Govt scheme to encourage innovation through common people

 To encourage people to come out with sustainable and scalable solutions for local problems in areas such as health, education and banking, the government today announced a new scheme, ''One MP-One Idea''.

Under it, people will receive cash awards of Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for the first, second and third best innovative solutions through their Member Parliament Local Area Development funds.

Besides, a certificate of appreciation will be given to the next five best innovations.
"In order to foster, a grass-root bottoms-up approach to innovation and development and to arrive at solutions for local problems which are sustainable and scalable, there is a need for seeking out and campaigning for ideas that have the potential to solve challenges," Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Kumar Jena has said here in a statement.

"..based on the innovative ideas received from the local people regarding developmental projects, an 'One MP - One Idea' competition may be held in each Lok Sabha constituency annually to select the three best innovations for cash awards on the specific request of an Member Parliament to promote such a scheme in his or her constituency," he added.
Jena said the scheme will inspire people to find innovative solutions to social and developmental problems.

The applications, under the scheme, will be invited for providing innovative solutions pertaining to social issues, especially in the area of education and skills, health, water and sanitation, housing and infrastructure, agriculture, energy, environment, community and social service.

The solutions will be evaluated by a selection committee headed by the DC/DM of the nodal district and consist of six members from engineering, finance, health and sanitation, academia, industry and banking and financial institutions.