Emerging Technologies for Social Good

A Dialog Among:

Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, ex-CTO of Daimler Benz and Head of the School for

Advanced Automotive Engineering, Alabama

Mr. Anup Wadhwa, TD - AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing


Mr. Harish Hande, SELCO India and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee


India’s green revolution started in 1965 to achieve self-reliance in food grain production by encouraging farmers to adopt modern methods and technology by using high yielding variety seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers. However, in hindsight, there have been issues that have arisen pertaining to health implications and sustainability.

Now, 55 years later, new and emerging technologies like autonomous self-driving vehicles, Artificial Intelligence, data mining and data analytics, space-based weather forecasting and soil monitoring, widespread applications for solar energy, 5G communications, drones, robotics, and tracking produce from ‘farm to table’ with Blockchain technology are all expected to be disruptive. These technologies will impact food packaging, processing, and rural development and the agriproducts supply chain. During this COVID-19 crisis, people have discovered the convenience of ordering everything from groceries and restaurant food to household supplies and clothing by simply using their smartphones. These emerging technologies are bound to further change consumer behaviour, and ‘industrialize’ rural livelihoods by creating new e-markets, and e-distribution.

As an example, in India 66% of its population lives in rural areas. Similarly, a large percentage of population in developing countries is rural.
1. How can these emerging technologies be adopted to serve the rural population?
2. What skills will be required to adapt to this fast-changing world?
3. How are these disruptive technologies touching our lives today?
4. What sort of applications are expected for these technologies?
5. How should education and skill building be re-oriented?
6. What are its implications for healthcare, climate change and sustainability?
7. How can we celebrate rural communities as providers of essential resources for the rest of the world and not as recipients of largesse?


Click here for detailed bio of Speakers & other Webinar related Info

Please join us on Monday, July 10th, from 10am to 11:30am (US EST), 7:30pm to 9pm (IST) to participate in a lively discussion.

Upon registration, you may send your questions in advance to [email protected]  Attendees will also be able to post their questions during the webinar. You can join the webinar 15 min early (i.e. 9:45 AM ET OR 7:15 PM IST) to watch the slide show on WGF activities and related project's videos. Past webinars have stressed the importance of collaboration among NGOs to scale operations and increase the impact. For more information visit: www.wheelsglobal.org

WHEELS Global Foundation(WGF), "An Initiative of IIT Alumni, USA" with the mission of Technology Enabled Philanthropy. 

WHEELS has also been selected by NITI Aayog, Govt. of India as a member of committee for Innovation and Technology Transfer.


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