| More
Information |
|
|
|
|
| Category |
Nineth National Biennial Grassroots Innovation Awards |
|
|
| Details |
4th March 2017, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New DelhiOut of 33,000 + entries received, shortlisting was a tedious exercise pursued at National Innovation Foundation. To finalise the awards for Nineth National Biennial Competition, NIF organized the National Regional Advisory Committees or RAC meetings at IIM Ahmedabad. During these meetings, 54 engineering innovations, 16 practices related to human health, 11 to veterinary health and 24 plant varieties/ innovations/ practices related to agriculture were presented before the experts. The experts evaluated the innovations on various criteria like novelty, practicality, social applicability, drudgery reduction, environment friendliness, quality of validation reports, user feedback, etc. The final list of 105 ideas, innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge practices were presented before the RACs. “We aim to reach 700 odd districts of the country so that no region will remain untapped for creativity at the grassroots level,†said Professor Anil Gupta. He also thanked the President for giving a new stature to grassroots voices.The President, presented the ninth National Biennial Awards for Grassroots Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the opening day of the week-long ‘Festival of Innovations.’The awards were given in four categories viz. Life time Achievement (1) National (15), State (12), Consolation and appreciation (26) awards. Along with the grassroots innovators, awards were also given to scouts identifying innovators from different parts of the country with one scout being given the award posthumously. Journalists were felicitated for their support to the grassroots innovations movement, and a Research and Development institute and a KVK for helping in verification/validation of technologies. “The fact that everyone is someone. The fact that India does not have just one point three billion mouths but one point three billion minds,†Dr Mashelkar said. CSIR, DBT , ICMR and several other national institutions are also coming together to support and partner in this grassroots innovations movement. He focused on the need to spread this wave of innovation among young minds. “A million ideas at the rate of two ideas per school from 4.5 lakh schools is what we are aiming at,†he added. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that in the present scenario, where the global economy continues to remain weak and lack of industrial growth is leading to joblessness, even in emerging economies, the Gandhian model of decentralised, distributed and diversified innovation-based enterprises is perhaps the best way forward to solve the problems. Stressing that Gandhiji had always wanted to blend modern science and technology with community knowledge and institutions, President Mukherjee said that the former’s message has become extremely relevant in today’s context.“To further enrich the ecosystem around inclusive innovations, we need all public and private systems around grassroots innovations to become empathetic enablers. And we need to do it, not just for India, but for the whole world,†said the President Mukherjee.The President’s visit to the Innovation Exhibition of grassroots innovators enthused the innovator immensly. The exhibition hosted over 70 innovators from across the country. He also met with the innovation scholars, artists and writers, who were staying in Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of In-Residence Programme. |
|
|
| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 28(1) 11-12, 2017 |
