Innovations key to future planning,says Montek

Highlighting efforts of the Election Commission of India,which won the National Innovation Star Award for developing the Electronic Voting Machine that transformed electoral processes in the country,Ahluwalia said the achievements of the EC were recognised the world over,thereby underlining the success of Indian democracy.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla accepted the award on behalf of the Election Commission of India and said,“In the last three years,most innovations that EC accepted and scaled up have come from the field.”

Arun Maira,Chairman of the Jury,said these awards were given not for laboratory innovations but for the impact,newness and implementation of ideas.

The Honeybee Network and National Innovation Foundation won the award for empowering grassroots innovators and opening new pathways for inclusive innovations. The Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare received the innovation award for its successful management of zero-failure immunisation,making India polio-free.

The Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) was awarded for stimulating and cultivating appreciation and pride in classical forms and values among global youth.

Secretary SPIC MACAY Prasoon Raj attributed the success of the society to “inspired volunteers” who,he said,made the society a world-renowned organisation.

The other award winners were — in the Gold Trophy Category — Palkhed Irrigation Division,Nashik,and Pratibha Syntex Ltd. The Silver Trophy was won by CoCubes.com,Tata Motors Limited and Vadodara Municipal Corporation.