The Many Faces of Development | Cherian Thomas | TEDxNLUO

[Applause]

[Applause] after 39 years in the corporate sector

after 39 years in the corporate sector

after 39 years in the corporate sector two years ago I decided to move to the

two years ago I decided to move to the

two years ago I decided to move to the development sector and even as I look

development sector and even as I look

development sector and even as I look back at my journey of 31 years all that

back at my journey of 31 years all that

back at my journey of 31 years all that I can say is that it has been a very

I can say is that it has been a very

I can say is that it has been a very very eventful journey starting in the

very eventful journey starting in the

very eventful journey starting in the area of automobile engineering I moved

area of automobile engineering I moved

area of automobile engineering I moved into commercial banking after an MBA in

into commercial banking after an MBA in

into commercial banking after an MBA in finance moved thereafter to project

finance moved thereafter to project

finance moved thereafter to project finance and development banking spent 17

finance and development banking spent 17

finance and development banking spent 17 years in the area of infrastructure and

years in the area of infrastructure and

years in the area of infrastructure and then moved into working with communities

then moved into working with communities

then moved into working with communities in some sense there has been a natural

in some sense there has been a natural

in some sense there has been a natural progression in my own work in having

progression in my own work in having

progression in my own work in having moved from financing to development this

moved from financing to development this

moved from financing to development this also was because in many ways in the

also was because in many ways in the

also was because in many ways in the choices that I made I was motivated by a

choices that I made I was motivated by a

choices that I made I was motivated by a desire to in some sense serve a larger

desire to in some sense serve a larger

desire to in some sense serve a larger purpose than my own carrier aspirations

purpose than my own carrier aspirations

purpose than my own carrier aspirations and also ask this question what

and also ask this question what

and also ask this question what difference do you really bring to the

difference do you really bring to the

difference do you really bring to the country and society that you live in I

country and society that you live in I

country and society that you live in I have had the experience and the

have had the experience and the

have had the experience and the opportunity to work with various

opportunity to work with various

opportunity to work with various innovative ideas in the area of

innovative ideas in the area of

innovative ideas in the area of infrastructure public-private

infrastructure public-private

infrastructure public-private partnerships in particular but many of

partnerships in particular but many of

partnerships in particular but many of them are examples that are big I thought

them are examples that are big I thought

them are examples that are big I thought for an event like this it would be very

for an event like this it would be very

for an event like this it would be very useful to look at a small innovative

useful to look at a small innovative

useful to look at a small innovative example in the area of infrastructure

example in the area of infrastructure

example in the area of infrastructure two examples actually which made a

two examples actually which made a

two examples actually which made a difference and continue to make a

difference and continue to make a

difference and continue to make a difference to two small communities in

difference to two small communities in

difference to two small communities in what is usually a more excluded region

what is usually a more excluded region

what is usually a more excluded region of our country which is the Northeast

of our country which is the Northeast

of our country which is the Northeast and this is something that was possible

and this is something that was possible

and this is something that was possible when I was CEO of idfc foundation and I

when I was CEO of idfc foundation and I

when I was CEO of idfc foundation and I think it resonates very well with the

think it resonates very well with the

think it resonates very well with the theme imbibe innovate and impart it

theme imbibe innovate and impart it

theme imbibe innovate and impart it would be very presumptuous on my part to

would be very presumptuous on my part to

would be very presumptuous on my part to think that all this innovation was

think that all this innovation was

think that all this innovation was because of me and I must acknowledge

because of me and I must acknowledge

because of me and I must acknowledge publicly the contribution of two of my

publicly the contribution of two of my

publicly the contribution of two of my younger colleagues dr. Sampath Basu and

younger colleagues dr. Sampath Basu and

younger colleagues dr. Sampath Basu and Samantha Sharma who worked very hard to

Samantha Sharma who worked very hard to

Samantha Sharma who worked very hard to make these possible now the fact is that

make these possible now the fact is that

make these possible now the fact is that the needs of infrastructure in India are

the needs of infrastructure in India are

the needs of infrastructure in India are huge they are humongous and despite the

huge they are humongous and despite the

huge they are humongous and despite the investments that have been made in the

investments that have been made in the

investments that have been made in the last two two-and-a-half decades the

last two two-and-a-half decades the

last two two-and-a-half decades the needs continue to be big more so the

needs continue to be big more so the

needs continue to be big more so the needs of infrastructure are very high

needs of infrastructure are very high

needs of infrastructure are very high particularly in areas that affect the

particularly in areas that affect the

particularly in areas that affect the poor inclusive infrastructure as it is

poor inclusive infrastructure as it is

poor inclusive infrastructure as it is called so whether it is public transport

called so whether it is public transport

called so whether it is public transport whether it is water and sanitation

whether it is water and sanitation

whether it is water and sanitation whether it’s solid waste management

whether it’s solid waste management

whether it’s solid waste management whether it is social infrastructure

whether it is social infrastructure

whether it is social infrastructure health care education whether it’s

health care education whether it’s

health care education whether it’s village roads whether it’s village

village roads whether it’s village

village roads whether it’s village electrification these are areas that

electrification these are areas that

electrification these are areas that continue to need investment and continue

continue to need investment and continue

continue to need investment and continue to need attention and would do so for a

to need attention and would do so for a

to need attention and would do so for a long time to come so the story that I

long time to come so the story that I

long time to come so the story that I will tell you is about a small

will tell you is about a small

will tell you is about a small innovation which to my mind has made a

innovation which to my mind has made a

innovation which to my mind has made a difference in one of the northeastern

difference in one of the northeastern

difference in one of the northeastern states in our country so the picture

states in our country so the picture

states in our country so the picture that you have on the screen is that of a

that you have on the screen is that of a

that you have on the screen is that of a village and this village is the village

village and this village is the village

village and this village is the village of Malling Nong which is in East Cassie

of Malling Nong which is in East Cassie

of Malling Nong which is in East Cassie hills in Meghalaya 60 kilometers away

hills in Meghalaya 60 kilometers away

hills in Meghalaya 60 kilometers away from chillon quit remotely located not

from chillon quit remotely located not

from chillon quit remotely located not very easily accessible a small village

very easily accessible a small village

very easily accessible a small village with 95 households and 500 people it has

with 95 households and 500 people it has

with 95 households and 500 people it has a history of agriculture and

a history of agriculture and

a history of agriculture and horticulture and I must tell you that

horticulture and I must tell you that

horticulture and I must tell you that some of the best pineapples in this

some of the best pineapples in this

some of the best pineapples in this country are grown in this village it

country are grown in this village it

country are grown in this village it also had a culture of keeping the

also had a culture of keeping the

also had a culture of keeping the village clean so much so that when a

village clean so much so that when a

village clean so much so that when a magazine discover India actually

magazine discover India actually

magazine discover India actually surveyed several villages in the

surveyed several villages in the

surveyed several villages in the northeast they declared it as Asia’s

northeast they declared it as Asia’s

northeast they declared it as Asia’s cleanest village and that propelled this

cleanest village and that propelled this

cleanest village and that propelled this village from relative obscurity to a

village from relative obscurity to a

village from relative obscurity to a place of prominence so much so that year

place of prominence so much so that year

place of prominence so much so that year after year there were almost 200 to 500

after year there were almost 200 to 500

after year there were almost 200 to 500 people depending on the season actually

people depending on the season actually

people depending on the season actually visiting this village what really

visiting this village what really

visiting this village what really happened was that gradually the earnings

happened was that gradually the earnings

happened was that gradually the earnings from tourism also started improving and

from tourism also started improving and

from tourism also started improving and people’s aspirations improved with

people’s aspirations improved with

people’s aspirations improved with increasing tourism in the will

increasing tourism in the will

increasing tourism in the will it had electricity but as with often

it had electricity but as with often

it had electricity but as with often electricity connections in remote places

electricity connections in remote places

electricity connections in remote places whenever there was a problem with the

whenever there was a problem with the

whenever there was a problem with the distribution system getting it repaired

distribution system getting it repaired

distribution system getting it repaired or maintained in time was often a

or maintained in time was often a

or maintained in time was often a challenge more critical was the fact

challenge more critical was the fact

challenge more critical was the fact that it lacked public spaces so during

that it lacked public spaces so during

that it lacked public spaces so during this period when tourism grew in this

this period when tourism grew in this

this period when tourism grew in this place what really happened was that

place what really happened was that

place what really happened was that people started adding little rooms to

people started adding little rooms to

people started adding little rooms to their houses which during the evening

their houses which during the evening

their houses which during the evening would be their dining rooms as well but

would be their dining rooms as well but

would be their dining rooms as well but during the day served as places where

during the day served as places where

during the day served as places where beverages and food was served and so

beverages and food was served and so

beverages and food was served and so gradually this helped them in promoting

gradually this helped them in promoting

gradually this helped them in promoting the local economy what also happened was

the local economy what also happened was

the local economy what also happened was that they added a bedroom to their homes

that they added a bedroom to their homes

that they added a bedroom to their homes and what that did was that they were

and what that did was that they were

and what that did was that they were trying to promote the whole idea of home

trying to promote the whole idea of home

trying to promote the whole idea of home stays by tourists but one thing that the

stays by tourists but one thing that the

stays by tourists but one thing that the village lacked was good illumination of

village lacked was good illumination of

village lacked was good illumination of public spaces at night and they tried

public spaces at night and they tried

public spaces at night and they tried for several years to try and get funding

for several years to try and get funding

for several years to try and get funding to create electricity which would

to create electricity which would

to create electricity which would illuminate public spaces at night so

illuminate public spaces at night so

illuminate public spaces at night so that the experience of people in the

that the experience of people in the

that the experience of people in the village would improve it was at this

village would improve it was at this

village would improve it was at this time that we were advising the

time that we were advising the

time that we were advising the government omegle and we were presented

government omegle and we were presented

government omegle and we were presented with a few problems of this kind and one

with a few problems of this kind and one

with a few problems of this kind and one of the solutions that emerged was why

of the solutions that emerged was why

of the solutions that emerged was why not use renewable energy and why not use

not use renewable energy and why not use

not use renewable energy and why not use solar lighting as a solution for the

solar lighting as a solution for the

solar lighting as a solution for the village after looking at different

village after looking at different

village after looking at different possibilities and different sources of

possibilities and different sources of

possibilities and different sources of funding we came to the conclusion that

funding we came to the conclusion that

funding we came to the conclusion that the quickest way to implement a project

the quickest way to implement a project

the quickest way to implement a project of this kind was to use our own CSR

of this kind was to use our own CSR

of this kind was to use our own CSR funding and that is what we did as idfc

funding and that is what we did as idfc

funding and that is what we did as idfc to use our own CSR funding for this

to use our own CSR funding for this

to use our own CSR funding for this pilot project what we thought would

pilot project what we thought would

pilot project what we thought would happen is that this would help to create

happen is that this would help to create

happen is that this would help to create an effective model which could be scaled

an effective model which could be scaled

an effective model which could be scaled up thereafter in doing so we said that

up thereafter in doing so we said that

up thereafter in doing so we said that there would have to be a certain number

there would have to be a certain number

there would have to be a certain number of minimum conditions one the land

of minimum conditions one the land

of minimum conditions one the land should be given by the community free of

should be given by the community free of

should be given by the community free of cost they should bring in at least 10%

cost they should bring in at least 10%

cost they should bring in at least 10% of the project cost

of the project cost

of the project cost not in cash but in kind through the

not in cash but in kind through the

not in cash but in kind through the labor component that is required for the

labor component that is required for the

labor component that is required for the project

project

project it was insisted that they must take on

it was insisted that they must take on

it was insisted that they must take on the operations and maintenance

the operations and maintenance

the operations and maintenance responsibilities open a separate bank

responsibilities open a separate bank

responsibilities open a separate bank account for the project set up a project

account for the project set up a project

account for the project set up a project implementation committee with

implementation committee with

implementation committee with representatives of the government the

representatives of the government the

representatives of the government the community and with idfc Foundation and

community and with idfc Foundation and

community and with idfc Foundation and finally have the entire selection

finally have the entire selection

finally have the entire selection process overseen by this committee that

process overseen by this committee that

process overseen by this committee that was agreed to and we went ahead with the

was agreed to and we went ahead with the

was agreed to and we went ahead with the project

project

project now as idfc and I DFC Foundation we had

now as idfc and I DFC Foundation we had

now as idfc and I DFC Foundation we had handled several several large projects

handled several several large projects

handled several several large projects hundreds of crores sometimes a few

hundreds of crores sometimes a few

hundreds of crores sometimes a few thousand crores in size in terms of

thousand crores in size in terms of

thousand crores in size in terms of project development and the managing the

project development and the managing the

project development and the managing the entire process of procurement on behalf

entire process of procurement on behalf

entire process of procurement on behalf of the government we decided that the

of the government we decided that the

of the government we decided that the same level of rigor that we normally

same level of rigor that we normally

same level of rigor that we normally brought to large projects should equally

brought to large projects should equally

brought to large projects should equally be brought to the smaller projects and

be brought to the smaller projects and

be brought to the smaller projects and that is what we did we made sure that

that is what we did we made sure that

that is what we did we made sure that there was a very transparent process of

there was a very transparent process of

there was a very transparent process of selection we made sure that while the

selection we made sure that while the

selection we made sure that while the rigor in project development was high we

rigor in project development was high we

rigor in project development was high we would pick up specifications which were

would pick up specifications which were

would pick up specifications which were already there through the Emma nari to

already there through the Emma nari to

already there through the Emma nari to make the process much simpler we used

make the process much simpler we used

make the process much simpler we used empaneled suppliers who are already in

empaneled suppliers who are already in

empaneled suppliers who are already in panel with the Ministry of non-renewable

panel with the Ministry of non-renewable

panel with the Ministry of non-renewable energy as part of this process and so we

energy as part of this process and so we

energy as part of this process and so we found that at the end of it what we

found that at the end of it what we

found that at the end of it what we reached was a very very effective

reached was a very very effective

reached was a very very effective cost-effective way of implementing the

cost-effective way of implementing the

cost-effective way of implementing the project where the supplier finally was

project where the supplier finally was

project where the supplier finally was able to supply lights at close to rupees

able to supply lights at close to rupees

able to supply lights at close to rupees twenty-five thousand seven hundred

twenty-five thousand seven hundred

twenty-five thousand seven hundred perlite which was among the least that

perlite which was among the least that

perlite which was among the least that you could get for projects in that area

you could get for projects in that area

you could get for projects in that area it was also slated that delivery would

it was also slated that delivery would

it was also slated that delivery would be made in a period of six weeks and a

be made in a period of six weeks and a

be made in a period of six weeks and a two year warranty

two year warranty

two year warranty accompanied the entire program all this

accompanied the entire program all this

accompanied the entire program all this actually resulted in a very robust kind

actually resulted in a very robust kind

actually resulted in a very robust kind of project structure and delivery that

of project structure and delivery that

of project structure and delivery that was possible equally important was that

was possible equally important was that

was possible equally important was that some of the village youth were trained

some of the village youth were trained

some of the village youth were trained to implement this project and so this is

to implement this project and so this is

to implement this project and so this is a picture of how the village and the

a picture of how the village and the

a picture of how the village and the community together

community together

community together engaged in the implementation of the

engaged in the implementation of the

engaged in the implementation of the project what did the project achieve

project what did the project achieve

project what did the project achieve from tourist arrivals of 200 to 500 per

from tourist arrivals of 200 to 500 per

from tourist arrivals of 200 to 500 per day a few months after the project was

day a few months after the project was

day a few months after the project was implemented it was implemented in May

implemented it was implemented in May

implemented it was implemented in May 2015 by July they were almost 1500

2015 by July they were almost 1500

2015 by July they were almost 1500 visitors visiting the village from a

visitors visiting the village from a

visitors visiting the village from a level of 80 cars a day it had gone up to

level of 80 cars a day it had gone up to

level of 80 cars a day it had gone up to 250 parking fees had gone up from 4,000

250 parking fees had gone up from 4,000

250 parking fees had gone up from 4,000 to 12,500 all in all as this would very

to 12,500 all in all as this would very

to 12,500 all in all as this would very very clearly show that incomes went up

very clearly show that incomes went up

very clearly show that incomes went up and that the economic resilience and the

and that the economic resilience and the

and that the economic resilience and the economic condition of the village

economic condition of the village

economic condition of the village improved very significantly now this was

improved very significantly now this was

improved very significantly now this was something that the government was very

something that the government was very

something that the government was very clearly very happy about and they wanted

clearly very happy about and they wanted

clearly very happy about and they wanted to implement it in five more villages

to implement it in five more villages

to implement it in five more villages but when this story got known and

but when this story got known and

but when this story got known and understood what actually happened was

understood what actually happened was

understood what actually happened was that with funding from the IR EDA which

that with funding from the IR EDA which

that with funding from the IR EDA which is the National Authority for renewable

is the National Authority for renewable

is the National Authority for renewable energy 18 villages in four districts for

energy 18 villages in four districts for

energy 18 villages in four districts for a total of 360 streetlights got

a total of 360 streetlights got

a total of 360 streetlights got implemented and we were able during this

implemented and we were able during this

implemented and we were able during this period to bring down the implementation

period to bring down the implementation

period to bring down the implementation by so significant an amount that the

by so significant an amount that the

by so significant an amount that the project implementation was completed in

project implementation was completed in

project implementation was completed in less than a month so this is indeed for

less than a month so this is indeed for

less than a month so this is indeed for many of us it was an inspiring story and

many of us it was an inspiring story and

many of us it was an inspiring story and eye-opener of how rigorous work done and

eye-opener of how rigorous work done and

eye-opener of how rigorous work done and done very very transparently and by

done very very transparently and by

done very very transparently and by involving the community could result in

involving the community could result in

involving the community could result in change and transformation so renewable

change and transformation so renewable

change and transformation so renewable energy can in many ways transform places

energy can in many ways transform places

energy can in many ways transform places it can transform communities equally

it can transform communities equally

it can transform communities equally creative use and creative selection of

creative use and creative selection of

creative use and creative selection of the right technology for the right users

the right technology for the right users

the right technology for the right users can actually make a difference and

can actually make a difference and

can actually make a difference and that’s what this really told us so what

that’s what this really told us so what

that’s what this really told us so what are the lessons in all this for us how

are the lessons in all this for us how

are the lessons in all this for us how do we bring it to scale it is very

do we bring it to scale it is very

do we bring it to scale it is very important that much of what we do we

important that much of what we do we

important that much of what we do we realize should not just remain as

realize should not just remain as

realize should not just remain as creative solutions and creative output

creative solutions and creative output

creative solutions and creative output unless they are brought to scale

unless they are brought to scale

unless they are brought to scale they cannot be truly classified as

they cannot be truly classified as

they cannot be truly classified as innovation the lessons that we learned

innovation the lessons that we learned

innovation the lessons that we learned was that even if the projects are small

was that even if the projects are small

was that even if the projects are small as long as they are owned and driven by

as long as they are owned and driven by

as long as they are owned and driven by the community they have a very short

the community they have a very short

the community they have a very short answer of success projects have to be

answer of success projects have to be

answer of success projects have to be demand driven not supply created the

demand driven not supply created the

demand driven not supply created the minute it is demand driven it is based

minute it is demand driven it is based

minute it is demand driven it is based on the actual need and uses that the

on the actual need and uses that the

on the actual need and uses that the community has we also realize that we

community has we also realize that we

community has we also realize that we should just because it is small not

should just because it is small not

should just because it is small not sacrifice rigor and professionalism for

sacrifice rigor and professionalism for

sacrifice rigor and professionalism for the sake of expediency and all in all

the sake of expediency and all in all

the sake of expediency and all in all the involvement of all stakeholders in

the involvement of all stakeholders in

the involvement of all stakeholders in the process the government the community

the process the government the community

the process the government the community the funders the suppliers working

the funders the suppliers working

the funders the suppliers working together in a cooperative endeavor is

together in a cooperative endeavor is

together in a cooperative endeavor is important how does one reach scale we

important how does one reach scale we

important how does one reach scale we reach scale when we move from just

reach scale when we move from just

reach scale when we move from just creating individual livelihoods to

creating individual livelihoods to

creating individual livelihoods to creating enterprise asking the question

creating enterprise asking the question

creating enterprise asking the question what is it that we can do to harness the

what is it that we can do to harness the

what is it that we can do to harness the creative energy particularly in youth in

creative energy particularly in youth in

creative energy particularly in youth in many of these places that we stay what

many of these places that we stay what

many of these places that we stay what are the organization structures what are

are the organization structures what are

are the organization structures what are the business models which will allow for

the business models which will allow for

the business models which will allow for this scaling up important to remember

this scaling up important to remember

this scaling up important to remember that no size fits all and so we clearly

that no size fits all and so we clearly

that no size fits all and so we clearly have to find contextual solutions for

have to find contextual solutions for

have to find contextual solutions for the need that we find in communities we

the need that we find in communities we

the need that we find in communities we also realize that for areas like

also realize that for areas like

also realize that for areas like agriculture and horticulture another

agriculture and horticulture another

agriculture and horticulture another very important area which in the future

very important area which in the future

very important area which in the future would really find a lot of application

would really find a lot of application

would really find a lot of application is the area of solar cooling solar

is the area of solar cooling solar

is the area of solar cooling solar cooling for storage of produce and later

cooling for storage of produce and later

cooling for storage of produce and later on probably solar transportation to make

on probably solar transportation to make

on probably solar transportation to make sure that products can reach markets

sure that products can reach markets

sure that products can reach markets very critical for far-flung areas

very critical for far-flung areas

very critical for far-flung areas relatively not well-connected areas

relatively not well-connected areas

relatively not well-connected areas particularly in the Northeast region as

particularly in the Northeast region as

particularly in the Northeast region as well as other hilly regions in this

well as other hilly regions in this

well as other hilly regions in this country we also realize that as we bring

country we also realize that as we bring

country we also realize that as we bring scale to a lot of these applications

scale to a lot of these applications

scale to a lot of these applications costs get driven downward today in the

costs get driven downward today in the

costs get driven downward today in the electricity sector the cost of

electricity sector the cost of

electricity sector the cost of generating power from renewable energy

generating power from renewable energy

generating power from renewable energy sources has reached grid parity with

sources has reached grid parity with

sources has reached grid parity with that of non renewable energy or more

that of non renewable energy or more

that of non renewable energy or more conventional energy sources that really

conventional energy sources that really

conventional energy sources that really means that with increasing applications

means that with increasing applications

means that with increasing applications we can make transformative differences

we can make transformative differences

we can make transformative differences through the sensible use of renewable

through the sensible use of renewable

through the sensible use of renewable energy which is an essential part of

energy which is an essential part of

energy which is an essential part of infrastructure creation in this country

infrastructure creation in this country

infrastructure creation in this country last but not the least all these

last but not the least all these

last but not the least all these projects all innovation because by

projects all innovation because by

projects all innovation because by nature they are disruptive require

nature they are disruptive require

nature they are disruptive require champions they require champions at all

champions they require champions at all

champions they require champions at all levels in the community in the

levels in the community in the

levels in the community in the government people who can fund them

government people who can fund them

government people who can fund them people who are willing to take risks and

people who are willing to take risks and

people who are willing to take risks and the challenges in finding the right

the challenges in finding the right

the challenges in finding the right champions to make sure that these

champions to make sure that these

champions to make sure that these innovations can happen what they can do

innovations can happen what they can do

innovations can happen what they can do though is they can certainly help

though is they can certainly help

though is they can certainly help excluded and remote communities make

excluded and remote communities make

excluded and remote communities make sure that from an economic point of view

sure that from an economic point of view

sure that from an economic point of view they find growth and resilience in the

they find growth and resilience in the

they find growth and resilience in the way they are I hope that as all of us go

way they are I hope that as all of us go

way they are I hope that as all of us go on with our lives each of us would be

on with our lives each of us would be

on with our lives each of us would be champions of innovation wherever we are

champions of innovation wherever we are

champions of innovation wherever we are and that all of us in our own ways can

and that all of us in our own ways can

and that all of us in our own ways can move from just doing isolated examples

move from just doing isolated examples

move from just doing isolated examples of innovation to creating a movement of

of innovation to creating a movement of

of innovation to creating a movement of positive innovation which will result in

positive innovation which will result in

positive innovation which will result in positive transformation of communities

positive transformation of communities

positive transformation of communities and society if that happens this

and society if that happens this

and society if that happens this conference objectives would have

conference objectives would have

conference objectives would have succeeded thank you

succeeded thank you

succeeded thank you [Applause]