I am happy to be here amongst you at
the closing of the one week long ‘Festival of Innovations’. The festival has
seen spirited exchanges and collaboration between different stakeholders
who are part of the innovation value chain. For me personally, the most gratifying
feature is that we at Rashtrapati Bhavan have been able to facilitate dialogue
and the creation of an ecosystem geared towards deepening the innovation
culture in our economy and society. As we are all aware, there is continuous talk
about India
and the demographic dividend that we are poised to reap. At
the same time, the unfortunate reality confronting us is that of growth
without commensurate job creation. It is important, therefore,
that we go beyond the traditional paradigms and create a system of
entrepreneurship and innovation wherein our youth transform from job seekers to
job creators.140
In that context, I am happy to note that there has been an appreciable spurt in policy
support for160 young start-ups in different sectors. A large
number of e-commerce or agriculture based platforms have attracted
venture capital support in the last few years. Some of them have succeeded
while many have failed, which in itself is not surprising. The real concern for
policy planners is the fact that much of the finance that is needed
comes at too late a stage in the enterprise life cycle because of which a large
number of ideas get aborted before becoming products or services. We,
therefore, have to ask ourselves the question whether our policy and institutional
arrangements for financing of innovation based start-ups need change and, to
my mind, the answer would be an unequivocal ‘yes’.
In a country with at least280
a million technology students passing out every year, unless we invest in 10,000
to 20,000 ideas annually, we are unlikely to see a major breakthrough. The
current level of financing of innovation based start-ups is only about a couple320
of thousand technology based start-ups every year. How do we, therefore,
increase the appetite for innovations in public and private financing
institutions? Simultaneously, how do we encourage technology students to choose
the risky path of entrepreneurship? We urgently need to rethink the design and
structure of financial instruments in the country so as to
provide a fillip to our grassroots innovation movement.
It is, therefore, heartening to note
that the National Innovation Foundation, Atal Innovation Mission and the
Department of Science and Technology have teamed up with NABARD and
SIDBI to enrich the inclusive innovation ecosystem. Both these
institutions, NABARD and420 SIDBI, are providing invaluable
back-up support to small entrepreneurs. I understand that the Grassroots
Innovation Augmentation Network, set up by the Honey Bee Network, IIMA and SRISTI
in 1997 was the first incubator for innovations set-up in India .
The model of in situ incubation developed by GIAN has been scaled up by
the National Innovation Foundation through the Micro480
Venture Innovation Fund with the help of SIDBI. It may also be necessary
for DST to consider converging various sectors under the umbrella of a
National Academy of Innovations so that early stage ventures in
technology, education, culture and institutions get single window support. It
will also support supply chain innovators who will design frugal
logistical models for social and economic enterprises. The underlying thought
process has to be that at different stages of growth and diversification
of start-up ventures, different560 levels of mentorship
and financial instruments have to be made available.
I am very happy that the National
Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations is strengthening the
innovation incubation facilities at institutions of higher learning in
collaboration with MHRD. I am also happy to note that India Innovation
Growth Program in the second phase has brought together DST, Tata Trust and
Lockheed Martin together. One of the most eminent industrialists of our
country, Shri Ratan Tata, is present here640 to mark his
support for government’s initiatives in this regard. It is my earnest desire
that the financing of innovations and early stage ventures should become far
less complex over time. This must necessarily also be accompanied by
attitudinal change – we must learn to celebrate and learn from failures in the
same way as we celebrate success.
I am extremely happy700
that the Atal Innovation Mission has created tinkering labs in more
than 500 schools. We have to supplement the emerging ecosystem with similar
support at the community, district and regional levels. I had earlier suggested
that we need to make a transition from micro-finance to micro venture
finance as an instrument of promoting micro-ventures based on the model
developed by GIAN and NIF. We should now aim for every Navodaya Vidyalaya to
have incubation centres which enable and encourage children to take risks at an
early age and for each district to have a community innovation lab. Policy
initiatives800 need to be put in place for improving both
innovation exposure and initiatives at government schools. While it may take
time for all our wish list to fructify, the important thing to remember
is that we have made a good beginning;840 we now need
to build on this. With these few words, I conclude the third Festival of
Innovations and wish all of you Godspeed in your endeavours.
I am indeed very happy
to be amidst you on the occasion of International Women’s Day. We, in India acknowledge, remember and celebrate our women in many ways in our
everyday life. Today, on International Women’s Day, we join the world in paying
tribute to women - the world over - for their selfless gifts to society.
I congratulate the individual ladies and organizations of India who have received the national award, the Nari Shakti Puraskar
today. They have distinguished themselves in taking up challenges and realizing
high aspirations that they represent.960 Behind each success
is a story of tremendous commitment and perseverance. Each accomplishment
represents the sincere efforts of thousands of other980 women
and these are to be equally respected.
The discourse in our country on
women’s empowerment started even before India became a Republic. Our Constitution and the Directive
Principles enshrined therein have given our Governments clear
guidelines for policy and planning. Our successes have helped our society to
evolve in its unique way. Women are no longer seen as mere recipients of
welfare benefits but are recognized as holders of equal rights, equal partners
and agents of change in the social, economic, cultural and political processes
of the country. In the political arena, women have made great
strides, contributing effectively to lowering of social and economic inequities
and selflessly working for the goals of development and
nation building. In the realm of local self-governance, more than a million
women in rural India - far beyond the stipulated 33%, have efficiently1120
taken up positions of authority and are discharging their responsibilities
efficiently and with commendable outcomes. In challenging domains like the defence services, police and
security forces, in sports, academics, space research and innovation, in taking
up the cause of the vulnerable and the exploited, in community outreach and
mass healthcare initiatives, women are indispensable for good team work
and success. It is often not easy – we must admit that they are
frequently subjected to unfounded biases and discrimination. Yet, the fact that
they are able to overcome these and inspire esteem and respect is commendable
indeed.
On International Women’s Day,
it is important to reiterate that every girl child and woman in our
country should be assured that Government of India is fully committed to
providing her an enabling environment that affords equal opportunity. She
should feel confident that she1260 can achieve her highest
aspirations in whichever field she chooses. Prime Minister’s Beti Bachao
Beti Padhao campaign has been
launched1280 in response to the falling Child Sex
Ratio in many parts of our country. It is designed to also
motivate girl children in every part of our country to enroll in primary
education. The programme entails selective intervention - 100 districts across India have been targeted in 2015 and expanded to 61 additional
districts in 2016.
Government is equally concerned
at the rising rate of violent crimes against women. It is inexcusable
that women in India do not feel as secure and safe as they should. Gender
biases have no place in modern India where inclusive development is a key objective. A greater
emphasis on early sensitization of children and youth in schools and
institutions of higher learning would help1400 inculcate due
respect for the female gender. This should be taken up through appropriate
measures in our rural and urban populations and through well-conceived and coherent
Government programmes.
There is no doubt that women have a tremendous capacity for multi-tasking.1440
From their families and homes to farms and fields and in their businesses and
professions, women are second to none in applying themselves with a commitment
that comes from the heart and soul. I recall reading a remark of Poet
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore which I would like to share: "We women are
not only the deities of the household fire, but the flame of the soul itself.” Let
us keep these words in our minds and hearts as we accord women the respect and
deference that is their due. It should not be too difficult - as these basic
values1540 are a part of our grand heritage and deeply
ingrained in our consciousness. On International Women’s Day, let us
rededicate ourselves to revive, uphold and propagate these basic values.
With these words, I once again
congratulate the recipients of the Nari Shakti Puruskar and wish them all the
success as they continue their efforts for the all round advancement of1600
women in our society. I sincerely thank the Ministry
of Women and Child Development under the dynamic leadership of its Minister Shrimati
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi for instituting these awards. They will undoubtedly
inspire more individuals, institutions and organizations to make a contribution
- big or small, for the further empowerment of women and the progress of
our nation.1658
