a developing economy like India.We have already demonstrated our digital and political economy expertise in developing and implementing three initiatives in biometrics based identification (AADHAAR), financial services (Unified Payment Interface) and health care (COWIN/ ABHA).
Aadhaar Identity Platform
The Aadhaar identity platform is one of the key pillars of the ‘Digital India’, wherein every resident of the country is provided with a unique identity. The Aadhaar programme has already achieved several milestones and is by far the largest biometrics based identification system in the world.
Aadhaar identity platform with its inherent features of Uniqueness, Authentication, Financial Address and e-KYC, enables the Government of India to directly reach residents of the country in delivery of various subsidies, benefits and services by using the resident’s Aadhaar number only.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.
Unified Health Interface (UHI)
UHI is envisioned as an open protocol for various digital health services. UHI Network will be an open network of End User Applications (EUAs) and participating Health Service Provider (HSP) applications. UHI will enable a wide variety of digital health services between patients and health service providers (HSPs) including appointment booking, teleconsultation, service discovery and others
While Identity, Financial Inclusion and Health are truly public goods still the most ambitious and transformative public digital technology platform could be Open Network for Digital Commerce.
According to a press release, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative aiming at promoting open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks. ONDC is to be based on open-sourced methodology, using open specifications and open network protocols independent of any specific platform.
Government of India hopes that ONDC, an open technology, based on an open protocol will enable local and small businesses across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food order and delivery, hotel booking and travel, among others, to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled application across the country.
Nandan Nilekani while addressing the Retail Leadership Summit spoke about how ."…..technology is transforming the retail industry in the country which will provide credit access to millions of small retailers helping the market to grow. In the latest oped, he is hopeful about ONDC. Many government and industry experts believe that the big tech e-commerce has created an uneven playing field to the disadvantage of the small producers/sellers and even buyers.
"The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an idea whose time has come. We owe it to the millions of small sellers to show an easy way to participate in the new high-growth area of digital commerce. We are charting a new course and the goal is to change the rules of the e-commerce game."
-Nandan Nilekani
Thus, ONDC tries to move beyond the current tech platform-centric online commerce model where the buyer and seller are forced to use the same platform or mobile application to be digitally visible and complete a business transaction. ONDC through its protocols aims to standardize platform operations like digital cataloguing, inventory management, order management and order fulfilment amongst others.This would ensure that the small businesses are able to use any ONDC compatible applications instead of being forced to follow any specific platform centric policies. This will benefit small business as they would have multiple options to be discovered over network and conduct business.
On the consumer side, ONDC would make e-Commerce more inclusive and accessible for consumers as they can potentially discover any seller, product or service by using any compatible application or platform, thus increasing freedom of choice for consumers.
Exciting days ahead for Indian e-commerce platforms, vendors and buyers.
In line with objectives of Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformation, we have signed an MoU with MyStartUpTV founded by Major Sunil Shetty (Retd), SM. This collaboration would provide access to the services of MyStartUpTV to IFHE Hyderabad and also provide internship/training opportunities to our students interest in media and start up ecosystem.
The subsequent “Workshop on FilmMaking for MVS“ on 10th June 2022 organised by DOT, Infinity Studios and Nazaria saw an overwhelm participation from all the student clubs at IBS Hyderabad.
It turned out to be a full house of learners participating in the #MillionVendorStories project to document lives and livelihoods of the street vendors. Simple ideas like having an establishing shot followed by vending spot footage; vendor interaction with customer and then documenting vendors’ tools or material can go a long way in capturing slice of life stories.
OTW
Over the Weekend, World also had multiple events to commemorate “The World Day Against Child Labour”, which is held every year on June 12 is intended to foster the worldwide movement against child labour. We must spread awareness about the harmful mental and physical problems faced by children forced into child labour. I have written about Platforms and Child labour earlier in the newsletter.
Our running group Peerancheruvu Runners in association with Hyderabad Runners Society brought joy and health to children in our residential community through the Annual Outdoor Kids Summer Camp 2022.
On another positive note, we had another opportunity to host our daughter Aru’s school buddies before they embark on their respective higher education journey across the country and world.
It was lovely to hear their stories of hope. I was also very impressed to learn about their continuous efforts to find themselves and their purpose. More power to all of you. You have been brought up in a privileged environment and hopefully you would leverage it to make this a better world.
Let us make our best efforts to provide Escape Velocity to our young ones!
I Love You
Shailendra
OTM
Opportunities through MountainSpeak are available with Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformation, where we are reaching out to experts who can contribute to Digital Street.
Digital Street aims to develop a framework for facilitating digital transformation of street vendors.
The Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformation (CEDT) at IFHE, Hyderabad is proposing to work on a project titled “Digital Street” in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). This action research project focusing on digital transformation of street vendors in the tourism industry is proposed to be conducted between May 1, 2022, and November 30,2022. Please let us know if you would like to contribute to the project.
We propose to hold four 3-day regional consultations and one national consultation in association with FES India office in multiple tourism circuits:
Into the jungle- Nature circuit hosted by IFHE Bengaluru- 1-2-3 July 2022
Kolkata to Shantiniketan - Heritage circuit hosted by IBS Kolkata- 22-23-24 July 2022
Golden Triangle- Historical circuit hosted by ICFAI University, Jaipur 5- 6-7 August 2022
Char Dham- Religious circuit hosted by ICFAI University, Dehradun- 29-30-31 August 2022
National Consultation on “Digital Transformation of Street Vendors”, IFHE Hyderabad, 11-12 Nov 2022
In addition, we would independently hold a half day pre-consultation on 26th June 2022 at IBS Kolkata.
PLEASE let me know if you would like to contribute.
The likely participants may have experience in digital transformation, informal sector, travel technologies, tourism, street vendor issues amongst others. They may come from government, academics, consulting, corporate, policy making, start ups, non-profit and advocacy groups. I would also request you to also recommend experts and stakeholders for the project.
Please reply to this email with a copy to your recommended guests OR alternatively, fill in the Google Form to help us to contact them directly.