The Punjab Pulse News Bureau
20 Countries, 30 Institutions And 32 Awards
Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey, Founder, Commonwealth Thought Leaders Group
The first Commonwealth Innovation Forum and Awards 2021 was held to discuss the situation that has developed globally due to worst economic and health crisis that the world has faced since the Great Depression of the 1930s and to 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. 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.”
Major Highlights of the Event were
- Commonwealth Innovation Awards 2021 for Institutions & Individuals
- Awards for Enterprise Start up Ideas to fight Covid-19 Challenges
- Book release – Titled “10th Year of UN Academic Impact
- Launching of Emergency Incubation for Emergency Response Boot camp by IIHMR University
Some awards for ‘Enterprise Start-up 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.
Mr. Prajapati Trivedi, Special Envoy to Commonwealth Secretariat, presented the 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.
H.E. Dr. Roger Gopaul, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to India was the Chief Guest. He said the pandemic has affected one and all irrespective of cast, colour, race or creed and has forced us to reassess our priority. “We have to prepare for the post pandemic world with new reality and positive frame of mind,” he said.
Others who addressed the event include, H.E. Mrs. Dina Grace Akello, High Commissioner of Uganda to India and also the High Commissioner to 5 more countries of South East Asia; H.E. Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana; Mr. Tripurari Sharan, Chief-Secretary, Government of Bihar; Maj. Gen. Manoj K. Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM, MHA – Government of India; Dr. Dr. Anand K. Joshi, Advisor, ISDC, UK; Mrs Harpreet Singh, the CEO of Alliance Air
The Guest of Honour-Dr. Prahlad R. Sodani, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur spoke about IIHMR and what the University was doing to impart quality education ,especially innovation in Healthcare.
Shri Anup K. Mudgal, Former High Commissioner of India to Mauritius and Chairman of Global Thought Leaders, gave the concluding remarks of the Chair and Takeaways. Shri 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. Post Covid recovery and course correction, therefore, will need to be multifaceted with all stakeholders on-board. In this context, the innovation forum’s role becomes key. Amb Mudgal urged the CIFA and other stakeholders to expand this platform so that more and more young researchers and entrepreneurs could disseminate their ideas and available best practices for larger public benefit.
Shri Anup K. Mudgal, addressing the Conference
The inaugural session was moderated by Pooran Pandey, Resident Representative, Climate Scorecard, USA & Board Member, WFP Trust, India. Pooran Pandey, 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 cannot be ignored. 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.
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. 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.”
Defining his ideas about this Commonwealth Forum, Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey 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.” “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?”
Commonwealth Innovation Award Winners
Late Dr YogendraPratap Singh (Posthumously), former Director, Ayodhya Research Institute was awarded for bringing together several countries to showcase their Ram Lila Performances.
Prof. Dr. Asha Kanwar, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada — for her remarkable Contribution to Promotion of Online and Distance Education in Commonwealth Countries.
Rev. Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, Chairman, MITWPU, Pune and UNESCO CHAIR For Human Rights, Democracy & Peace — for his remarkable Contribution to Promotion of Peace through Education.
Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Delhi — for the Contribution to Innovative Drug Development.
IIHMR University, Jaipur — for the contribution to Innovation in Healthcare Management Education. The award was received by Prof. Dr. Prahlad R. Sodani, President of the University.
Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad — for the Contribution to Innovation in Management Education. The award was received by Prof. Dr. Urvashi Makkar, Director, IMS, Gzb.
Dr. Alok K. Mishra, Joint Secretary, Association Of Indian Universities was honoured for his remarkable Contribution to Brain-Mapping through 4D Technology.
Mr. Richard Yeboah, Project Director at Ghana Innovation Hub, Ghana — for Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ghana
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang C. Amann, Academic Director, HEC Paris, Qatar — for Best Doctoral Dissertation for Fostering Learning Versatility in Business Schools
Prof. Dr. GerGraus OBE, Global Director, Kidzania, Mexico — for Promotion of Experiential Learning.
Prof. (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur, Principal of Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi — for Leadership in Women Education;
Regional College of Management, Bengaluru — for Innovation in International Placements of Students. The award was received by Mr. Kamal Bhowmick, Director, Academy & Admin and Prof S R Mandal , Founder & President.
Department of Media Studies of Christ University, Bangalore — for Innovations in Service Learning Education. The award was received by Dr. Fr. Biju KC.
Mr. Amit Choudhary, CEO of DawaaDost was awarded for Innovation in Cost-Effective Drug Delivery. Mrs. Kajal Sharma, renowned Kathak Dancer was awarded for Promotion of Indian Art and Culture in UK.
Mr. Faheem Reegu (Senior Lecturer at Jazan University — for Innovation in Healthcare Data Management
Mr. Jayakumar Subban, Chennai — for Contribution in Promotion of Responsible Journalism
Dr. Preeta Sharan, Professor at The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore — for Innovation in Humanitarian Applications.
Dr. Debashish Bhattacharya, Oman for Responsible Healthcare Service; Captain Mohinder Kaur Sahlot, Delhi for Extraordinary Human Service Leadership; Ms. PramilaThapa, Nepal for Leading Innovation in Education in Nepal; Mr. Russ Sempell, California, USA for Contribution to Innovative School Education;
Pandit Manideo Persad, Former High Commissioner of Trinidad & Tobago to India for his Contribution to responsible jouranalism through Electronic Media;
Dr. George V Antony, Director of Providence School of Business is awarded the Commonwealth innovation forum award for Academic
Shrivedant Foundation, Kenya was awarded for Preservation and Dissemination of Ancient Indian Knowledge and the award was received by Ms. Vaishali Shah, founder of Shrivedant Foundation.
Mr. Ashish Pandey (Chairperson and MD, Auric Group of Companies) for Promotion of Socially Responsible Business Leadership
Dr. Prem Adheesh Lekhi, Malaysia — for Contribution to Humanitarian Services
Mr. Pramod Stephen, Sugauli, Bihar for Innovation in animal feed products;
Dr Shyam Narain Pandey, Pro VC, Global Open University, Nagaland for Contribution to Geriatric Care;
Mohammad Azharuddin, Karnataka, for Innovation in Technology Training in Rural Areas; Ms. Prachii Sorte Jagtap was awarded for the Development of Leadership and Women Empowerment.
Members of Jury
- Maj General Dilawar Singh, Former DG, Nehru Yuva Kendra, New Delhi
- Mr. Abdul Diwale Mohammed, Group President, AASGON
- Mr. Simon Haigh, CEO, The Haigh Institute, Ireland
- Dr. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Director, Academy of Nanotechnology, South Africa
- Ms. Loshni Naidoo, Grading Assessor, South Africa
- Dr. Pranveer Singh Satvat, Director, GNOIT, Greater Noida
- Pandita Dr. Indrani Rampersad, Trinidad and Tobago
- Dr. Pallavi C. Agarwalla, IIHMR University, Jaipur
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