Innovation from/with/for grassroots street workers: I don’t know how many people in our country can claim that they have never either bought anything or used any service provided by street vendors. And yet, when policy and institutional space for improving their occupational and living conditions has to be expanded, they are often left to fend…
You work 500 km away from your native home. Your elderly patents need urgent medical attention. They need somebody to escort them to nearby government hospital. They can not afford to call Doctor home. How will this situation be handled? You will say, call 108 and tell them the address of your parents. Rest will…
Several state governments are realizing belatedly that they need to provide a concrete, low transaction cost system for innovation and entrepreneurship development. However, when it comes to creating a flexible and friendly environment, the bureaucratic mindset often overtakes good intentions. The result is a plethora of rules and very few outcomes. Way back in 1997,…
For long, we have dealt with the children as sink of our sermons. No matter what, no matter where, adults have a habit of advising them, often cursing their behaviour and sometimes chiding them for their playfulness. Children understand that and learn to play games with us. They recall that when they were infants, they…
Ignite awards for creative and innovative children announced on Oct 15, 2014, Bharat Ratna Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s birthday celebrated as children creativity and innovation day by NIF. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam will kindly give away the awards at 3.30 pm on Nov 19, 2014 at iima rjm auditorium. Those interested…
Twenty-five years of web and the Honey Bee Network: The cross-cultural exchange of knowledge before the invention of world wide web by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 took place slowly but perhaps more attentively. The surfing culture of television channels and social media had not emerged. The learners not only read books but also wrote letters,…
Will new budget support creative communities and young inventors? The entrepreneurship and people’s knowledge are two themes, which recur repeatedly in the manifesto of the ruling party. And yet, there has not been any declaration in this regard so far. May be, a considered view is being taken to tap the enormous creative and innovative…
Stolen Childhood: greatest robbery of this century There couldn’t be a more opportune moment for remembering millions of children who toil in cotton fields, brick making Bhatta, construction industry, roadside dhabas and restaurants and above all, houses of the the elites. Restoring Childhood ought to be the first priority of any civilised nation. Nobel peace…
Remembering Lal Bahadur Shastri: Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan Few people remember that October 2 is birth day of Shastri apart from Bapu. It is not surprising that our text books have not done justice to such role models of honesty, simplicity, frugality and devotion to public causes. When series of railway accidents took…
MOM to Mars: will mangalayan make life of ‘mangli’ girl better? The entire country celebrated the unique achievement of Indian space scientists when in the first attempt, the Mangalayan reached the orbit of Mars. Naturally, the celebration was much deserved. However, every time our public sector scientists achieve extraordinary results without any extra bonus, monetary…