Press Release for the award ceremony:

Shri. K. C. Pant, Deputy Chair, Planning Commission would be giving away the First Annual Awards of National Innovation Foundation (NIF) to the innovators for their grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge at the function to be held at IARI Auditorium, Pusa Campus, New Delhi on 29th November 2001. Most of these innovations have been developed without any outside help of public or private or NGO sector institutions. If these innovators could achieve so much without any outside help, how much more they could contribute when supported by formal R&D and other institutions. The NIF's mission is to make India innovative and a global leader in sustainable technologies by building upon the genius of grassroots technological innovators and outstanding traditional knowledge experts, protecting their intellectual property rights and converting innovations into commercial and non-commercial enterprise.

Dr.R.A. Mashelkar, Chairperson, NIF and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research would present the vision of NIF and its strategy to meet the formidable challenge of making India innovative and knowledge intensive society.

Prof.V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology would preside over and Smt. Elaben Bhat, Founder of Self-Employed Women Association would be the guest of honour. She would highlight that the task of making India a knowledge society cannot be complete unless the drudgery in every day life of women can be eliminated and not just reduced.

The innovators from all over the country would be gathering during November 29-30, 2001 at IARI auditorium Pusa, New Delhi to receive their awards and discuss the ways in which policy and institutional pace in the country can be expanded to accommodate their urge to break the status quo. NIF had received 998 entries from twenty-four states and union territories including about 1600 innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge examples. Twenty eight national and state level prizes have been given for plant varieties, farm machinery, other machineries, herbal drugs, artisanal, food processing, energy conservation, etc. In addition, sixty consolation prizes have been given to the innovators as well as to some of the selected scouts. 

NIF has also decided to set up four more GIANs (Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network) in four different regions of the country in addition to expanding the scope of GIAN Gujarat into GIAN west. These GIANs will act as incubators and help in converting innovations into enterprises by adding value through R&D, market research, business planning and design inputs. They will also help in filing patents on behalf of the grassroots innovators and facilitate licensing of technologies to interested entrepreneurs not only in India but also abroad. NIF will also organize clearinghouses to connect innovators, investors and entrepreneurs periodically. It is true that with limited resources NIF may not be able to support many innovators financially. It is for this reason that NIF pleads for a national micro venture and incubation fund of at least 100 - 150 crores for augmenting grassroots innovations. 

Among many innovators who are receiving prizes during the award function, experience of a few is described here. 

Amruthbhai from Pikhor village in Junagadh district, Gujarat has modified the conventional pulley with locking mechanism that prevents a bucket with water from sliding back into the well when left midway. This allows the women to gasp for the breath and also prevents bucket falling into the well if the grip gets loosened somehow.

Mr. Bhandari in Karnataka has been given first prize for developing an arecanut peeler, which can process 20 Kg. arecanut in one hour. 

Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav from Uttar Pradesh has developed a multi purpose, multi fuel pump which can be operated by human power, bullock, diesel or electricity. IIT Kanpur has found it very efficient. 

Mr. Usha Shankar Bhattacharya from West Bengal has got first prize for developing energy saving kerosene stove. 

Motorcycle based ploughing machine developed by Shri.Mansukhbhai Jagani is a versatile 5.5 HP device to perform various farm operations. For small farmers who cannot afford to keep bullocks because of fodder shortage in dry regions and cannot afford the tractor may find this device of great help. The motorcycle can be converted into ploughing machine within about 35 - 40 minutes and after use can be used again as motorcycle.

There are large number of other innovators including Dodhi Pathak from Assam who has developed bicycle of bamboo, who would gather in IARI campus during two days i.e., November 29-30, 2001. 

I would greatly appreciate if you would interact with the innovators and ensure that their voice gets heard so that their experiences can inspire many others to become part of the movement that Honey Bee Network and NIF are trying to launch in the country to make India innovative and a knowledge society.

The Second Annual Campaign for scouting grassroots unaided technological innovations and traditional knowledge examples is already on. The entries are invited till January 31, 2002 at NIF (Post Box NO.15051, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380 015).

An Inventors Association will also be inaugurated on the occasion.