Company title

Hand in Hand India, in collaboration with PHD (Progress Harmony Development) Chamber of Commerce & Industry, organised a national seminar on “Creating Sustainable Smart Villages” on 29 February 2012 in New Delhi. The Chief Guest of the one-day Programme that took place in the PHD House, New Delhi was Dr. Hrusikesh Panda, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Key officials from both PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Hand in Hand India participated in the seminar.

About 70 participants, involved in the development sector, took part in the Programme. They included representatives from the government, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, corporates, etc. The inaugural function began with the lighting of the traditional lamp. This was followed by welcome and introductory address by Mr. Sandip Somany, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dr. Kalpana Sankar, Chief Executive Officer, Hand in Hand India, respectively.

The Programme saw two panel discussions, one on “Redefining social entrepreneurship & development to culminate into creating Smart Villages” and the other on “Smart Villages in a better India – implementation strategies”.

Hand in Hand India has been on collaborative talks with the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry for its operations in North India. Of the innovative initiatives developed by Hand in Hand India, the Village Uplift Programme (VUP) of the organisation appealed to the PHD Chamber. To further explore, understand and spread awareness on this concept in the development sector, this National Seminar was conceptualised.

Established in 1905, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a multi-state organisation working at the grassroots level with strong national and international linkages. The organisation acts as a facilitator for promotion of industry, trade and entrepreneurship. They cover 11 states in the country, namely, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.