Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 2: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the Modi Government is for the first time recognizing and promoting grassroots innovators in India. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), which operates under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India via a virtual platform, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to combining traditional Indian knowledge with advanced technology under the slogan ‘Virasat Bhi Aur Vikas Bhi.’
During the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled a commemorative postal stamp, a magazine titled ‘Innovation Frontline,’ and a coffee table book.
The Union Minister stressed the importance of rural innovation in bolstering India’s economy, asserting that innovations emerging from remote villages must be scaled up to provide equitable opportunities and resources comparable to those in urban areas.
He praised India’s remarkable progress from being identified as one of the ‘Fragile Five’ to becoming one of the ‘First Five’ economies globally, aiming soon for fourth place. He urged a scientific strategy to explore underutilized sectors, particularly in rural zones that had been overlooked by previous administrations.
Recalling PM Modi’s call to celebrate National Science Day with enthusiasm, mentioned in the most recent ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ he noted that it was unprecedented for a Prime Minister to show such support for science and technology.
Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his joy after engaging with Padma Awardees who have contributed significantly to innovation and questioned why there has been a delay in honoring these unsung heroes, many of whom began their work in the 1990s. He attributed the transformation of the Padma Awards into ‘People’s Padma’ to PM Modi’s initiatives.
The Minister also highlighted the Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF)—a groundbreaking initiative by NIF in collaboration with SIDBI that has provided essential risk capital to 238 innovation-driven enterprises, debunking the notion that only elite scientists with advanced degrees can lead innovation and startups.
Under PM Modi’s visionary leadership, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the opening of the space sector for private participation and the recently announced inclusion of private players in the nuclear energy sector.
In his call to action, he urged all innovators to contribute to making India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. In concluding his address, he celebrated NIF’s 25-year journey as a model of inclusivity, significantly shaping India’s innovation ecosystem by recognizing, supporting, and promoting grassroots innovations, even in the most remote villages.
With the flourishing of science and technology under PM Modi’s leadership, these are indeed the most promising times for innovation and research in India.
