GUWAHATI, Aug 17 - A workshop for mainstreaming grassroots innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge from the aspiring districts of Assam was held at Regional Science Centre here recently.
The workshop was sponsored jointly by the Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC) and the National Innovative Foundation (NIF).
The proposed scheme would involve seven districts of Assam � Barpeta (Bhabanipur and Gobardhana blocks), Baksa (Mushalpur and Tamulpur blocks), Darrang (Sipajhar block), Dhubri (Brisinjorua block), Goalpara (Kharmuja and Matia blocks), Hailakandi (Algapur block) and Udalguri (Mazbat and Udalguri blocks).
The district and block Aryabhatta Science Centres of the districts concerned under the supervision of ASTEC will implement projects in the districts and blocks. The main idea behind the move is to find out innovative ideas of children of the six to 17-year age group.
The selected new innovative ideas in the field of traditional knowledge, and methods and household activities will be examined at the district, State and national levels. NIF will give shape to all such selected innovative ideas in the form of machines or instrument at government expenditure, but the patent will remain in the name of the children and they will be paid accordingly.
The workshop was attended by all the seven district and ten block coordinators of Aryabhatta Science Centres under ASTEC.
The welcome speech was given by Dr Ranjit Kumar Barman, HoD, Science & Technology Division, ASTEC. He explained various activities undertaken by NIF and ASTEC to bring out new innovative ideas from children.
Dr Arup Kumar Misra, Director, ASTEC, while attending the workshop as the chief guest, said that 115 out of 680 districts of India had been identified by NIF to implement the new scheme and seven districts in Assam selected among the districts.
The workshop was addressed by Dr Nitin Maura and Dr Vivek Kumar from NIF as resource persons. Biman Barua, Senior Scientific Officer, ASTEC, conducted the proceedings of the workshop.
Science organiser Jayanta Kumar Das, among others, also attended the event.
