Shalini Kumari from Bihar won the First Prize for Her Innovation 'Modified Walker with Adjustable Legs’

• 23 Dec 2022

Why In News?

• On December 21, 2022, Shalini Kumari from Bihar received the first prize for her innovation 'Modified Walker with Adjustable Legs' at the grassroots innovation competition at the 3rd ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum.

Key Points

• Shalini Kumari from the General Department of Science, Technology and Innovation under His Excellency Dr. Hul Singheng, Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) Cambodia and Director General of the Ministry of Industry Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) in the Kingdom of Cambodia received the award. She won a cash prize of US$1,500 for being the first prize winner.
• The second and third prizes were won by grassroots innovators from the Philippines and Myanmar, respectively, who won US$1000 and US$500 respectively. A total of 45 grassroots innovators participated and represented 9 countries in this competition.
• The first and second prizes in the student innovation competition were won by participants from Thailand, while the third prize was won by a student from Lao PDR. A total of 37 participants representing 9 countries participated in the competition.
• Shalini Kumari, the first prize winner, is a resident of Patna. He was first recognized by the National Innovation Foundation, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, for his technology through the IGNITE competition in 2011.
• It may be noted that the Committee of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) 19-21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia The 3^rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum was held till December.
• The forum included grassroots innovation competition, student innovation competition, panel discussion, keynote address and an exhibition of innovations involving participants from India and ASEAN Member States (AMS).
• The 3^rd ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum as well as the second Government Meeting in Cambodia was also held in which representatives from ASEAN member countries, India and ASEAN Secretariat were also held.
• The ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation organizes the annual COETI, which includes conference sessions, innovation competitions and an exhibition. Bringing together key participants i.e. government officials, grassroots innovators, student innovators, academicians, business actors and the wider community, the platform provides a space to promote and strengthen the development of innovation/innovation ecosystem at the grassroots level.
• The first two forums were held in Indonesia (2018) and the Philippines (2019) respectively, while there was a brief two-year break due to the pandemic.