Innovation Beyond Boundaries: Grassroots Ingenuity Takes Center Stage in Delhi Festival
In the heart of New Delhi, the People’s Festival of Innovations unfolded a tapestry of ingenuity, proving that innovation isn't always about grand leaps but often emerges from the rich tapestry of age-old traditions. This five-day extravaganza, held at the India International Centre, showcased pioneers like Suratanbhai, Ravi J Deka, and Lamuni N Sangma, whose innovations spanned from lac-coated utensils to bamboo mat board boats and sustainable clay beehives.
Small Ideas, Big Impact
Suratanbhai, inspired by his grandfather's wisdom, turned a childhood lesson into a thriving business. His lac-coated utensils, rooted in tradition, have become an eco-friendly sensation. Travelling across Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vijaynagar, he and his wife Kavilaben have shared over 2,000 utensils annually since 2009, proving that sometimes, the simplest ideas create the most significant ripples.
On the banks of the Brahmaputra, Ravi J Deka's bamboo mat board boats are rewriting the narrative of local river transportation. Reinventing primitive wooden vessels with compressed bamboo mat wood, Deka's startup, Akvitransiro, is incubated by IIT Guwahati, offering not just sustainability but durability and impact resistance.
Local Wisdom, Global Recognition
The festival brought together a diverse array of innovators, from farmers and beekeepers to PhD students and entrepreneurs. Organized by C-CAMP, GIAN, Honeybee Network, and the IIC, it served as a melting pot for ideas, sparking conversations between unlikely collaborators. Trilochan Mahapatra, former director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, emphasized the need to create a value chain, ensuring that innovations benefit both creators and the broader community.
From Clay Beehives to Medicinal Miracles
Lamuni N Sangma, an apiculturist from Meghalaya, shared her journey of developing sustainable clay beehives. Recognizing the limitations of traditional wooden beehives, Sangma's clay alternative not only retains bees better but also produces higher-quality honey. Her innovative approach, supported by the Meghalaya Community Led Landscape Management Project, exemplifies how local practices can drive global change.
Fostering Recognition and Entrepreneurship
The festival shed light on innovators like Laldingngeti Banitlung, a researcher in Lucknow, developing dandruff solutions from locally abundant plants. Her collaboration with a US-based essential oils company showcases the untapped potential within Indian communities.
As the exhibition curators highlighted the need for 'innovation' to meet 'intervention' from governments, NGOs, and the private sector, the People's Festival of Innovations became a pivotal platform for recognizing and supporting grassroots brilliance.
In the words of Renu Swarup, former secretary to the government of India, "If even five people benefit from this event, we would consider this event a success." The festival exemplifies that impactful change often begins with acknowledging and nurturing the small ideas that have the potential to reshape the future.
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