Advisory Committee Meeting of KnowNet-Grin

An advisory committee meeting for Knowledge Network for Augmenting Grassroots Innovations (KnowNet-Grin) took place on the 25th and 26th August 2000. Prof. Anil Gupta (Coordinator SRISTI and this project at IIM-A), Prof Sanjay Verma of IIM-A, (KnowNet-Grin team member); Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, (Indian Institute of Technology); Mr. Rajesh Tiwari (Reliance Industries Limited); Mr. Sunil Parikh (Director, CII, western region); Dr. Abhijit Lahiri Adviser, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Mr J S Rana, Secretary, of Dept. of Information Technology, Gujarat were among the few who attended the meeting as members of advisory committee. Some of the special invitees who attended the meeting were Mr. Pankaj Agrawal (Secretary, Information Technology and Electronics, Government of UP); Prof. Swapan Garain (TISS);  Mr. M.  Sahu  (MD,  Gujarat  Informatics  Limited);  Mr  Kartik  Vora,  Mr  Amitabh  Mukhopadhyay &              Mr D Sundarajan, Fascel Ltd.; Mr Amandeep Grewal, Drishtee.com Ltd.; Mr Akshay Rasiklal, Shree Tele Network; Prof Krishnesh Mehta, NID, Ahmedabad; and Ms Latha L, Renovision Systems (P) Ltd. The meeting intended to bring together expertise from different fields particularly IT, telecom, Government, private sector and others to achieve three things. Firstly, the innovators across the states should be able to communicate with each other and add value to each other’s ideas. This will be achieved through Internet or wide area network. Secondly, cross language translation facility at least in Indian languages should be available. And thirdly, the database should be available in synoptic form to potential entrepreneurs so as to link the innovators and investors. Prof. Jhunjhunwala made a presentation on his CorDet technology. He discussed ways of deepening the reach of rural telephony and through that, the Internet using CorDet wireless application. Mr. Pankaj Agrawal informed that one of the major drawbacks in spread of kiosks is the lack of regular electricity and interconnectivity. Mr. Rajesh Tiwari mentioned that they would be going for three models of kiosks through the broadband optic fibre network and set up about 5000 kiosks in Gujarat. He offered to collaborate with IIM-A and SRISTI. Mr Mukhopadhyay of Fascel Ltd., offered mobile communication link to experiment the connection among innovators. He even offered to host the database on its server. We welcome partnership with other IT stakeholders.

We do not agree with the concept of science being swadeshi (i.e. nationalistic) or international. We believe science can be either good or bad, relevant socially or irrelevant at a given point of time. However, a swadeshi Vigyan Mela was held at IIT, Delhi from 2nd to 6th February 2000. The Mela was organised by Vigyan Bharti. GIAN set up a stall "Innovative India" in the fair in association with the DST. This stall reflected the philosophy of Honey Bee network, SRISTI and GIAN. Besides it showcased some of the successful innovations supported by TePP of DST. The stall displayed some of the innovations like Bullet Driven Santi, Kushal Sprayer, Aaruni Tilting Bullock Cart, Kittanal and Pulley with Stopper. The presence of touch screen multimedia database enabled enthusiastic visitors to get acquainted with other innovations and traditional practices. Shri K C Pant, Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission, awarded the first prize to GIAN.

Two South African delegations visited SRISTI and IIM-A to know about activities related to HB network during the month of June. The first delegation comprised the following eight members: Dr Nthoona Tau-Mzamane, Dy. Director General, DACST; Prof Ismail Jacobus Mohamed, Member of Parliament; Ms Marjorie Anne Pyoos, Director, DACST; Dr A P Nevuthalu, Executive Director, National Research Foundation; Ms Catherine A O Hoppers, Researcher, Human Science Research Council; Prof M M Sibara, University of the North; Mr Tsheko Ratsheko, Deputy Registrar, Patents and Trade Marks Office; Mr Johannes J Hamman, First Secretary, High Commission of SA. And the second delegation was led by Brigittle Mabanda Minister for Arts, Culture, and Science & Technology, and Mrs. Joyce Masama, Member of executive committee for arts and culture, Northern province. They wanted to learn about the experience of IIM-A & Honey Bee network in the field of recognising, respecting and rewarding traditional knowledge and contemporary innovations. Mr K B Saxena, Advisor, Planning Commission and Shri Ghuman Mal Lodha, MP also visited SRISTI as well as IIM-A to know more about the activity of Honey Bee network in dealing with IPR and livestock related indigenous knowledge respectively.

21