Saurabh Srivastava

Indian social innovator empowering marginalized communities through identity rights

Saurabh Srivastava: Building Digital Bridges for the Excluded

Founder of Banyan Nation, Saurabh Srivastava has transformed lives of India's 1.76 million homeless population since 2012. Born in 1985 in Delhi, Srivastava's work addresses systemic exclusion through technology and legal advocacy. His organization has issued Aadhaar-linked IDs to 120,000+ homeless individuals, enabling access to healthcare, banking, and government benefits.

Innovative Solutions

Banyan Nation's Digital Empowerment Platform uses biometric scans and blockchain to create tamper-proof IDs. This system integrates with India's Aadhaar database, ensuring legal recognition. Srivastava also pioneered Street Vendor Digital Cards that helped 30,000+ vendors secure licenses during the 2020 lockdowns.

Policy Impact

Srivastava's advocacy led to amendments in India's Homeless Persons Act, mandating state governments to provide temporary shelters. His Right to Shelter campaign influenced Karnataka's 2021 policy allocating ₹500 crore for community kitchens and housing. He co-authored the World Bank Homelessness Report highlighting tech-based solutions.

Global Influence

In 2019, Srivastava received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and spoke at the UN Habitat Assembly. His model inspired similar initiatives in Kenya and Bangladesh. He mentors startups through the Inclusive Tech Lab, which has supported 50+ social enterprises since 2018.

Srivastava's TED Talk "How to give the invisible a voice" has 1.8 million views. His work bridges technology and human rights, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).