Techfest IIT Bombays Social Initiatives 2024: A Promising Effort for Societal Impact
Techfest IIT Bombay's Social Initiatives 2024: A Promising Effort for Societal Impact
Each year, Techfest at IIT Bombay dedicates itself to meaningful social initiatives aimed at fostering educational, environmental sustainability, and community development. This year is no exception as Techfest plans a series of impactful programs designed to make a positive difference. Here, we outline the key social initiatives for 2024.
Mass Diabetes Checkup Drive: CURED
Diabetes, a growing global health concern, has hit India especially hard. With over 50.8 million people affected, India leads the world in diabetes cases. To combat this, Techfest IIT Bombay in collaboration with Rotary District 3141 and Gadge Diabetes Care is initiating a nationwide campaign to combat diabetes.
CURED, the campaign's name, stands for 'Can You Really Escape Diabetes.' On September 25, 100 free diabetes checkups will be available at camps across Mumbai, with an additional 50 camps in 17 districts of Maharashtra and 50 more in 8 other states. Participants will receive free consultations and sign a pledge to ensure regular checkups and healthy lifestyles. This event aims to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of pledges in a single day.
Saving the Souls: SAVE THE SOULS
The pet community in India faces numerous challenges, particularly concerning stray dogs. The SAVE THE SOULS initiative aims to prevent unnecessary deaths of dogs, especially stray dogs, due to road accidents and experiments. By organizing a massive petition drive and providing special dog collars that glow in the dark, Techfest seeks to raise awareness and promote safety measures for stray animals. The organization is collaborating with Welfare of Stray Dogs to distribute 100,000 free dog collars and vaccines in Mumbai and beyond.
Empowering Women in STEM: IAmPower
Recognizing the underrepresentation of women in STEM, Techfest IIT Bombay presents the IAmPower initiative. This program aims to empower and inspire young girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here are the highlights:
Coding Bootcamps: Designed to introduce basic coding skills using Python, these workshops are aimed at beginners and are held in Mumbai, Pune, and Noida. A total of 300 girls have participated in these workshops, building their skills and confidence. Saksham - Ideas from IoT to empower rural women: This initiative focuses on using information and communication technology to improve rural women's lives through IoT solutions. It mobilizes collective efforts to empower women in rural communities. Women in STEM Summit: Over two days, this summit features panel discussions by leading industry figures on the role of women in STEM and the importance of IoT in today's world. A one-day hackathon concludes the event, focusing on solving real-life women's problems with IoT.UNICEF and UNESCO have also provided their support, recognizing the importance and impact of these initiatives.
Conclusion
Through these initiatives, Techfest IIT Bombay once again demonstrates its commitment to making a genuine difference in society. The main technical events are also worth watching. For more information and to register, visit the official Techfest website or social media channels.