| The First Awards Function: 29th November 2001, New Delhi
February 1999, in his budget speech, the Finance Minister Government of India announced the setting of a foundation to support grassroots creativity with words "......the time has come to unleash the creative potential of our scientists and innovators at grassroots level. Only then we can make India truly self-reliant and a leader in sustainable technologies...." | 
Shri Yashwant Sinha |
The goal was set "To help India become an inventive and creative society and a global leader in sustainable technologies". National Innovation Foundation activated itself by launching the first competition for scouting grassroots technological innovations 2000. First Competition overview: The awards were announced on 14th June 2001, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar Chair person NIF.
 
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| Dr. R. A. Mashelkar Chairperson NIF, Secretary, DSIR & DG, CSIR,
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
New Delhi | Prof. Anil. K. Gupta Executive Vice Chairperson NIF, Founder Honey Bee Network, President SRISTI, Prof. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad |
The First Annual Award Function honouring the outstanding green grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders was organised by NationalInnovation Foundation and was held at IARI Auditorium,New Delhi on 29th and 30th November 2001. In this ceremony, 89 outstanding innovators and traditional knowledge holders and 17 scouts were awarded for contributing towards the first national campaign for grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge. Hon'ble Shri K. C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission conferred the honor to the awardees. Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Secretary, DSIR, Government of India & Chairperson, NIF shared the vision of NIF. Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology presided over the function. Large number of other guests from various disciplines, viz., scientificinstitutions, planning commission, NGOs and other stakeholders of NIF and Honey Bee Network were present in the function along with innovators and their family. The awards function was followed by a discussion on "Policy and institutional issues in scouting, disseminating and augmenting grassroots innovations" on 30th. |
The first competition received more than 998 entries from 24 states and union territories including 1637 innovations and outstanding examples of traditional knowledge. The maximum entries were from Gujarat i.e, 496 followed by Kerala 276, Tamil Nadu 218, Assam 155 and Karnataka 116. In terms of subject wise classification, maximum entries were received in the area of herbal based animal health practices (298) followed by herbal medicines (207), plant protection 175. In addition, there were entries dealing with small scale industries, mechanical devises, energy generation and conservation, agricultural practices, plant varieties, artisanal, etc. About 87 innovative ideas were submitted, three of which are being given prizes. GIS Map |
