Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 24: At a time when much thrust in being laid on innovations in varied sectors in order to create solutions that have an impact in terms of social and economical values, Jammu and Kashmir State Innovation Council has failed to think innovatively as despite lapse of over one and half years the roadmap has not been finalized to achieve the objective behind its constitution.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the pattern of National Innovation Council, Jammu and Kashmir Government constituted State Innovation Council vide Order No.113 PD dated September 25, 2012 with Chief Secretary as its Chairman and Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department as Member Secretary besides members drawn from varied fields like academics, Research and Development institutions and industries etc.
The main objective behind constitution of Innovation Council was to encourage and showcase the innovations from various domains like science and technology, governance, markets, education, health care, information technology and environment in the State.
While constituting the Council, it was mentioned in the Terms of Reference that the Council will support the State Government to promote innovation, map opportunities for innovation, enhance the productivity and efficiency of the State, create new employment opportunities, boost growth, reform institutional and organizational structures and herald a change of mindsets.
Moreover, the Council was supposed to serve as a platform for exchange of information on innovation among concerned stakeholders, encourage young talent and local universities, colleges and medium and small scale industries and R&D institutes, identify and reward talent in innovation and disseminate success stories and help create innovation eco-systems.
Most importantly, the Council had to prepare an innovation roadmap 2010-2020 for the State and to recognize and leverage the pool of domain experts working in the area of innovations and provide a platform to scale existing innovative practices.
The first meeting of the J&K State Innovation Council was held on February 27, 2013—over five months after its constitution and thereafter again after a gap of several months, an interaction session was organized on July 27, 2013 to discuss and exchange ideas for the formulation of State’s Innovation roadmap for creating an innovation eco-system and its effective implementation, sources informed.
In this interactive session, experts from National Innovation Council and Confederation of Indian Industries, NIF, CSIR, and members of J&K State Innovation Council participated. These experts shared their experiences to support the State to carry forward the work of encouraging and supporting innovations in various fields and to prepare an effective road map for future.
During the session, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey had disclosed that directions were issued to the Science and Technology Department along with School and Higher Education Departments to give orientation to the education system towards innovations.
However, the Innovation Council has failed to think innovatively during the past over one and half year mainly because of the fact that road map has not been finalized till date, sources said. “In the absence of road-map, none of the member of the Council is aware as to what course is to be followed to promote innovations”, they added.
“It is astonishing that despite being guided by the experts there is such a delay in finalizing the road-map”, they further said, adding “it is a matter of concern that at a time when much thrust is being laid on promoting innovations, the Jammu and Kashmir has not shown any seriousness towards this vital subject”.
When contacted, Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Bipul Pathak said, “the road map is being prepared by incorporating the suggestions made by the experts”, adding “we are basically facing the funding issue, which is required to be resolved in order to pave the way for roll out of the road map”.
Replying to a question, he said, “the issue has been taken up with the Planning and Development Department and funds required by the Council would be projected before the Planning Commission of India during Annual Plan finalization meetings”, adding “if the funding issue is resolved we will be able to start implementation of the road-map from the current financial year”.
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