On Monday, an India-centric, voice-first AI innovation, MEGHA (Meghalaya E-Governance Human-centred Assistance), secured the first prize at the Kennedy AI for Good Hackathon, organised by Harvard Kennedy School.
MEGHA is an AI-driven, toll-free platform designed to help marginalised citizens easily access government schemes using basic mobile phones. The solution highlights the potential of responsible AI in promoting digital inclusion and governance, especially in rural India.
The MEGHA team included Manish Maheshwari, former Head of Twitter India, co-founder of an AI-focused startup, and currently a Harvard Fellow; Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy; Mohammed Y Safirulla K, an IAS officer and digital governance expert; Manudev Jain, an IRS officer and Harvard student; and Ashish Tiwari, an IPS officer and Fulbright Scholar.
After winning the award, Maheshwari emphasised the importance of using AI to solve real-world problems, writing on LinkedIn: “In today’s world, it’s not about building something flashy — it’s about solving something real. The true power of AI lies in thoughtfully connecting proven technologies to urgent human needs. As implementation costs fall, AI’s ability to unlock dignity, opportunity, and inclusion for millions becomes one of the greatest forces for good of our time.”
Dr. Jain also highlighted MEGHA’s mission to bridge information and digital literacy gaps, writing on LinkedIn: “MEGHA is a toll-free, voice-first solution designed to bridge information asymmetry and digital-literacy barriers for rural citizens seeking government schemes. By grounding every response in verified official documents, MEGHA delivers honest, concise guidance in plain conversational language.”
The hackathon showcased Harvard’s commitment to promoting AI for digital inclusion and ensuring technology serves the global public good. MEGHA’s success also reinforces the role of human-centered AI in advancing initiatives like Digital India and Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.
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