The launch event was chaired by Shri Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Livelihoods (RL), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India and was attended by Ms. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods and Shri Raman Wadhwa, Deputy Director, DAY-NRLM as well as NMMU experts from the Ministry of Rural Development. On behalf of LEAP, Shri Andre Nogueira, Ph.D., CEO of LEAP and Associate Faculty of Design Knowledge at Johns Hopkins University, made a presentation on the vision and structure of the program. Shri Aneesh Kumar, Managing Director of TRIF and other representatives from LEAP and TRIF attended the event. SMDs/CEOs of State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLM) joined the event online. This was followed by a lively and engaging discussion on the expected impact on rural communities of India.
“Million Designers, Billion Dreams” is a unique initiative designed to enhance the capacity of individuals through knowledge of systems design. It targets rural leaders, frontline change agents, and rural entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills to create impactful, scalable solutions. The primary objective of the program is to enhance participants’ proficiency in design frameworks to advance systems change, foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address complex challenges, and promote confidence and agency to shape a better future through creativity and ownership. Expected outcomes include increasing the number of individuals with systems design knowwledge, promoting innovation across sectors; developing solutions that improve quality of life and drive economic growth; adopting sustainable practices that address environmental, social, and economic challenges; and establishing India as a global leader in design and innovation.
“Million Designers, Billion Dreams” aims to revolutionize the way we address social challenges, empowering a new generation of rural leaders to drive sustainable development in our communities and beyond across India.