Abstract: In this lecture, Dr. Seetha Ram Kallidaikurichi Easwaran explores how innovative urban and regional development policies can help India to become of one of Asia and the Pacific high-income economies while ensuring resilience and equity. He highlights four essential infrastructure sectors—transport, energy, digital, and water & sanitation—and draws lessons from success stories in Singapore and Korea. The lecture emphasizes urban resilience, especially in light of COVID-19, and introduces the “Eight Ws” framework: Water, Waste, Walk, Work, Wealth, Women, Wisdom, and World Society’s Culture. Dr. K.E. Seetha Ram discusses financing models that capture infrastructure spillovers and the role of frugality and philanthropy in sustainable growth. He also presents future scenarios, including India’s Mission LiFE, which showcases the power of behavioral change. The lecture concludes with a call to action for universities and communities to lead with compassion, innovation, and wisdom in building healthier urban and economic futures.
About the speaker: Dr. K.E. Seetha Ram is a seasoned international development leader with more than three decades of experience. He is a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo, a Fellow at the ADB Institute, and task manager for its partnership with the Gates Foundation. He also advises East Japan Railways Company on India’s high speed rail program. His global roles include co-chairing the high speed rail group of the World Conference on Transport Research Society and serving as an associate editor of Water Policy, the journal of the World Water Council.
For 15 years, Dr. K.E. Seetha Ram has focused on research and teaching that explore how philanthropy and private finance can support quality public infrastructure in Asia. From 2008 to 2012, he served at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy as an ADB visiting professor and founding director of the Institute of Water Policy and the NUS Global Asia Institute. His publications cover infrastructure, transport, sanitation, water management, and climate issues.
In 2024, Dr. K.E. Seetha Ram was named an Associate Member of The Club of Rome for his work on global development challenges. He has contributed to more than 30 development assistance projects across Asia and Africa. He also mentors future leaders through programs at the University of Tokyo and capacity building work at the ADB Institute.