Srinagar, Sep 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir’s innovative ecosystem was transforming at the school level.
Speaking at the launch of ATL Sarthi at the University of Kashmir (KU), LG Sinha said, “A steady transformation is taking place in J&K’s innovation ecosystem at the school level by Atal Tinkering Labs.”
He said that KU serves as a nodal institution for the ATL Sarthi initiative, collaborating with NITI Aayog to establish robust monitoring mechanisms and strong institutional linkages with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) in schools across J&K.
The LG said that the initiative would focus on providing mentorship, capacity building for ATL teachers, and guiding students in transforming ideas into commercial prototypes.
He lauded the ATL Sarthi initiative aimed at connecting every Atal Tinkering Lab to a larger ecosystem of guidance and mentorship.
“The Atal Tinkering Lab is a fitting tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. These Labs are empowering our young students and providing them with the tools for new discovery and self-development, and imparting skills like problem-solving. By nurturing the curiosity of India’s Amrit Generation, ATL labs are laying the foundation for a developed and aspirational nation,” LG Sinha said.
He said that Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kulgam, Shopian, Srinagar, and many other districts were witnessing a significant rise in student-led innovation and equipping students with future-ready skills.
LG Sinha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 500 additional Atal Tinkering Labs for J&K, at a cost of Rs 100 crore, under the Frontier Region Programme.
He said these additional labs would play a crucial role in inclusive innovation by starting Atal Tinkering Labs in remote and tribal areas.
The LG said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was transforming India into a society driven by innovation.
He said India is a global leader in Artificial Intelligence and AI-driven solutions for various sectors, and is expanding its reach to design and development.
LG Sinha also emphasised the need to increase the number of Atal Tinkering Labs in the Jammu division.
He said these labs would provide the youth of the region with the vast opportunity to invent effective solutions to local problems in areas such as agriculture, handicrafts, tourism, and disaster management.
The LG highlighted that under the leadership of PM Modi, innovation was no longer limited to industries and that it had become a permanent part of our society.
He termed the youth of J&K as the future innovators and urged them to take advantage of the support provided by the Centre to realise their dreams.
LG Sinha said that the landmark Rs 1 lakh crore fund for research, development, and innovation for the next 6 years was accelerating progress in high-priority sectors, ranging from energy security to climate action and deep technologies like Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
He called upon KU to focus on skill development and capacity building for Atal Tinkering Lab teachers, unlocking their potential and promoting creativity and innovation.
The LG made a special mention of Atal Tinkering Lab students from across J&K for providing innovative solutions to address local problems and challenges.
He also visited the stalls showcasing the innovative projects by the students of ATLs and interacted with the young innovators.
The occasion also witnessed the release of the coffee table book celebrating the successful innovations by the ATL students from J&K.
The representatives of Corporate and Foundation partners also briefed on their CSR initiatives aimed at fostering a stronger innovation ecosystem in J&K.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh was also present at the launch ceremony.
Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Deepak Bagla; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Vice Chancellor, KU, Nilofer Khan; Secretary, School Education, Ram Niwas Sharma; Program Lead, Atal Innovation Mission, Deepali Upadhyay, and Registrar, KU, Prof Naseer Iqbal were also present on the occasion.
