Eminent social entrepreneur of Assam, Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarmah, founder Centre for Rural Development (CRD) an Ashoka Lemelson Fellow is invited to participate in ‘Velo-City Global Conference’ in Copenhagen from June 22-25 this year. This is observed as an honour in recognition of the outstanding contribution of Dr. Sarma who has fought to establish an alternative sustainable livelihood for the poor.
Velo-City is widely considered as the premier international cycling planning summit in the world. It is also the largest bicycle conference ever organised. This conference is hosted by the Municipal Corporation of Copenhagen with approximate intake of 1000 international participants including cycling experts, city planners, decision makers, NGOs, and researchers that seeks to to improve living conditions in their home countries and to contribute to global issues. The organizers of the conference are committed to make it a truly global event and hence they have selected participants from all continents of the world. Experts on the topic across geographical and professional borders will create a platform to find solution to blistering socio-economic issues like health, road safety, pollution, climate change etc.
Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarmah has founded Centre for Rural Development, a non for profit organization back in 1994 and has launched its flagship project Rickshaw Bank in 2004. Rickshaw Bank aims to make rickshaw puller owner of rickshaw rather than traditional system of renting which is a major blow to their financial security. As of now project Rickshaw Bank has achieved a Pan-Indian presence with its operation in six different cities, successfully making more than 5000 rickshaw puller proud owner of its aerodynamic rickshaw designed by IIT, Guwahati named Deep-Bahan. The initiative has garnered worldwide positive acclaim, besides its record in Limca Books of Records 2006. Recently Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT), USA being the latest university is conducts a project called D-Lab Cycle Rickshaw Project in India . Apart from Rickshaw, CRD has been designing different tricycle models like Vegetable/Fruit Cart, Fish Cart, Momo Cart, Fast Food Cart, Lemon Water Cart, Milk Products Cart etc. and providing to the poor and unemployed youths with same financial modality as in Rickshaw.
At Velo-City 2010, Dr. Sarmah will be sharing his expertise on his illustrated journey with Rickshaw Bank and livelihood creation; his vision of an eco-friendly, green transport system, confirmed sources said. His entire trip is sponsored by the Outreach programme of the Velo-city 2010 conference.
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