1.07 lakh register from Maharashtra zone for Seva First Innovation Challenge, says Lodha

The Seva First Innovation Challenge, a multi-state innovation contest organised by the Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, has received an unprecedented response from students, youth, new entrepreneurs and researchers. The contest is being held under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The deadline for applications ended at midnight on October 31, and by then 1,07,603 contestants had registered in all. Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the contest had set a world record.

The Maharashtra zone covers Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. All 1,07,603 contestants registered from this zone. They include 79,162 teams, while 32,298 contestants have completed their profiles.

Those registered include 6,192 women and 4,549 contestants below 18 years of age. A total of 21,550 contestants took part in the general category. Together, the contestants have submitted 16,057 innovative ideas.

The contest will look for new solutions to problems in 10 major sectors: agriculture; law and order; women and child welfare; urban development; health and medical services; defence; sustainability (energy, climate and related areas); infrastructure and transport; emerging technologies (artificial intelligence, blockchain and other technologies); and education and employability. Each major sector has five sub-sectors, and winners will be selected from a total of 50 sub-sectors.

The 50 winners will each be given a work order worth Rs 10 lakh, for which a total fund of Rs 5 crore will be made available. Young people will thus get a chance to put their ideas into practice rather than stop at winning a prize. Lodha said the aim of the contest is to give a platform to the creativity of youth, encourage new entrepreneurs and promote the implementation of socially useful innovations.

Lodha said the spontaneous response to the contest is proof of the creativity and entrepreneurial ability of young people. He said work is under way to make Maharashtra the "innovation capital" of the country under Modi's guidance and Fadnavis's leadership. He also said the department is committed to ensuring that young people become entrepreneurs and innovators who create jobs rather than seek them.

The department is running several more initiatives to empower the state's youth in innovation, entrepreneurship and self-employment. Under the CM MahaFund scheme, the plan is to give collateral-free loans of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh at very low interest rates to one lakh selected young people from among 30 lakh innovative youth. Guidance from experts will also be provided for starting start-ups.

Various short-term courses are being taught free of charge at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The skills covered include artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, drone technology, electric vehicle (EV) technology, solar energy, green hydrogen, Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing, mobile repair and technician courses, and social media influencer.

New-age courses are also being introduced in phases at government ITIs. They include solar technician (electrical), electric vehicle mechanic, drone technician, additive manufacturing technician (3D printing), artificial intelligence programming assistant, and industrial robotics and digital manufacturing. Students will get an opportunity to learn skills related to the technologies of the future.

State-level coordination bodies are also being set up to bring together government and non-government organisations working in the field of innovation. The aim is to give the work of these organisations a broader direction, increase mutual cooperation and strengthen the state's innovation ecosystem.