NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Patil inaugurated an unusual exhibition of innovations at the ongoing Udyanotsav in Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday.

 

On display are a series of seemingly simple devices that are immensely workable: like a cycle hoe developed by 72-year-old Gopal Malhari Bhise, a farmer from Maharashtra, and a double-shuttle loom that enables the weaver to spin two different wraps simultaneously, developed by Nabakumar Singh from Manipur. New varieties of crops, vegetables and condiments are also on view.

 

Now in its second year, the exhibition showcases 46 innovations from across the country and this year the focus is on the North-East. The exhibition is part of the National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad, under the Central Department of Science and Technology.

 

“It is the President's idea to have a platform for grassroots innovators from where they can reach out to manufacturers and commercialise their ideas,” said an official of the President's Secretariat.

 

The exhibition for many is an opportunity to have their ideas translated into working models. Mangi Singh, a handicapped weaver from Manipur, has developed a machine for making the traditional Kouna mats. In Manipur the traditional method of weaving these mats is by hand, but with this machine of Mangi Singh a weaver can make up to two mats a day. The easy-to-operate machine can be used for making the traditional mats which are superior to the hand-made ones and increases productivity.

 

Nisha Chaube, a school girl from Uttar Pradesh, has developed a travel bag with a folding seat that enables the traveller to pull out the seat while waiting.

 

Four friends from Vasant Valley School in Delhi -- Riya Kothari, Nimran Kang, Kaamya Sharma and Mehr S. Mehta -- wanted an eco-friendly, affordable, easy-to-use cleaning devise, so the girls set about the job and have come up with a bicycle-based cleaner that has brushes attached that move with the pedals.

 

Other innovations include a hand-operated water-lifting device, a bullock-operated sprayer, a compost aerator and leaf pruner, a solar mosquito destroyer and hand-crafted wooden toys made with vegetable dyes.

 

“Visitors coming for a tour of the Mughal Gardens during the Udyanotsav can also visit the exhibition on March 15 and 16, the last two days of the public viewing of the gardens. The show is on up to March 17,” the official said.