Ahmedabad: Anant National University announces that Samman, a Live Action Project (LAP) by Anant Fellows Ankit Singh and Yashwardhan Bansal from the University’s flagship programme Anant Fellowship in Sustainability and Built Environment, won Third Prize in the Senior Category at the Youth for Earth (Y4E) Campaign, part of the 7th International Conference on Sustainable Education in New Delhi.
Samman, a community-centric project, addresses the overlooked supply chains involved in the sale and transfer of goods to marginalised recipient communities in Ahmedabad. A collaborative effort between India Recycles and Anant National University, led under the mentorship of Prof Risha Roy, Associate Professor and Lead, Sustainable Fashion and Textile Design, School of Design, the project maps the gaps and brings transparency to the system, ensuring that this transfer of goods translates into dignified, equitable and sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders.
The Fellows researched to understand the factors and preferences that influence purchasing decisions for pre-loved items in low-income communities, identified gaps in delivery to improve the distribution of pre-loved goods, and assessed the feasibility of a brick-and-mortar store, suggesting strategies to increase store usage. They also conducted mixed-methods research through household surveys, interviews and participation in pop-up sales at various locations to understand user behaviour.
Their research highlighted that both affordability and dignity are important to users, and that one cannot be substituted for the other. For example, the users want the ability to inspect the wares. To facilitate this, the Fellows recommended that items be displayed on a rack with clear tags showing size and price. To further ensure equitable access, the Fellows recommended extending pop-up sale timings to allow working women access after their working hours. They also recommended using both digital and cash payments because older users tend to be uncomfortable with digital payment options. Finally, to build trust, accountability and ownership among the communities, they recommended conducting quarterly ‘Customer Council’ huddles where regular customers could give feedback about their experience of buying from India Recycles, their preferences, etc.
Implementing these recommendations enabled India Recycles to address gaps in its distribution system, foster trust with communities and meet their needs by expanding access and equity.
Community immersion and designing sustainable and practical solutions for real-world problems are central to Anant’s pedagogy, and this project perfectly exemplifies this academic approach. The Anant Fellowship in Sustainability and Built Environment gives Fellows a chance to work on real-world challenges, collaborate with communities and create scalable solutions that make a tangible difference on the ground through such LAPs, preparing them to be real changemakers.
Anant’s flexible curriculum empowers students to design their own academic pathways, equipping them with the skills, vision and social awareness to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Over the years, Anant students have carried out several such initiatives, reinforcing Anant’s commitment to nurturing socially conscious leaders.
