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Young Indians awarded for 'Ideas and Innovations'

A Draft Correspondent | Gandhinagar

The Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards 2018 function, organised by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, was held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on 17 November 2018. An exhibition to showcase all award-winning ideas by young, creative minds of this nation was also organised at the event. Former President Pranab Mukherjee gave the awards to the creative and innovative young winners.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee watching a student project at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards function

This year, 31 students from 11 States were awarded for their 21 ideas or innovations. Overall, more than 90,000 submissions were received from 643 districts of the country. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were NIF Chairperson Dr. P.S. Goel and Honeybee Network Founder Prof. Anil Gupta. Speaking on the occasion Mr Mukherjee congratulated award-winning children, teachers and motivators; and further observed that creativity is ever pervasive and abounding as the experience of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition demonstrates and most of the ideas and innovations recognised in the award competition since inception have aimed at solving persistent problems.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee awarding a student at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards function

He further noted that children are able to identify local problems, think of possible solutions, evaluate them and develop the best possible solution. He expressed his happiness while taking a note of the fact that large number of children identified through the IGNITE competition are from government schools, rural areas and from disadvantageous sections of the society. When children learn to identify problems and solve them on their own, the future can only be bright for the society and the country, he said. He urged parents and teachers across the country to ensure that children get a nourishing and empowering environment where their skills, creativity, knowledge and learning gets augmented and not curtailed.

Dr. Goel said recognitions like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards helps create a culture of innovation in our society right from the childhood itself. The large number of entries this year i.e. approximately 90,000 makes us believe that nearly one million children may have thought of fresh ideas and innovations that could help our society. He further added the competition helps spread the message of innovation in the entire country and the NIF is committed to take this message further.

The award-winning students at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards function held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat

NIF Director Dr Vipin Kumar delivered the vote of thanks on the occasion and congratulated the award winners and expressed his gratitude towards the various State Boards, State Councils, Directorates, Departments of Education, Institutes and others which have immensely helped NIF during the competition held year after year. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition is organized by NIF in association with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Honeybee Network and other partners.

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