"CYMY has opened up a new world of opportunity for self-learning and teamwork at the village level. As a school dropout, the idea that baking could become my passion never crossed my mind. Yet, with each visit to the center, I find myself thoroughly engrossed in learning new baking techniques and various other skills alongside my fellow learners.The sense of fortune I feel for stumbling upon this chance is immeasurable; it has allowed me to discover a newfound passion and turn it into a sustainable livelihood. Our latest achievement is the inauguration of "Daintily BAKERY," a beacon of hope and accomplishment in our village.Read More"

"The work enabled through the Smart Village Movement project in Meghalaya has embraced a technology-driven rural development model for the state and has transfused open innovation up-till the last mile. In the last one year, the triple helix model, while being practiced here, has helped develop innovation based process creation, system interaction amongst several stakeholders and operational streamlining for projects while scaling, especially in healthcare and education. Enhancing the pilots with Smart Village Movement has given impetus to the state in terms of experimenting different working models, enhancing project iterations and building adaptive change in policy and practice. In the objective of ushering technology for rural development and citizen empowerment, the state shall witness important use cases that aim to make villages liveable, enterprise driven. We continue to be encouraged in welcoming the diverse convergence of companies, startups and NGOs with the team of SVM and Berkeley Haas.Read More"

“I was so relieved to hear that there was a clinic nearby that I could visit,” says Bitoria. “It was a huge relief for my family, who were worried about my health, and me.This clinic is a great blessing, as it is more affordable and convenient than travelling to any hospital in Shillong. The clinic has been a huge benefit to me and my family, especially during the lockdown when everything was closed,”

"When the UC Berkeley Smart Village Movement initiative began here, they have used the open innovation model to collaborate with us & rationalize the needs of rural communities through several pilots in the past two years, bringing in exciting times to see how technology upon its befitting use can build locally relevant pathways to connect with the issues of the region."

“I have been suffering from diabetes for the past three years. The treatment I have been getting till date was not effective and I felt the right diagnosis was not done and medicines were not giving me relief. However, when I came for a check up here at the Apollo Telehealth Center. I got my medicine here after consultations with the doctors over the video call. They prescribed medicine only after completely understanding my problem.”

"Project PPHM has truly been a blessing for our village, Umroi Umdohbyrthih, not only in terms of the health tests offered but also in providing increased access to healthcare. As an Anganwadi Worker, I’ve witnessed the tremendous impact it has had on our community’s health.The impact of this program has been remarkable as it has allowed our people to know their health status without any financial burden, thanks to the numerous tests offered.”

"Since I began working with the SVM team and Dr. Anil Shah more than two years ago, I’ve seen tremendous energy, growth, and dedication. In Meghalaya in partnership with the state government, SVM has launched a number of pilot projects, including several that are starting to scale throughout the state. From Positive Public Healthcare Management (PPHM) to Trailblazer Labs, SVM is innovating across a number of verticals to improve the lives of rural villagers in India. Thanks to a growing number of research projects and reports completed in partnership with the Center for Growth Markets at UC Berkeley, we’re also building strong proof points of impact, sustainability, and scalability. I’m excited to see SVM continue to grow and develop in the coming months and years!Read More"

"The Open Innovation model of Smart Village Movement comes at a time when technology and enterprise are truly redefining the development paradigm around the world. The state of Meghalaya too, is witness to the acceptance of these changes and the magnitude of what technology can do to empower our daily lives. Some of the successful pilot projects have demonstrated promising potential and upon scaling them shall present interesting findings on the participation of private enterprises to complement efforts by the State. Coupled with research utilisation and enterprise-driven tech interventions, the Government intends to strengthen village level networks such as Self Help Groups and the Village Health Councils, as channels for decentralisation of technology and digital capabilities to optimise the relevant solutions that are available to make our villages more accessible and liveable. Read More"

"I like coming to STEM class, as here we get to learn new things everyday. You do not need to do anything alone, you can pair up with your friends to make a group and work on exciting projects. Like for example, you can take a waste bottle and make it into something useful. I am always excited to learn some concepts through handmade projects and demonstrations. This class is very useful for us."

"Coming to the innovation hub has helped me a lot in the field of electronics. I was able to repair some electronic gadgets on my own like my emergency lamp. It's all possible because of the circuit design and electronics course. I had a great experience while making a wooden lighthouse and learning 3D Printing and making keyrings with it. Coming to the Innovation Hub has helped me realise my dream of becoming a Software Engineer in the future"