Uddhab Bharali, an innovator from Assam, has been shortlisted by the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its prestigious NASA Technology Award. Bharali has also been nominated for the World Technology Award 2012 given by World Technology Network.

 

Bharali, who belongs to North Lakhimpur town in Assam, has been selected for developing a pomegranate de-seeder, which is exported and has gained huge popularity in the US. The product will soon be launched with new features and higher efficiency once a suitable entrepreneur is identified.

 

Imphal in Manipur has given India the largest number of innovations. The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) have received the maximum innovations from this city.

 

"Innovations have been identified from within a 30 km radius of Imphal. We plan to pursue a Shodh Yatra again here in January 2013," said IIM, Ahmedabad professor Anil Gupta, who is the coordinator of SRISTI and executive vice-chairperson of NIF.

 

NIF has over 1,000 innovations and traditional practices documented from Manipur in its database, which contains innovations from across the country.

 

NIF has received several other quality innovations from grassroots innovators in spite of the strife-riddled conditions of the region. Among other innovators who made a mark are Sualkochi-based Deepak Bharali\\\'s handloom with magnetic bobbins, Mizoram\\\'s Lalbiakzuala Ralte with his bamboo splitting and incense stick making machine showcased at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 

"There are many other traditional knowledge practices of the northeast states on which the SRISTI lab is pursuing research," said Gupta.

 

The most pertinent innovation from the northeast has been the bamboo windmill designed by brothers Mohammad Mehtar Hussain and Mushtaq Ahmed and is sold for Rs 5,000. The windmill has been redesigned in Gujarat with iron and fibreglass wing spans costing Rs 65,000. About 50 windmills have been installed at Pipavav and have transformed the lives of salt workers in Gujarat, who earlier drew water using diesel engines.

 

"Grassroots innovators from the northeast are very creative and the states are also resource rich. Even under such stressful situations, people in these states can come up with interesting innovations in every field," said Vipin Kumar, chief innovation officer, NIF.