Innovators from Gujarat in Commonwealth Science Council Meeting at South Africa
Recently the executive committee of the Commonwealth Science Council consisting of the Science and Technology Ministers of the member countries (54 countries) had a meeting in South Africa from 10th June to 11th June 2002 to discuss the role and activities of Commonwealth Science Council and formulate the plan for Commonwealth Knowledge Network (CKN). The Minister for Science, Technology and Ocean Development, Government of India, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi delivered the introductory speech. In his speech he emphasized the need to create a global knowledge pool for global good through global funding. He appreciated the theme chosen in the meeting regarding the experience sharing from other domains of knowledge, including traditional knowledge and knowledge generated by the grassroots innovators. In this context, he cited the example of National Innovation Foundation, India in giving a voice and recognition to such innovators.
Dr. Mashelkar, Secretary, DSIR & DG, CSIR, addressing the gathering, suggested to bridge the gap between the formal as well as informal sector of science and technology in the commonwealth countries for achieving time bound and better developmental results.
In this meeting for the development of the commonwealth countries the importance of concentrating on grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge as a focal point for CKN was felt. At the end of the meeting the ministerial gathering passed on the resolution, which included the replication of Honey Bee Network activities in the member countries.
It is a matter of pride for India and especially for Gujarat in this meeting Ahmedabd based Honey Bee Network (Sristi, GIAN, NIF) philosophy was followed by CKN by the countries to start with. Three innovators from Gujarat, Amrutlal bhai Agrawat, Mansukh Bhai Jagani, Bhanji bhai Mathukia, took part in this meeting. Before the meeting for two weeks, these innovators stayed and interacted with Techniven Engineering College at Venda in Northern province at South Africa. The exchanged the technology with the professors and students and jointly made Donkey Cart, Groundnut Digger, Janak Santi (Improved Harrow) and Cycle Operated Sprayer (for herbal pesticides) suitable for the South African farmers.
Influenced by the example of setting up of GIAN and NIF by SRISTI, the Government of Northern Province of South Africa invited Honey Bee Network establish the same kind of organizations in their state, country and in other developing countries of Commonwealth. Under the guidance and leadership of Prof. Anil K. Gupta, the president of SRISTI and coordinator of Honey Bee Network, his team and the innovators together organized an exhibition at Petersberg from 12th to 14th June 2002 on the grassroots innovations. In this exhibition, a number of examples reflecting the the philosophy of Honey Bee Network, Innovations, Traditional Knowledge Practices and Multimedia Multilingual Database made by SRISTI was presented. The local leaders of South Africa, different ministers of Science and Technology of different countries appreciated this exhibition. The common people of South Africa gave good appreciations to the innovators and their work. Especially the Prime Minister of the Northern Province and the director of ARC of South Africa, welcomed and gave due recognition to the work done by Honey Bee Network, the innovators and the team in their province.
It was pride for Gujarat that in this meeting of Commonwealth countries, for the first time three innovators, unsung heroes of our society from rural areas got exposure at the global level. Also they realized that the less educated people from the village could also come up with radical innovations and contribute in the development of the nation.