The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has recently introduced the Vernacular Innovation Program (VIP) aimed at making the innovation ecosystem accessible in 22 scheduled languages. This initiative underscores the Government’s efforts in fostering an inclusive environment for innovators and entrepreneurs across the country, by removing the language barrier.
Understanding the Vernacular Innovation Program
The AIM’s VIP is a strategic effort to eliminate the language barrier in the innovation and entrepreneurship sector. Its primary goal is to decouple creative expressions from transaction languages systematically. A Vernacular Task Force (VTF) will be established and trained under this program for each of the 22 scheduled languages. The task force will comprise language teachers adept at vernacular languages, subject experts, technical writers, and the leadership of regional Atal Incubation Centers (AICs).
Impact and Significance of the VIP
The program is poised to significantly impact India’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape. It will work towards harnessing cognitive and design thinking capabilities among young, aspiring minds. Furthermore, it will help India establish a robust local network of design experts and innovation practitioners.
By eradicating the language barrier, the VIP aims to empower innovators in remote parts of the country. Additionally, it expects to provide equal opportunities for vernacular innovators who represent a staggering 90% of the Indian population. Statistics from the 2011 census indicate that only 10.4% of Indians speak English, generally as their second, third, or fourth language, with a mere 0.02% using it as their first language. By facilitating learning in one’s language and culture, the VIP looks forward to enriching local, regional, national, and global innovation pipelines.
Other Initiatives Enhancing Innovation/Entrepreneurship
Several other initiatives related to innovation and entrepreneurship have been launched, including the India Innovation Index, IMPRINT (IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology), Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY), StartUp India initiative, Mission Innovation 2.0, AIM-PRIME, AIM-iCREST, Atal Community Innovation Center, Atal Tinkering Labs, etc.
Atal Innovation Mission: A Brief Overview
The Atal Innovation Mission is the Government of India’s flagship initiative aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship culture across the country. Set up by the NITI Aayog, its objective is to foster innovation in various economic sectors, provide a platform for collaboration opportunities among different stakeholders, create awareness, and build an overarching structure overseeing the country’s innovation ecosystem.
AIM’s initiatives have made significant contributions, bolstering India’s position from 81 in the Global Innovation Index in 2015 to 48 in 2020.
The Eighth Schedule
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 official languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri. Initially, there were only 14 languages listed in the Constitution. Over the years, eight more languages were added via constitutional amendments. Notably, no concrete criteria exist for a language’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
