Why startups hold the key for
transforming governance in India
As
a country, India is perhaps at the right inflection point. The government of
India is aggressively promoting digital India with the ultimate objective of
powering India into a digital powerhouse backed by the foundation of
technology. At the same time, there is another massive wave that is sweeping
India. The startup wave has reached unprecedented heights, and India now is one
among the first five largest startup communities in the world with the number
of start-ups crossing 4,200 (according to a recent Nasscom-Zinnov report). The
Prime Minister too has been pitching actively for startups, and has publicly
quoted that startups are key for India’s transformation.
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| Nine Pillers of Digital India |
Given
the fact that the Government wants transformation enabled by technology, and
wants to quickly move with speed to solve some of India’s biggest problems,
startups may hold the key for transforming India, as they can look at
traditional problems with new solutions.
Take
an area like agriculture, which is now plagued by serious issues of farmer suicides
and lower yields? Can startups make a difference? Bangalore-based startup,
CropIn Technology, has a mobile and cloud-based solution that aims to empower
the Indian farmer by making every crop traceable. By using a mobile app, 600
acres can be covered in one man day vis-à-vis the 90 man day period that is
typically required. The result – farm productivity has been raised by a minimum
of 10-15 percent.
Another
big problem that India faces today is the lack of electricity. India has always
been a power deficit country, and has consistently suffered grid failures and
power blackouts. While the government is looking at technologies such as smart
grids to curb thefts and leakages in transmission and distribution, the answer
may lie in a solution by Delhi-based startup Zenatix. The startup uses sensors
and smart meters to monitor real-time power consumption and advises firms on
how they can cut down their energy consumption with minimum effort. For
example, for the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi
), the firm has been able to save more than Rs 18 lakh per annum, which is
roughly equivalent to one month’s energy consumption. Similarly, Mumbai-based
startup 2020 Imaging, is looking at using video analytics to prevent stampedes,
detect terrorist attacks and aid traffic management.
Armed
with a disruptive and frugal mindset, startups can completely change the way
traditional problems can be conquered. Unlike traditional firms, startups are
not bothered about legacy technologies – they are only concerned about
providing value – as it is the key for their existence and future
competitiveness.
As
more and more Indian startups enter the fray, they will start challenging the
way traditional technologies are deployed and implemented. While not every
startup will be a success, their rapid rise will ensure that traditional giants
will be forced to think innovatively and push the bar for excellence.
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