Decoding Impact with Rathish Balakrishnan

A Sattva Initiative
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Welcome to Decoding Impact, a social impact podcast hosted by Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Sattva Consulting. Through Decoding Impact, we aim to spotlight critical societal issues, the solutions currently available and the substantial barriers and trade offs that exist today to achieve them. Thought-provoking conversations with innovators, experts and leaders from civil society, business and government and offers a unique platform to spotlight tangible solutions to achieving societal impact. Join the journey, let's decode impact, one conversation at a time.

  1. Every Indian deserves good health (not just healthcare) ft. Dr Srinath Reddy

    JAN 29

    Every Indian deserves good health (not just healthcare) ft. Dr Srinath Reddy

    Episode 5 | Decoding Impact - Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Dr K. Srinath Reddy, Cardiologist & Founder, Public Health Foundation of India, Recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2005 We’re consulting doctors over video calls. Tracking our sleep on smartwatches. Decoding health reports in seconds on ChatGPT. Technology is reshaping how we learn about and engage with healthcare. With information at our fingertips, it’s tempting to assume that tech is automatically advancing health equity, the right of every individual to live as healthily as possible. But health equity isn’t just about access to healthcare services. In its truest sense, it’s about circumstances, recognising how social determinants like class, caste, gender, and environmental exposure shape health outcomes long before someone enters a clinic. India’s urban mobile phone penetration stands at 125%; however rural penetration is only 58.8% (Mapping India’s Digital Landscape - Mobile Connectivity and Its Impact on Rural India, Affandy Johan, Ookla, 2025). The digital divide is stark, spanning device ownership, internet access, and digital literacy. This raises a critical question: will technology bridge healthcare gaps, or risk widening them further? To unpack this complexity, we’re joined by Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, Founder and former President of the Public Health Foundation of India, to explore the nuanced intersection of health equity and technology. Topics of discussion 1. Introducing health equity in India, the role of technology, and Dr Srinath 2. Why health equity doesn’t end with healthcare access 3. New challenges to our healthcare system + the impact of climate change on health 4. How do we build state capacity to deliver quality, accessible healthcare? 5. What's coming up in health-tech & what impact can these innovations have? 6. Why contextual health data matters for accurate diagnoses 7. What risks does tech carry? Which gaps can it widen in healthcare? 8. How do we design an equitable health system using technology? 9. The role of digital public infrastructure & building state capacity 10. AI in healthcare (pros & cons) 11. Financing an equitable health system 12. The power of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts

    53 min
  2. 40% Indians at risk by 2030 |  How communities are fighting back

    JAN 7

    40% Indians at risk by 2030 |  How communities are fighting back

    Episode 4 | Decoding Impact - Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Dr Shraman Jha, CEO, Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) By 2030, India’s demand for water could be double the supply, according to NITI Aayog. Nearly 40% of the population may lack access to drinking water. The crisis is real, and solving it is only possible through collaboration. At the heart of India’s water challenge are farming communities. With  78–90% of freshwater routed to agriculture, they are among the worst affected by water insecurity, yet they hold deep, practical knowledge critical to managing water sustainably. When communities lead water management, it doesn’t just conserve water; it can also empower women to take ownership of budgeting, conservation, and local decision-making. In this essential episode of Decoding Impact, Rathish Balakrishnan and Dr Shraman Jha break down: What water security really meansHow data enables smarter water decisionsHow to design community-led interventions that workWhy livelihoods and conservation don’t have to be trade-offs Grounded in real-world experiences and case studies, this must-watch discussion reinforces the importance of centring communities. When impact practitioners work with communities in ways that resonate with their lived realities, it could unlock pathways to lasting water security Key topics discussed: 1. India’s water gaps & the vision of Hindustan Unilever Foundation 2. Water shortages impact us all, but it’s an invisible problem! 3. What is water security actually? 4. The regional realities of water in India 5. Engaging communities through water data & demonstration 6. How rural women are championing water budgets 7. The beautiful tradition of Halma 8. How much water data is currently available? 9. Aligning stakeholders in the ecosystem + metrics for outcomes + collaboration model 10. Common agenda, independent action

    49 min
  3. Is it really possible to fight climate change? | Climate action starts with #climatefinance

    11/27/2025

    Is it really possible to fight climate change? | Climate action starts with #climatefinance

    Episode 3 | Decoding Impact – Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Shilpa Kumar, Managing Director & Head of India, British International Investment India needs $2.5 trillion by 2030 to reach its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - climate action plans submitted under the Paris Agreement. As the climate crisis worsens, the role of climate finance and especially Development Finance Institutions, in becoming a catalyst for transformative solutions is more important than ever. In this illuminating episode, Shilpa Kumar decodes climate finance: its purpose, gaps, and types of funders. From smart metres to the Mumbai metro, she draws on her own work to offer sharp perspectives on solving for climate change at scale. Through their complementary experiences and viewpoints, Rathish and Shilpa bring context-rich insights on India’s climate landscape, while exchanging stories that show it is possible to combat climate change. Key Topics Discussed 1. Current state of climate finance (India and internationally), the existing gaps, and the role DFIs play 2. Enabling tailwinds for climate finance 3. Climate interventions in mobility 4. What initiatives are powered under climate finance? 5. The case of smart metres: the importance of last-mile distribution 6. How to manage the perceived risk of climate investment 7. How India can attract more capital for climate action 8. Adaptation & resilience - gaps, stories, and climate financing for it 9. Why MSMEs struggle to go green 10. State capacity at the city level 11. Role of philanthropy in climate finance

    58 min
  4. Beyond free bus rides | Panic button & posters for safe transit | Small acts challenge patriarchy

    11/06/2025

    Beyond free bus rides | Panic button & posters for safe transit | Small acts challenge patriarchy

    Episode 2 | Decoding Impact – Season 4   Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guests: Sohini Bhattacharya, Independent Consultant - Gender and Leadership & Senior Advisor, Accelerator for Shifting Gender Norms Through Education Erin Ganju, Managing Director - Accelerator for Shifting Gender Norms through Education What are gender norms? How do they impact a woman’s ability to work or study? And most importantly, can they be changed?In this episode of #DecodingImpact, Sohini Bhattacharya and Erin Ganju weigh in with deep insights, inspirational stories, and moving anecdotes drawn from their decades-long experience in working with communities and shifting gender norms. The conversation explores the reality of deeply embedded norms, the negative impact of women’s limited participation in the workforce, and the role of all stakeholders - from schools to families - in bringing about societal transformation. Key Topics Discussed Understanding gender norms The negative impact of women’s limited participation in the workforce on families, communities, and nations Gender norms are hard to change, but it’s possible Engaging adolescents in important conversations How patriarchy also harms boys and men The role of schools, teachers, and parents Mobilising communities to support gender equality How systems and organisations can drive lasting change

    1h 17m
  5. Transforming India’s State Capacity with Mission Karmayogi | Real Challenge of State Capacity

    10/09/2025

    Transforming India’s State Capacity with Mission Karmayogi | Real Challenge of State Capacity

    Episode 1 | Decoding Impact – Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Dr. R. Balasubramaniam (Dr. Balu), Member–HR, Capacity Building Commission (Government of India) and Chairperson, Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee (SEBI)This thought-provoking episode of Decoding Impact spotlights the evolution of state capacity in India and its critical role in India's development. It features an in-depth conversation with Dr Balu, an acclaimed development scholar, author, and founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), as he shares powerful insights from over four decades of work spanning grassroots development, advising major institutions, and shaping public policy from within the system.Together, they explore the paradoxes of India’s relationship with its government, the tension between public reliance and skepticism, the evolution of the state from a colonial apparatus to a citizen-centric enabler, and the deep-rooted challenge of building effective state capacity.Rathish and Dr. Balu also unpack the historical, philosophical, and practical lessons behind public administration in India, with reflections from the Ramayana to the present-day Mission Karmayogi initiative.Key Topics Discussed1. The true meaning and evolution of state capacity in India2. Why “training is for circus animals”, rethinking capacity building beyond repetitive skills3. Lessons from India’s heritage on governance4. The shift from individual heroism in bureaucracies to system-wide effectiveness5. Why civil service competencies must be rooted in historical and cultural contexts6. The on-ground realities: workforce shortages and systemic performance barriers in public service7. How Mission Karmayogi aims to future-proof India’s civil services for a tech-enabled, citizen-centered future8. The shared responsibility of citizens and the state in nation-building#StateCapacity #Governance #India #PublicPolicy #SocialImpact #MissionKarmayogi #Leadership #podcast

    46 min

  6. 11/26/2024

    Are jobs in India pulling people out of poverty? ft. Manish Sabharwal

    From the macro to the micro and everything in between, in this episode of Decoding Impact, Manish Sabharwal illuminates the economics of India's current job market and the systemic levers needed to thrust India into grasping its full potential as an economy, society and nation. As one of the foremost experts on India's job market and the plight of Education in India today, Manish shares his expert insights, critical frameworks, and orbit-shifting views on how India can address its challenges at scale across its diverse geography, complex beaurocracy, and challenging education system. Some of the key insights he shares with host Rathish Balakrishnan include: • India does not have an unemployment issue, but a wages issue & there are five key levers where this can be addressed • However, across these five drivers regulatory cholesterol is a key limiting factor to India's labour market • Addressing the discrepancies between formality and informality means solving for poverty • Moving beyond the current drudgery in education requires five key design principles • Apprenticeships need to play a more significant role in how India is skilling its future workforce • We need clarity of vision in what education is giving children in India, which includes the traditional three "r's", but also important soft skills Manish elucidates each insight with clarifying data and global comparisons to ground the Indian story of where our labour market is today, and where it could be in as little as five years time with certain critical changes. Tune into the latest episode from season three of Decoding Impact today! Manish Sabharwal is is Vice-Chairman of TeamLease Services, one of India’s leading staffing and human capital firm. Additionally, he co-founded India Life, an HR outsourcing company in 1996, and is a member of the National Skill Mission, Central Advisory Board of Education and has served on various policy committees for education, employment and employability.

    1h 11m
  7. Powering Prosperity: Emerging Promise of DPIs in India's Energy Sector ft. Dr Nikit Abhyankar

    09/19/2024

    Powering Prosperity: Emerging Promise of DPIs in India's Energy Sector ft. Dr Nikit Abhyankar

    The Indian energy sector is at a critical juncture. Electricity consumption, a key indicator of economic growth, has grown significantly over the past 50-60 years, and India is primed to leapfrog into a sustainably powered future. This transition calls for a robust policy foundation, technological advancements in demand-supply and storage mechanisms, and a keen study of economic incentives for users of green energy. In this episode of Decoding Impact, Rathish Balakrishnan is in conversation with scientist Dr. Nikit Abhyankar to unpack the unique opportunity India has, to transition to renewable energy, with economic viability and technological feasibility at the centre. Through this conversation, you will learn about: • The interplay between energy consumption and economic growth; • The potential for the energy sector to leapfrog mirroring India's telecom boom; • The policy environment, key shifts necessary in demand management, and • The role of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in facilitating efficient energy transactions. Tune into this latest episode of Decoding Impact today! Dr Nikit Abhyankar is a Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and a Senior Scientist at the Center for Environmental Public Policy of the University of California, Berkeley. Dr Abhyankar has conducted extensive research and policy analysis on a range of key energy issues such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and energy access in the United States and key emerging economies such as India, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. He regularly advises governments, regulators, and utilities in multiple countries on designing clean energy policies and programs. Guest: Dr Nikit Abhyankar Host: Rathish Balakrishnan Producer: Meenakshi Iyer Produced by: Pickle Jar Media Explore some of our SKI products related to this topic: Enabling Energy Transition Through Open Networks Green Roads Ahead: Decoding India's EV and Digital Public Infrastructure ft. Akhil JP & Arun VinayakDigital Public Goods Glossary

    1 hr
  8. Are we settling for less in India's Education system? ft. Akshay Saxena & Vandana Goyal

    08/14/2024

    Are we settling for less in India's Education system? ft. Akshay Saxena & Vandana Goyal

    With the recent Union Budget announcement allocating ₹1.48 lakh crore to education, employment, and skilling, one question we continue to grapple with in the impact ecosystem, but in Education especially, is whether money is enough to really achieve the outcomes needed? Since Independence, Education has been the cornerstone of growth, development, and perhaps most importantly, hope for the nation. Yet, after so many decades of interventions, well-intentioned individual efforts, and the collective intent across philanthropy, the corporate sector, and government, why is Education in India still falling short of excellence? In this episode of Decoding Impact, through a rich and powerful discussion with expert guests from Avanti Fellows, Akshay Saxena, Co-founder & co-CEO, & Vandana Goyal, Managing Trustee & co-CEO, host Rathish Balakrishnan delves into challenges across scale, systems, and gender in Education today to understand what it will take to truly scale excellence in India's education system. Explore some of our SKI products related to this topic: • Decoding ASER for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes with Dr Rukmini Banerji • Decoding Mafias, National Heroes, and the role of Government in Education ft. Anil Swarup • Barriers to Breakthroughs: Encouraging Girls’ Participation in STEM Education Guests: Akshay Saxena & Vandana Goyal Host: Rathish Balakrishnan Producer: Meenakshi Iyer Produced by: Pickle Jar Media

    1h 20m
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About

Welcome to Decoding Impact, a social impact podcast hosted by Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Sattva Consulting. Through Decoding Impact, we aim to spotlight critical societal issues, the solutions currently available and the substantial barriers and trade offs that exist today to achieve them. Thought-provoking conversations with innovators, experts and leaders from civil society, business and government and offers a unique platform to spotlight tangible solutions to achieving societal impact. Join the journey, let's decode impact, one conversation at a time.

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