Indian President Honours Grassroot Innovators

New Delhi: Grassroot innovations, including a tractor mounted machine for mixing bio-wastes and an electric painting brush, were today honoured by President Pratibha Patil. The President awarded those grassroot innovators who designed and developed new tools and machines for use in farming and other sectors. The 15 national and one lifetime achievement award in seven categories also included national, state and a special category of student innovation awards. "A tractor mounted machine for aerating and mixing bio-wastes, a tree pruner, an electric painting brush, improved plant varieties, a weaving machine and threshing machine for paddy are some of the selected innovations," a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said. Patil also inaugurated an exhibition where these innovations have been displayed for general public till March 15 in the Presidential Estate. The awards are organised by the National Innovation Foundation of India (NIF), which is an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to recognise and reward grassroots technological innovations and traditional knowledge experts through which it endeavours to build a national register of green technological innovations and traditional knowledge practices. The President also awarded journalists and those institutions who extended help to promote these innovators. The public can visit the exhibition of these innovations from 10 AM to 4 PM till March 15 and can enter through gate no 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is near North Avenue.