Nexus of Good: Rewarding good work

The third Nexus of Good Annual Awards, 2024, have been announced. Twenty-one performing organisations and individuals will be awarded on December 15, 2024, at a ceremony at PHD House, New Delhi.

The primary objective of the Nexus of Good movement is to bring together good people to identify, understand, appreciate, replicate, and scale the good work being done across society. The idea is to create an alternative narrative to the negativity that is becoming pervasive in social media and other communication platforms. Such negativity impacts the thoughts and actions of many people, especially impressionable young minds.

Fortunately, the movement has gained momentum. A vibrant portal, www.nexusofgood.com, hosts hundreds of positive stories, with more being added daily. The Twitter handle has thousands of followers, and a quarterly newsletter highlights these stories, as does a weekly column in Millennium Post. City Chapters of Nexus of Good hold periodic events to provide a platform to highlight and road-show good work.

As during the past couple of years, this year’s awards recognise a combination of exemplary and replicable work accomplished through public-private partnerships by civil servants and non-governmental organisations.

A young IAS officer, Jasmeet Singh, is setting a wonderful example of good governance through the convergence of various government schemes in his role as Collector in the remote district of Selumbar, Rajasthan. The model he has implemented is highly replicable through public-private partnerships and has already been highlighted in the columns of this newspaper. He is one of the awardees in the Good Governance segment.

‘Mahua Bachao Abhiyaan’ is an initiative launched in the Manendragarh Forest Division of Chhattisgarh to conserve and regenerate the rapidly dwindling Mahua trees, which are vital to the livelihoods and cultural practices of tribal communities. Also known as ‘Kalpvriksha’, these trees can generate up to Rs 10,000 annually for a tribal household. Led by a young Forest Service officer, Manish Kashyap, 30,000 Mahua saplings have already been planted under the campaign, along with tree guards in open patches and farmers' fields in 47 villages. The project aims to plant one lakh saplings in its next phase. This effort not only supports economic sustainability through Mahua’s income-generating potential but also promotes environmental benefits such as soil conservation and carbon sequestration. Manish is being awarded for his efforts.

Founded in 2013 by Sonal Ravi Andrews, IPTTA transforms women into skilled early childhood educators through comprehensive training programs. The academy has equipped 180,000 stakeholders globally, focusing on women aged 20-50 seeking meaningful careers in education and entrepreneurship. IPTTA’s unique hands-on approach combines professional development with emotional empowerment, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. The Foundation is being awarded for its seminal work, which can be replicated and scaled effectively.

Then there is a unique initiative by Nalini Athul, Deputy Commissioner, Koppal, Karnataka, aimed at developing and implementing an effective curriculum for the foundational stage (3-6 years) in line with the objectives of the NEP. This initiative lays the foundation of ECCE in the AWCs of Koppal District. It is likely the only such comprehensive and principle-driven effort in the field of ECCE that prioritises health and nutrition on par with education. It envisions future Anganwadi Centres as hubs for the holistic development of children, ensuring “equality of opportunity to all children.” Nalini Athul is being recognised for her initiative in the field of school education.

Aishwarya Raj, a young forester, has executed works for eight different eco-restoration projects and two additional restorations of dilapidated structures into nature museums. She has accomplished this with a dedicated and inspired team of field foresters, rangers, and forest guards.

The Krushi Samiksha Kendra (KSK) exemplifies the core principles of evidence-based governance. By integrating real-time data analysis with proactive decision-making, it has streamlined service delivery and policy formulation. Its ability to identify and address issues before they escalate into crises has reinforced its effectiveness. The initiative’s success in improving scheme implementation, stakeholder engagement, and emergency responsiveness underscores its relevance and alignment with the goal of empowering farmers and enhancing agricultural outcomes. KSK stands out as a pioneering initiative that leverages technology and data to empower farmers, boost productivity, and ensure inclusive growth. It is being awarded for its remarkable work in the field of agriculture.

Under the leadership of Gaurav Goel, KSK, launched in 2022, is India’s first centralised monitoring system for agriculture. Built on the Decision Support System (DSS), it enables real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, benefiting 80 lakh farmers. KSK has conducted over 50 surveys, escalated 35+ pest outbreaks, improved scheme achievements by ~40 per cent, and increased officer participation in forums by ~30 per cent. Engaging more than 5,000 officials and integrating data across 50+ programs, it addresses challenges like pest outbreaks and policy refinement. With automated alerts, dedicated teams, and structured reviews, KSK ensures sustainability, scalability, and serves as a replicable model for proactive governance.

Visionary HS Nagaraj’s initiative, Prayoga, is already making a significant impact in the field of education. Its program Kriya is transforming science education for 7,000 students across 66 schools in Karnataka. By emphasising experiential learning, Kriya empowers students, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, through hands-on science education. The program’s success extends to rural, economically weaker sections (EWS), and private schools, creating a lasting impact on the education ecosystem.

Another initiative, Anveshana, nurtures scientific talent by encouraging high school students to engage in research and pursue careers in science. A source of immense pride, Anveshana has already resulted in seven international publications authored by young Indian researchers in peer-reviewed journals.

These are some of the many examples of the good work happening around us. They inspire us to believe that good can happen because it is happening. These examples also make us believe that if all the rascals and ruffians can come together and make like difficult for us, the good ones can also come together and radiate goodness……the essence of Nexus of Good.

Views expressed are personal