State Visit to India - Day 3

At the beginning of the day, Their Excellencies unveiled and presented an inuksuk on behalf of the people of Canada to the people of India as a symbol of the friendship and co-operation shared between both countries.

Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting bold ideas with big impact in global health. It funds innovators in both low- and middle-income countries and in Canada to use science/technology, social and business innovation to address some of the most pressing global health challenges. In India, Grand Challenges Canada has committed $13.8 million to 64 projects.

This event was followed by the Canada-India CEO Forum, which brought together senior Canadian and Indian executives to capitalize on opportunities for trade, investment and innovation partnerships, and to address related challenges. On this occasion, the Canada-India CEO Forum co-chairs Tom Jenkins, Chairman of OpenText (pictured, left), and Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Founder of Jubilant Bhartia Group, presented a report to the Governor General and the Honourable Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Later in the afternoon, His Excellency addressed Ph.D. students from the National Institute of Immunology about the changing role of the researcher in today’s connected world, the role that mobility can play in enhancing research, and the role of higher institutions in economic advancement and development.

A panel discussion and question period with Canadian and Indian experts followed. Both focused on the important next steps needed to train new researchers and scholars, as well as education co-operation and mobility between Canada and India.

The overview was followed by live demonstrations of Aadhaar enrolment, as well as examples of the electronic Know-Your-Customer authentication process and potential real-life applications.

His Excellency then visited the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the aim of which is to issue every resident of India a unique identification number linked to the resident’s demographic and biometric information. This unique number, named Aadhaar, can be used by clients as a means to reliably establish their identity throughout India, and facilitates access to a host of benefits and services.

Upon her departure, Her Excellency also visited the home of one of the students, who is presently in her first year of political science studies at the University of Delhi.

Her Excellency also met with students of Asha’s education, mentorship and internship programs to discuss how they have overcome significant obstacles such as securing admission in universities that have a 0.1 per cent acceptance rate.

Asha means “hope” in Hindi, and this non-governmental organization (NGO) program strives to give slum inhabitants hope by showing them that, with some help, they can transform their lives. Asha programs are supported by the CanAssist Society, a fundraising society comprised of Canadians living in New Delhi.

Later in the morning, Her Excellency visited the Asha Society Community Centre and met with Asha health care volunteers to discuss health issues such as depression, which is a common mental illness throughout the slum colony.

The inuksuk, conceived by Bill Nasogaluak (right) with Kuzy Curley (left), was created using a naturally coloured purple-red armour stone from India.

The arrangement of eight massive stones in a human formation measures approximately 2.5 metres high, with an arms’ breadth of 1.2 metres. Three stones are placed together in the heart of the structure—one from the Inuvialuit region in the high western Arctic, one from the Qikiqtaaluk region in the eastern Arctic, and a third, a red stone, joining all three.The orientation of the arms will be towards the northwest, connecting Canada to the location of the inuksuk in India.

During that time, the Governor General participated in the Grand Challenges Global Health Innovation Round Table. He addressed innovators and government representatives on the theme of innovation and the role of government in catalyzing innovation through initiatives, and addressing global health challenges.

Her Excellency participated in a discussion with representatives from International Development Research Centre’s current and past grantee organizations, researchers working in relevant fields, and women entrepreneurs to address the current challenges faced by and opportunities for women in India. During the discussion, participants shared their research and personal experiences on women’s employment and labour force participation; enrollment in basic and higher education; violence against women; safety and security in the workplace; and caste-, religious- and ethnic-based discrimination as a barrier for women.