Lessons From the Last Mile
Description
We often talk about India’s rise as a global power—but there’s another story unfolding beneath the headlines.
In rural and aspirational districts, many still grapple with the basics: safe water, quality education, healthcare they can reach, and livelihoods they can depend on. The gaps are stark—maternal and infant mortality remain high, learning outcomes lag, and over 80% of households in these areas survive on less than ₹5,000 a month.
The real challenge? Ensuring that government schemes, resources, and opportunities actually reach the people who need them most—and empowering communities to take charge of their own development.
In this episode, we are joined by Manmohan Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of Aspirational Bharat Collaborative (Bharat Collab)—an initiative working across 100+ India’s most underserved districts to bridge the last-mile gap. Partnering with Panchayati Raj Institutions, faith leaders, NGOs, and local administrations, Bharat Collab is enabling communities to lead their own transformation.
We explore:
• Why the “bottom 100 million” need a different development approach
• What last-mile service delivery really looks like on the ground
• The power of “last-mile convergence” across governance, civil society, and markets
• Lessons from health, education, and nutrition interventions with unexpected impact
• Bharat Collab’s vision for India@2047
If you care about equity, grassroots empowerment, and turning development policy into lived reality—this episode is for you.
Credits
Host: Shreya M
Guest: Manmohan Singh
Research: Alisha C
Artwork: Rajnikant S
Produced by: The Good Sight
Concept: The Good Sight
For feedback or to participate, write to us at contact@thegoodsight.org
#AspirationalBharat #LastMileDelivery #BharatCollab #GrassrootsDevelopment #India2047 #PanchayatiRaj #HealthEquity #EducationForAll #SustainableLivelihoods #TheGoodSight