IIT Madras Alumni Association launches mission to put ‘Million Smiles’ across world

The association aims to get 10% of its alumni-base to volunteer on societal impact initiatives and create positive impact in lives of at least a million people in India and the rest of the world in two years. 

The IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA) has launched a ‘Mission Million Smiles’ initiative to create a positive impact on the lives of at least one million people in India and rest of the world in two years. The association seeks to channelise the energy, resources and commitment of its alumni in achieving this objective. 

Another key initiative of IITMAA is the ‘Mission 5000 Ignited Minds’, which aims to get 10 per cent of the alumni as committed volunteers for its initiatives. The association has a total of 53,825 members, including 22,179 undergraduates and 31,646 postgraduates.  

Highlighting the key objectives behind the new missions, Krishnan Narayanan, president, IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA), said, “We are inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat address last year on the importance of alumni associations to the nation. The IITMAA ecosystem, comprising over 50,000 alumni, students and faculty, has the potential, knowledge and skills, and resources to become a powerful change agent. It is important for us to give back to India, and to our local communities. I urge our alumni to take the Mission Million Smiles Pledge at www.iitmaa.org.” 

The IITMAA’s societal impact initiatives will focus on areas such as science, technology and innovation interventions for the nation, mentoring students, water and sustainability, and women in STEM.  

Highlighting the unique aspects of IITMAA’s new initiatives, Shyamala Rajaram, Secretary, IITMAA, said: “The three pillars of focus for IITMAA are Community Spirit, Thought Leadership, and Societal Impact. We will be working with our alumni located across the world – through our 7 chapters in India, and multiple chapters in the United States, Singapore, and Europe – to kindle community spirit and deliver societal impact.”  

Read more: 

• IIT Madras declares HSEE 2021 results; direct link to check score here 
• Apply for IIT Madras research internship in artificial intelligence