Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed regret that the innovation system in the country focussed mostly on the needs of the rich, and called for measures to change the situation.
“In recent times, we have made several innovations in areas such as space technology, atomic energy and automobiles. But, innovation in our country has, by and large, focussed mostly on the needs of the upper income groups and not adequately on solving the problems of the poor and the under-privileged. We wish to and we must change this state of affairs.”
Dr. Singh was speaking at a function got up by the National Innovation Council (NInC) on its completion of one year of existence.
There was need for a model of innovation that addressed problems in areas such as poverty eradication, people' health, rural communications, development of agriculture and animal husbandry, green energy and similar other challenges, he noted.
Recalling the government's announcement of the current decade as a decade of innovation, he reiterated that the Centre considered innovation had a critical role to play in the processes of the country's economic and social growth and development.
“Indeed, we see innovation as a truly game-changer to move from incremental change to radical change. And, therefore, it is our resolve to build an enabling environment for innovation to flourish in our country.”
Dr. Singh said, “Our democracy, which has been deepening through panchayats and broadening through civil society action, gives an opportunity to multiply to multiple thoughts to contend with each other. Our diversity is an advantage as there is evidence that innovation happens when people with diverse talents engage in a common endeavour. And demographically, we are also a very youthful nation. The young people are restless, they are impatient for change and they are innovative. We need to exploit these enormous advantages.”
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced that the Centre would provide Rs. 100 crore as seed money for setting up an India Inclusive Innovation Fund to promote new ideas aimed at developing low-cost technologies for the benefit of the poor. The Fund is being set up by the NInC. He also announced that the Meta-university programme, proposed to be launched by the NInC, would go into operation from next year.
NInC chairperson Sam Pitroda told reporters that students would be tested for their competencies before enrolling for another programme in another university. The students would be able to use open source learning material from across the globe.
