Shillong, Feb. 27: Meghalaya's indigenous innovation in developing living root bridges has been recognised for an award.
The state, which will celebrate National Science Day for three days from tomorrow at the state central library here, is looking for more such indigenous innovations in various fields.
Speaking to reporters here today, the officer on special duty for the state council of science, technology and environment, Augustus Suting, said 44 indigenous innovations from Meghalaya - including the eco-friendly crematorium designed by the late C. Shullai and a technique for trapping rice bugs in paddy fields, developed by assistant agronomist in the Ri-Bhoi district agriculture office, K.D. Kharkongor - have been recognised by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) in the last few years.
National Science Day is celebrated to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on February 28, 1928.
To observe the day, the state council of science, technology and environment, in collaboration with the Shillong Science Centre and Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, is organising various activities from tomorrow till Thursday.
"This year is an innovation year. These 44 innovations will be on display at the event, which is a platform for innovators from across the state to showcase grassroots innovations," Suting said.
Senior manager of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority's knowledge services division, Wankitkupar Swer, said living root bridges were community-driven innovations. The living root bridges have been nominated for national recognition in the upcoming ninth biennial competition of the NIF, which will be held at Rastrapati Bhavan on March 4.
"The recognition is not for any single community but for all communities engaged in growing the living root bridges," Swer said.
He said some of the communities engaged in growing living root bridges include the villages of Nongriat, Nohwet (Riwai, Mawlynnong), Kudang Rim, Nongthymmai, Mawkyrnot, Nongblai, Khonglah, Padu and Shnongpdeng.
"There are many lesser-known communities that grow living root bridges that we are yet to identify. We would tremendously appreciate it if anyone could kindly carry the message in case there is any community that has not been represented in the list," Swer said.
According to Swer, scouting of the living root bridges was conducted for about a year by the NIF in collaboration with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority and state council of science, technology and environment.
As part of National Science Day celebrations, various activities, including competitions for schoolchildren will be organised.
Meghalaya deputy chief minister R.C. Laloo will inaugurate the event tomorrow at 11am. A regional innovators conclave, in which innovators from various states of the Northeast will showcase their talents, will also be organised.
