Nar Seva Foundation Backs Ludhiana's Youth at the Dolphin Tank Social Startup Programme
Nar Seva Foundation was proud to stand alongside Ludhiana's youth at the mock presentation round of the Dolphin Tank Student Startup Programme, a social-innovation initiative that is quickly becoming one of the city's most exciting platforms for young changemakers. Held at Khalsa College for Women with the Gulabhar Group of Institutions, the round brought together more than 150 students who had spent weeks in the field learning how real NGOs in Ludhiana work.
A city-wide partnership for social innovation
The Dolphin Tank Student Startup Programme is run by City-Needs Innovation Pvt Ltd in collaboration with the District Administration, Ludhiana — its official partner — along with Nar Seva Foundation and several educational institutions. The programme was launched on 1 April 2026 by Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, with a clear aim: to boost youth-led social innovation and strengthen the collaboration between NGOs and educational institutions on the ground.
For Nar Seva Foundation, a Ludhiana NGO best known for its free dialysis centre and healthcare work, the programme is a natural fit. The same belief that drives the Foundation's day-to-day service — that no one should be left behind — is exactly what these students are being taught to build their ideas around.
27 teams, real problems, sustainable solutions
In this round, 27 teams presented social startup models. Rather than abstract business plans, each team had first visited local NGOs, spoken with community workers, field managers and beneficiaries, and then returned to present the genuine challenges those organisations face — along with sustainable, impactful solutions.
The jury weighed every pitch on the relevance of the problem, its impact potential, feasibility, budget justification, sustainability, and the team's own understanding and presentation. After a rigorous evaluation, the top 10 teams were shortlisted to advance to the grand finale before a panel of 18 “Dolphins”, where the top five teams will each receive a grant of ₹2,50,000 to implement their idea with their NGO partners.
Nar Seva Foundation on the jury
Nar Seva Foundation was represented on the selection panel by its Founder, BD Goyal; its Strategic Advisor & Director, Pankaj Garg; its Director, Bhavna Goyal; and its Manager, Aashu Chugh. They were joined by City-Needs founder Manit Dewan and Gulabhar Group of Institutions Chief Interview Officer Tilak Raj. You can read more about the people behind the Foundation on our About page.
Why this matters for education in Ludhiana
The programme is closely aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which champions experiential learning, community engagement, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary education. By pushing students out of the classroom and into the field, it helps them confront real-world social challenges and build leadership, innovation and problem-solving skills they will carry for life.
For Nar Seva Foundation, mentoring these young teams is an investment in Ludhiana's future — the same future its patients, students and volunteers are already part of. If a fresh generation of social entrepreneurs is learning to serve, the whole community wins.
Be part of the work
Whether you are a student, a professional or simply someone who wants to help, there is a place for you at Nar Seva Foundation. Volunteer, donate or spread awareness — every act of kindness brings hope. To learn more about our free dialysis centre and community programmes, get in touch with us.