President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said grassroots innovations have the potential to transform society by combining local experience, scientific thinking and creativity with social responsibility, asserting that India can emerge as a global powerhouse in grassroots innovation.
The President made the remarks while interacting with a group of grassroots innovators associated with the Atal Innovation Mission at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. She also visited an exhibition showcasing their innovations and interacted with the innovators.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said India’s vast scale and strong culture of innovation provide the country with a unique opportunity to become a global leader in grassroots innovation. She noted that many locally developed solutions are addressing problems of national significance.
The President said the exhibition reflected the growing contribution of grassroots innovators in diverse sectors, including waste-to-wealth initiatives, energy conservation, environmental protection, agriculture, preservation of art, and technologies aimed at improving the lives of women and persons with disabilities.
Emphasising the importance of institutional support, President Murmu said innovative ideas alone cannot bring about societal transformation unless they are backed by an enabling ecosystem that nurtures talent and provides the necessary guidance, resources and opportunities.
She appreciated the role of Atal Community Innovation Centres in supporting grassroots innovators through technical assistance, mentoring and platforms that help convert innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises.
The President said the vision of Viksit Bharat can be realised only when every citizen adopts an innovative mindset to solve everyday challenges. She expressed satisfaction that institutions and citizens across the country are working together to strengthen the culture of innovation and voiced confidence that the benefits of these efforts would reach a wider section of society.
Praising the determination of the innovators, President Murmu noted that many had continued pursuing their ideas despite limited resources, uncertainty and repeated challenges. She commended their commitment to using innovation for the betterment of individuals and communities.
The President also encouraged the innovators to continuously improve their solutions, collaborate with research institutions, industry and fellow innovators, and work towards scaling up their innovations for wider social impact.
