FIVE MEMBERS FROM NAGALAND ATTENDS FESTIVAL OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT NEW DELHI  

Five members from Nagaland attended the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship from 10th -13th April, 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, organised by the Department of Science & Technology and National Innovation Foundation-India. Three of the members are grass root innovators.

Five round tables on different aspects of innovation were held as part of the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE), organised by National Innovation Foundation, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and inaugurated on 10th April 2023 by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.

The roundtables theme was on scaling up and commercialization of innovations, innovations for wealth creation and employment, inclusive and sustainable development, healthcare innovations, as well as energy and environment, brought together policymakers from the Government, sector-specific institutions, farmers, innovators, entrepreneurs, start-up founders, academicians, representatives from industry and incubators.

Contemporary issues and solutions for scaling up and commercialization were discussed at the round table chaired by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, former Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, and Co-Chaired by Dr. Gulshan Rai, former National Cyber Security Coordinator, in the Office of Prime Minister. Mr. Dhanendra Kumar, former Executive Director, The World Bank; former, Chairperson, Competition Commission of India; former Secretary to Government of India - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), Defence Production & Culture, as well as representatives from Flipkart, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Sequoia Capital, ISRO, Qualcomm, Deloitte, Orion Innovation (Education vertical), Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), NABVENTURES, Amazon India, Samunnati Financial Intermediation & Services Private Limited, The World Bank, participated in it.

All the top sixty student innovators from India participated in the event amongst where Temsujungla Jamir, INSPIRE awardee top 60 National Level represented Nagaland. She has appeared her 12th Science exam from Mayangnokcha GHSS, Mokokchung. She is an aspiring young scientist in the making.

Lanu L Jamir, 2019 NIF Awardee - ELC, Zip sound system and Electronic Load Controller, also the awardee of 2020 Millennium Alliance clean energy, FICCI New Delhi. An innovator, Jamir cleared his PU. Sc. from Bangalore. He has a wide range of exposure ranging from carpentry, software and hardware, sound systems, etc. He also participated in Indonesia and Malaysia on programmes organised by Hydro empowerment network SE Asia in the capacity as an ELC technician. NEPeD Nagaland Empowermemt for energy development helped him to start up. His machine is patented, he has sold and installed his machine at Sakri village in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya and the same machine was installed in Sikkim, Martin town before reaching Gangtok,. He now resides in Aoyim village in Dimapur and is the proprietor of Zip Engineering & Innovation Centre.

Lanu L Jamir has given a free idea for Nagaland especially for the benefit of Kohima and Dimapur citizens to meet the water and electricity shortages. He quips that water and electricity problem will be solved if multiple micro hydrogers are installed at different locations and with the water tapped from Dzukou is brought down by gravity towards Kohima and Doyang water to Dimapur, it will bring much relief for water and generate enough electricity for the industries and domestic homes too. He also made a short presentation in the meeting in the presence of the Hon’ble President of India.

Rev. I Sunep Lkr from Yaongyimsem village, came up with an innovative machine - pineapple peeler, and aptly named it as small pineapple lathe machine NIF- 2018 awardee. He is pastoring in Champa Baptist Church since 2006. He is of the opinion that real economic liberation will take place if churches come up with socio-economic projects. He received a memento and certificate from President of India, Droupadi Murmu.

Selichum Sangtam, a humble farmer with brilliant mind from Tuensang and an NIF- 2018 awardee. He has been displaying three times in a row and is a member of Better Life Foundation, an NGO working for farmers. He developed tools to safely pluck cardamom capsules and also to prune the plant. These tools can be used effectively in cleaning and harvesting cardamom. He also received a memento and certificate from the President of India.

The past years, there has been a decline in nominations for INSPIRE-MANAK scheme in schools across Nagaland. Therefore, State Council of Educational Research & Training Nagaland, Kohima will be organizing training for schools heads for nomination of Children to INSPIRE-MANAK scheme soon. SCERT also extended its appreciating for the continuous support and encouragement extended by the Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi and National Innovation Foundation-India, Gujarat.

                                                                                                (DIPR)