President honours grassroot innovators

AHMEDABAD: A breathing based apparatus, a travel bag with seat, a coconut tree climber and a crutch with shock absorber are among the many unique, innovative products that won an award at the 7th National Biennial Awards hosted by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF).
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee gave away the awards to the best grassroots innovators of the country in an event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 7, 2013.These grassroots innovators were identified for recognition by NIF during its competition, which ran from Feb 1, 2009 to Mar 31, 2011 and saw over to 19, 000 submissions for the same.
The award function was organised at Sports Ground, Near Rashtrapati Bhavan Auditorium. A total of 54 awards were given to 64 innovators and 5 community representatives in the function. Pranab Mukherjee gave away the 20 National and one lifetime achievement award. He also inaugurated the Innovations' Exhibition at the venue, which will be open from 8 to 12 March, 2013 for the public. During the function, in addition to the life time achievement and national awards one posthumous, eight states, seventeen consolation, one diffusion, seven partnership, three media and one scout award were also given.
Four innovators were also given certificate of appreciation for their work. On the occasion, the second edition of the book 'India Innovates' was also released.
Among the innovators who won the award are Dharamveer Singh Kamboj from Haryana who developed a machine for processing juice and essential oils useful to the food and pharma industry, Lalbiakzuala Ralte and Lalpiangliana Biakthuama Sailo from Mizoram and Paresh Panchal from Gujarat for their joint innovation of bamboo stripper cum splinter, Arvindbhai Patel from Gujarat for natural water cooler, KS Sudheer from Kerala for an auto rickshaw suitable for lower limb physically challenge.
These awards have been decided after a rigorous screening at different levels. All the entries were subjected to technical and patent prior art search to ascertain the novelty, distinction and cost effectiveness. The Research Advisory Committee comprising the Heads of the top R&D institutions, experts from engineering, agricultural and veterinary colleges, vice chancellors of various universities from all parts of India screened the short-list of potential awardees.
NIF, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has been actively engaged in promoting creativity and innovation in our
society through volunteers of Honey Bee Network. Its primary aim is to recognize, respect and reward grassroots technological innovators and traditional knowledge experts through which it endeavors to build a national register of green grassroots technological innovations and traditional knowledge practices.