National, 12 June 2025: BITS Pilani, an institute of eminence, has announced the establishment of the Kakatiya Rural Innovation, Technology and Implementation (KRITI) Centre, a visionary initiative aimed at inspiring and enabling students and alumni to create meaningful social impact across India. KRITI which in Sanskrit means Creation or Work of significance is a pioneering centre that has been made possible by a generous endowment contribution of $1 million from distinguished BITS Pilani alumnus Raju Reddy and his wife Neerja Reddy, both accomplished change makers and deeply involved in rural development initiatives Raju Reddy is a visionary entrepreneur, angel investor, board member, and former Chairperson of BITSAA International. Phanindra Sama former ceo and founder of redBus and an alumnus, is also helping shape the vision and strategy for the centre. He and Sarika, his wife will also join Raju & Neeraja as founding donors for the centre.
KRITI is poised to significantly expand BITS Pilani’s engagement in the social impact sphere, building upon the legacy of successful alumni-led initiatives such as Sattva, Nirmaan, Thinkerbell Labs, and Ashoka Changemakers. By harnessing the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of BITS students and alumni, the Centre will develop sustainable and scalable solutions to pressing rural and social challenges.
“The establishment of KRITI marks a pivotal moment in BITS Pilani’s journey,” stated Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani. “It reinforces our unwavering commitment not only to academic excellence but also to nurturing socially responsible innovators who can transform the future of rural India. This Centre will serve as a vital launchpad for a new generation of change makers dedicated to building an inclusive growth . We are profoundly grateful to Neeraja and Raju Reddy for their visionary support; their commitment is a powerful testament to their belief in the ability of BITS students and alumni to drive meaningful change.”
Speaking on the development, Raju Reddy, Former Chairperson of BITSAA International, added, “For India to become an economic superpower, we believe that the districts of India have to become the engines of economic growth. We hope KRITI will help power the ideas and entrepreneur spirit of BITS students, its alumni and other talented innovators across the nation to make meaningful impact at scale in rural India.
The Centre’s core objectives include cultivating value-based leadership for social transformation, supporting the incubation of high-impact ventures, creating robust pathways for engagement with non-profits, social enterprises, grassroots innovators, and fostering empathy, volunteerism, and responsible citizenship. KRITI also aims to cultivate a vibrant community of faculty and alumni who will collaboratively develop and implement technology driven solutions for rural development.
To achieve these ambitious goals, KRITI will initiate a comprehensive range of activities. These include launching a dedicated Rural and Social Impact Club across all BITS campuses, designing specialized incubation and acceleration programs for non-profit and social ventures, and organizing an annual national showcase of student-led social innovations. The Centre will also offer fellowships to cultivate a new cadre of rural and social impact leaders. Furthermore, it will integrate socially relevant projects into academic curricula, establish a central knowledge hub for the BITS community, and actively raise funds from alumni, corporates, and government bodies to support long-term, sustainable initiatives. Crucially, KRITI will play a vital role in deploying BITS-developed technologies to address critical grassroots challenges.
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