Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates National Rural Innovators Startup Conclave at NIRDPR
Hyderabad: Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, inaugurated the National Rural Innovators Startup Conclave (RISC) 2019 today (27th September 2019) at National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, in the presence of Dr. G. Ranjith Reddy, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Chevella Constituency), and Shri. Dharmapuri Arvind, Member of Parliament, (Nizamabad Constituency).
The third edition of this two-day conclave will serve as a platform for budding entrepreneurs, rural innovators and aspiring startups to demonstrate their design ideas, innovations, technologies, and get an opportunity to receive learning and mentoring support and get connected with potential funding and network support. The Conclave, being held in memory of the late President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has already attracted applications from 20 States in the country.
The conclave is being attended by representatives from technical institutions, government departments supporting incubation, non-government agencies, business developers, venture capitalists and angel investors, among others from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Delivering the Inaugural Address, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, said, “On the occasion of RISC 2019, I would like congratulate all the rural innovators and start-ups that have come here to present their ideas and innovations. I’m pleased to know NIRDPR is working towards the requirements of the country and is successful in accomplishing its responsibilities. We believe, with the development of rural areas comes development of the country. When agriculture prospers, then villages, farmers and country also prosper. There is a need of new start-up ideas to come in the Agriculture and Rural Development sectors.”
The Rural Development Minister also promoted Start-up India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India initiatives of the government.
A total of 48 applications from startups across India have been accepted to participate in RISC 2019. They are from diverse sectors such as: Agriculture and Allied Activities (15), Sustainable Livelihood (12), Health and Elderly Care (10), Sustainable Housing (4), Waste to Wealth (3), Drinking Water and Sanitation (3) and Green Energy (2).
The themes of RISC 2019 are Agriculture and Allied Activities, Green Energy Solution, Waste to Wealth, Health and Elderly Care, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Housing, and Sustainable Livelihood.
The Conclave is open to applicants from three categories:
Ø Innovators with an Idea and a Prototype
Ø Budding Entrepreneurs and Startups
Ø Poster Presentation by Students (RIDE Challenge)
Speaking about RISC 2019, Dr. G. Ranjith Reddy, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, said, “NIRDPR has come up with a novel idea of promoting rural innovations. To solve the rural problems these Science and Technology innovations will play a key role.”
Further, 90 nominations from Rural Innovators and 47 nominations from startups have been accepted, alongside 131 applications for the Poster Presentation by students from schools (72) and colleges (59) Students (RIDE Challenge).
Delivering the Welcome address, Dr. W.R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR, said, “Encouraging Rural Innovators and Startups is a priority for NIRDPR, which has a single-minded devotion to improve the lives of Rural India. This Conclave brings together various stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem under one roof, which will go a long way in helping rural startups and innovators to get the exposure and funding necessary to scale up their ideas and technology. I am sure there will be many startups and innovators gaining significant success from this initiative.”
Speaking during the event, Shri. Dharmapuri Arvind, Member of Parliament, said, “The future of India lies in the rural areas of the nation. I thank Prime Minster Shri. Narendra Modi for promoting Skill Development and introducing initiatives for start-ups and young entrepreneurs to build their careers”.
During the Conclave, 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged with the following:
1. NIRDPR and CSIR- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru
The purpose of the MoU is to organise training, capacity building and technology transfer related to food processing technologies. This will promote livelihood generation and processing of agricultural produce for rural farmers, SHGs and unemployed youth. Director of CFTRI, Dr. K S M S Raghava Rao, exchanged the agreement.
2. NIRDPR and National Small industries Corporation (NSIC), Hyderabad
The aim of the MoU is to undertake incubation and skill development activities for assisting innovators and creating employment opportunities among SHGs and unemployed youth from rural areas. The General Manager of NSIC, Mr. A.B.Prabhu Raj, exchanged the agreement.
3. NIRDPR and Bio-Tech Renewable Energy Private Limited, Tiruvananthapuram
The objective of the MoU is to establish a Bio-Research Centre which will provide training to officials, technicians, Bio-gas Technology Entrepreneurs, SHGs, etc. for promoting effective solid waste management in rural and urban areas of India. Mr. Saji Das, Managing Director, Bio-Tech Renewable Energy Private Limited, exchanged the agreement.
4. NIRDPR and Mariegold Threads, Hyderabad
The intent of the MoU is to promote expertise and technical knowledge in the field of natural dyeing and weaving of fabrics including specialisation in Ikkat designs.
The Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s flagship campaign of Startup India that seeks to encourage young entrepreneurs, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities, is a guiding light creating ripples across the industry to come up with initiatives seeking to strengthen the startup culture. Innovation and entrepreneurship today play a decisive role in economic growth and NIRDPR, taking forward this vision, created RISC as a forward-thinking platform for budding ideas/solutions, rural innovators and startups.