By Rashmi Rekha Das
Imagine a world where farmers can detect crop diseases before they spread, and children with learning disabilities receive personalized support to unlock their full potential. This vision becomes a reality thanks to Rishikesh Amit Nayak, a young innovator from Odisha, India. With his groundbreaking creations, Kishan Know and Jiveesha, Rishikesh is transforming the lives of farmers and children, showcasing the power of innovation and technology.
Rishikesh’s journey began with a personal connection to agriculture, witnessing his grandfather struggle with crop failure due to bacterial attacks. This experience inspired him to develop an AI-powered tool, Kishan Know, which detects plant diseases and predicts crop failure up to 12 days in advance. Priced at just ₹85 per acre per month, this innovative solution has empowered over 3,000 farmers to take proactive measures, reducing crop losses and improving yields.
On the partnership front, Jiveesha maintains a cross-sectoral coalition of collaborators. The Rotary Club of Dharwad Heritage has committed to facilitating 10,000 free student screenings and supporting national and global scale-up. Clinical validation is supported by DIMHANS (Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences), while field-level implementations are actively co-led with inclusive institutions like Sankalp Open School (Chennai), Brio Special Education (Bhubaneswar), and non-profits like Arunabh (Madhya Pradesh). Medical access and research support are enabled through Shreeya Hospitals & Nursing College. Furthermore, Jiveesha partners with NIMHR (National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation) for expert guidance and collaborative deployments.
Through this blend of government, non-profit, and private sector alliances, Jiveesha is building a robust ecosystem to enable inclusive education and neurodevelopmental care at scale—nationally and globally.
In a conversation with Ommcom News, Rishikesh Amit Nayak, the visionary behind Jiveesha, shares insights into his latest AI-driven EdTech tool that’s transforming the educational landscape for children with Specific Learning Disabilities. With Jiveesha, Rishikesh aims to bridge the gap in education by providing personalized support and early screening, empowering children to reach their full potential. Let’s dive into the details of this groundbreaking innovation and what Rishikesh has to share about his journey and vision.
Talking about his latest innovation, Rishikesh said, “At Jiveesha, we’ve designed a comprehensive approach to support children with neurodivergence disorders. Our platform enables early identification of neurodivergence, allowing for timely intervention – we can start screening as early as 18 months.”
“One of the key features of Jiveesha is its multilingual accessibility. Powered by Bhashini and AI, our platform offers voice-based, gamified screening tools in multiple Indian languages, making it accessible to children from diverse backgrounds. Our gamified assessments are story-driven, which helps reduce test anxiety and promotes child participation without stigma. This approach makes the screening process engaging and fun for children. Once we’ve identified areas of strength and weakness, our AI-driven personalized remediation plan kicks in. We provide continuous learning through our inclusive learning browser, ensuring that each child receives tailored support”, he explained.
He further said, “What sets us apart is our real-time behaviour monitoring feature. We track physiological and behavioral cues to increase the accuracy of our screenings, giving us a more holistic understanding of each child’s needs. We focus on rural, tribal, and low-income communities where screening and support are often inaccessible. Jiveesha’s design makes it usable by teachers, anganwadi workers, and caregivers—no clinical expertise required.”
Rishikesh’s Jiveesha is not just a pioneering effort in India, but a beacon of hope for the world. By aligning with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, and Digital India initiative, Jiveesha is setting a precedent for inclusive neurodevelopmental care globally. With ambitious plans to expand to countries like the UK, US, Africa, Australia, and Switzerland, Rishikesh is truly breaking down borders and fostering a more inclusive world for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Feats And Accolades
- Recognized by India AI Mission: Rishikesh’s Jiveesha is part of the IndiaAI FutureDesign Cohort, a national-level innovation in AI for public good.
- Secured HDFC Parivartan Grant: Rishikesh received financial support for inclusive tech deployment and field validation in underserved regions.
- Startup Mahakumbh 2024 Achievement: Rishikesh’s Jiveesha was selected among the Top 5 Startups in AI for Public Good.
- Startup Mahakumbh 2025 Winner: Rishikesh won the AI, DeepTech & Cyber Category under Startup Maharathi.
- Bhashini Collaboration: Rishikesh partnered Jiveesha with India’s public language infrastructure for multilingual expansion.
- Invited Speaker: Rishikesh spoke at the AI for Empowering PwDs Conference, recognized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India.
