Indian team makes it to finals of Dell's social innovation competition

A group of Indian  students has made it to the finals of the Dell Social Innovation Competition, a programme that encourages university students to approach global social problems through entrepreneurship.

Dell Social Innovation Competition is organised by PC maker Dell and the University of Texas' RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service.

The entry, submitted by the student team of the global volunteering group SIFE at the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, aims to increase the awareness about hygienic sanitary napkins among women in the slums across Delhi while providing them with a sustained means of livelihood.

As part of the project, regular awareness camps about sanitary hygiene are held in various slums of Delhi. Sanitary napkins are procured from the manufacturers directly, thereby reducing the cost for the retailers and slum women.

''True change comes from the ground up. Many times it's the small ideas that evolve into revolutionary organisations,'' said Trisa Thompson, vice president of corporate responsibility, Dell.

''Dell was founded on these ideals and we want to build on the entrepreneurial spirit these students possess and equip them with the tools they need to turn their innovative ideas for social good into a reality.''