IIHS Announces the Finalists of Transform Urban India - National Student Challenge 2012

Online, November 7, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) announced the list of 25 finalists for the Transform Urban India- National Student Challenge 2012 (NSC 2012).

NSC 2012 is a campaign to elicit innovative ideas and solutions from students across the country to drive positive change in urban India. The NSC 2012 is the second edition of the challenge that saw an overwhelming response from students in the first edition in 2011. The 25 inter-disciplinary teams have been shortlisted out of 107 entries to present their solutions at the finals to be held in Bangalore after a rigorous selection process. The selected teams will present their solutions for the following urban challenges they have chosen to focus on:

TEAMS : SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL
ACTS- NMIMS - BalwantSheth School of Architecture, Mumbai : An education intervention that provides for holistic development of slum children

Arch Kinetics- JamiaMiliaIslamia University, Delhi : Kumortuli (Kumor in bangla means potter and Tuli means community) an area in Kolkata- to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the area and to empower the community

Ashthavakr- Multiple Institutions, Mumbai : To create accessibility for the physically handicapped in public transport such as buses

Bicycle Carriers- School of Planning & Architecture - Vijayawada, : To create a solution to encourage cycling in the metro cities like Delhi.

Crush bottle after use- Indian Institute of Management - Kolkata : How to help local kirana stores have a competitive edge over their multi-brand retail foreign peers

Fast Track- Indian Institute of Technology -Chennai : The problem of inadequate housing for the low income group in cities- a major infrastructural challenge

Fountain Head-Indian Institute of Management -Kozhikode : Addressing parking woes in Delhi by ensuring symmetry of information

Go Karting- S.P. Jain Institute of Management Research,Mumbai : Need of developing sustainable green buildings around Mahindra World City, Jaipur

Human Ecologies- JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai : Pollution in Mumbai- Deonar dumping ground, one of the major contributors of pollution

IRMA Innovation-Institute of Rural Management - Anand : Using Micro-Entrepreneurial Approach to provide integrated Waste Collection and segregation service at Source in the city of Vadodara

Kumej- NMIMS - BalwantSheth School of Architecture, Mumbai : To provide effective sitting solutions in n lower income conditions in the urban and the rural contexts
M-a-D- Indian Institute of Management - Calcutta : TRAMSPORT-Fighting Traffic Congestion on Kolkata Roads

MMR- RamnarainRuia College, Mumbai : Save the Mumbai Skywalks

Mool - a - Roop, NMIMS - BalwantSheth School of Architecture,Mumbai : To find solution to ease the transport systems for short distance travelling in Mumbai

Nautilus- Multiple Institutions, Chennai : Need for a new system of communication between healthcare facilities and blood donors

Nittians- National Institute of Technology - Trichy,Tiruchirapalli : Inefficient handling of municipal solid waste in Patna

Organic People- Seth PhoolchandAgrawalSmritiMahavidyalaya, Raipur : The loss in organic matter in the land in Chattisgarh and the problems faced by the farmers

Plan B-Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore : The Steady Proliferation of Slums in Bengaluru City

Realitators- Symbiosis International University, Pune : Lack of sanitation facilities at the Palani temple in Tamil Nadu

Revolution Youth-Indian Institute of Management - Kozhikode : To find out a sustainable energy resource to power the entire network of train stations in Mumbai

Sadhana-Indian Institute of Management - Kozhikode : Envisioning a Clean Canoly Canal in Kozhikode

Spaciferra-School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi : Waste management problem Municipalities in Delhi

TajVikas- Institute of Rural Management - Anand : Tackling Solid Waste Management in Agra

Transform Bihar- Multiple Institutions, Kharagpur : Loss of shelters due to the Koshi floods in Bihar

Urbana- Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur : Encouraging solid waste management at the community level

Commenting on the overwhelming responses received for the challenge, Sathish Selvakumar, Head, Programme for Working Professionals at IIHS said," "It's very encouraging to see the array of problems that the students have decided to work upon and create effective solutions that can be implemented in the respective cities or even all across the country basis its success. We are thrilled to provide this platform to such bright ideas and provide them with the opportunity and required guidance to help them implement their projects and take one step closer to combating many raging urban issues we face daily"

These teams will have access to a team of expert mentors who will guide them over the next 5 weeks in multiple disciplines to help fine tune their proposals. The finalists will be making their presentations in front of an eminent jury during the grand finale to be held in Bangalore on Dec 5th and 6th.

The 3 winning teams will receive a grant of INR 300,000/- each to help implement their solutionsalong with technical support from IIHS. Additionally there are 3 awards for the best solutions:
1. The Team with the Best Overall Solution will obtain a cash award of INR 1, 00,000
2. The Team with the Best Entrepreneurial Solution will obtain a cash award of INR 20,000
3. The Team with the Best Policy-Based Solution will obtain a cash award of INR 20,000

Updates on the challenge can be available through these platforms on a regular basis:
Follow us: http://twitter.com/TransformUrbInd

Connect on: https://www.facebook.com/#!/transformurbindia

For further information: http://transformurbanindia.com/national-student-challenge/challenge/

Media Contact
Sneha Shyam Gopal
Gutenberg Communications
+91 99867-45464
[email protected]

Sathish Selvakumar
IIHS
+91 9900115247
[email protected]