Grassroots Innovation Can Transform Rural Economy and Generate Employment: Dr Jitendra Singh

“Grassroots innovators must become active stakeholders in India’s economic transformation,” Dr. Singh said.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and several other key departments, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has said that empowering grassroots innovators can play a transformative role in strengthening India's rural economy, generating employment, and reducing regional developmental imbalances through inclusive innovation-led growth.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day National Workshop on "Grassroots Innovation Pathways: From Local Resilience to National Advancements" held at Science City in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The workshop was organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and the Gujarat Council of Science & Technology (GUJCOST).

Grassroots Innovators Described as "Silent Nation Builders"

Addressing scientists, policymakers, innovators and industry representatives, Dr. Jitendra Singh described grassroots innovators as India's "silent nation builders" whose contributions often remain outside formal institutional systems despite their immense social and economic value.

He stressed that innovation in India should not remain confined to metropolitan cities, research laboratories or elite academic institutions but must expand across villages, smaller towns and local communities.

According to the Minister, grassroots innovators possess invaluable traditional knowledge, practical problem-solving abilities and local skills that can significantly contribute to national development and livelihood generation.

"Grassroots innovators must become active stakeholders in India's economic transformation," Dr. Singh said.

Innovation Under Resource Constraints India's Strength

Dr. Jitendra Singh said India has historically demonstrated a unique ability to innovate despite limited resources.

Referring to the early years of India's space programme, he recalled how pioneers such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai built globally respected scientific capabilities with minimal infrastructure but extraordinary vision and commitment.

The Minister said this reflects the inherent innovation capacity of India's human resources and grassroots talent.

He added that many grassroots innovators may not possess formal academic qualifications, yet often display exceptional creativity and technical skills rooted in real-life experience and local challenges.

Rise of Startups from Smaller Towns

The Minister highlighted that an increasing number of startups are now emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, indicating the growing innovation potential of smaller towns and rural India.

He described grassroots innovation as a fundamentally bottom-up process that requires stronger integration with formal scientific and industrial ecosystems.

According to Dr. Singh, the real challenge is not simply identifying innovators but creating systems that help transform local innovations into scalable products, technologies and sustainable community solutions.

Grassroots Innovation Essential for Balanced Economic Growth

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that grassroots innovation should be treated not only as a scientific initiative but also as a major economic and developmental priority.

He stated that India cannot become a leading global economy unless rural economies are strengthened and growth becomes regionally balanced.

The Minister said grassroots innovation has the potential to:

• Generate employment opportunities;

• Promote local entrepreneurship;

• Strengthen rural economies;

• Encourage decentralised development, and

• Reduce developmental disparities between regions.

He stressed that inclusive innovation could help create more equitable economic growth across the country.

Need for Better Integration with Scientific Institutions

Dr. Singh called for stronger convergence between grassroots innovators and formal innovation ecosystems, including:

• Scientific research institutions;

• Incubation centres;

• Industry networks;

• Technology validation systems, and

• Market platforms.

He observed that many government schemes and scientific programmes fail to adequately reach local innovators because they remain disconnected from ground realities.

According to him, building stronger institutional linkages can help ensure that local innovations receive technical support, market access and scaling opportunities.

Combining Traditional Knowledge with Modern Technology

Highlighting the importance of technology integration, the Minister said traditional knowledge systems can achieve much greater economic value when combined with modern technologies such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI);

• Food processing technologies;

• Scientific product validation, and

• Digital platforms.

He cited examples involving millet-based products and traditional regional food items where scientific intervention helped improve commercialisation and increase income opportunities for local communities.

The Minister noted that integrating traditional skills with modern science can significantly enhance productivity, quality and market competitiveness.

PM Modi's Initiatives Encouraging Grassroots Innovation

Dr. Jitendra Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently encouraged grassroots innovation and community participation through several national initiatives.

He referred specifically to:

• "Mann Ki Baat", which frequently highlights local innovators and community success stories, and

• PM Vishwakarma, aimed at supporting traditional artisans and skilled workers through training, technology and entrepreneurship support.

According to the Minister, these programmes are helping preserve India's traditional knowledge systems while connecting them with economic opportunity and technological advancement.

Workshop Focused on Building Innovation Ecosystem

The workshop includes technical sessions on several important themes related to grassroots innovation and institutional support.

Key discussion areas include:

• Institutional enablers for grassroots innovation;

• Learning from grassroots innovators;

• Community-driven innovation initiatives;

• Regional and state-level innovation programmes;

• Policy frameworks;

• Incubation support systems, and

• Scalable models for expanding grassroots innovation nationwide.

The event has brought together scientists, policymakers, innovators, startups and institutional representatives from across the country.

Vision for Viksit Bharat @2047

Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed confidence that such initiatives would help create a stronger, more inclusive and interconnected innovation ecosystem in India.

He said innovators from villages and remote regions must become equal participants in India's development journey and contribute meaningfully toward the national vision of "Viksit Bharat @2047".

The Minister stressed that India's long-term economic progress will depend not only on advanced technologies and urban growth, but also on how effectively the country empowers local communities, preserves traditional knowledge and encourages grassroots creativity.