NEW DELHI, Feb 5: Digital and artificial intelligence tools are emerging as key drivers of social impact, enabling targeted interventions in education and local governance, Ajay Piramal, chairman of the Piramal Group, said on Thursday.
While fundraising has largely remained offline, technology is being deployed to address systemic gaps in the delivery of public welfare schemes, including unutilised education scholarships and limited access to information at the grassroots level, he said at an event organised by India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) here.
Piramal cited education as a key example, noting that although girls receive free education up to the age of eight and are eligible for scholarships thereafter, nearly 40 per cent of government-allocated scholarship funds remain unutilised each year because benefits fail to reach intended recipients. He said digital solutions are being used to bridge this gap.
The well-known industrialist and philanthropist also highlighted local governance, saying panchayats despite being central to implementation often lack timely information on the multiple schemes they administer, while communities remain unaware of their entitlements.
Pilot AI-based initiatives are being tested to close this information gap and empower both panchayats and citizens, he added.
Piramal said there was no real separation between a business mindset and a compassionate one, arguing that purpose must guide both business and philanthropy.
The group’s philosophy of “doing well and doing good,” he said, requires measuring impact in philanthropy as rigorously as returns in business, including outcomes such as improved learning levels and long-term social change. (PTI)
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